Closest Pandora Competitor

[Pleng]

I think the people posting in this thread imagined the E7 should be like this:

Please don't be so arrogant as to speak for the entire rest of the thread. The thing that drew me, and perhaps a lot of others, was a DPAD and a QWERTY keyboard.

Neither of which you design has! I couldn't bring upon myself the SHAME of having a large phone without the justification of a QWERTY keypad!

 

[Kangal]

I think the people posting in this thread imagined the E7 should be like this:

Please don't be so arrogant as to speak for the entire rest of the thread. The thing that drew me, and perhaps a lot of others, was a DPAD and a QWERTY keyboard.

Neither of which you design has! I couldn't bring upon myself the SHAME of having a large phone without the justification of a QWERTY keypad!

Umm, perhaps you didn't understand ... i was being sarcastic!
That's just a muck-up design!

So no, I'm not arrogant and no single person can represent everyone in a council

But just want to add to that, I don't like the look of that keyboard, it seems fairly small.
I got a Blackberry for 08 Xmas, I had to get rid of it. Phone was okay, just that I have large hands and my massive thumbs have difficulty typing.

 

[Kangal]

How about this keyboard layout I designed? (please be honest)
Style A: Standard

Style B: notice the top row is no longer bound to the rest; so d-pad, nubs can be placed between ... Pandora Style! (just love saying that ... Pandora Style!)

It is based on a slide phone/device (like N900) which is 130x76mm
+ The screen is 5.83" (128x72mm)
+ The underslide area is 130x48mm
+ This was the sizes I chose, but can be scaled down to desire
+ The keyboard is designed to be as functional as the TouchPro2 (number keys!) but as easy to type as the Xperia X2 (4 rows!)
+ The keyboard is fairly representative of a full-sized keyboard (eg -, +, ? keys and layout)

 

[rabidpoobear]

I hate erase mice -_-

I hate^H^H^H^Hmice

 

[Exophase]

I hate erase mice -_-

I hate^H^H^H^Hmice

I meant "eraser" but for once didn't feel like correcting the post immediately afterwards.

 

[Prometheus]

Poor eraser-mouse.

 

[yannv]

On something that compact wouldn't the laptop nub mouse work better as a joystick?

I think you might be underestimating the actual size of those nubs. They have a pillar connected to a flex measuring board; we only see the tip during use. The smallest I've seen is in a modern ThinkPad keyboard, a base about 14mm square, and reinforced with 10 screws (4 within that footprint).

 

[Exophase]

Poor eraser-mouse.

Oh no, you've triggered my bizarre weakness, sentimentality towards inanimate objects :C

Compounded when they resemble animate ones :C

 

[Phawx]

I feel I need to defend the sliding design. For just a gaming handheld or UMPC, clamshell is fine and does give you that extra security. However, if used it as a mobile phone, clamshell design is pretty bad.

Sliding design benefits:

+ better for watching video (Even when placing on surfaces N900 with kickstand is great)
+ always in useful orientation (no opening hinge to access screen)
+ comfortable one hand operation
+ more comfortable tablet operation
+ only access hardware controls when necessary

- If it's a plastic screen, very prone to scratches
- Less durable

Again, not knocking Clamshell. I think Clamshell is perfect for the Pandora, but if the Pandora had a cellular radio; including Sliding design would be more appropriate (IMO).

@Exophase

I do agree that switching the nubs with QWERTY would hurt them more than help them. Also, the hardware keyboard control is good for AGI games, so it's not a total bust.

 

[Kangal]

Sliding design benefits:
+ better for watching video (Even when placing on surfaces N900 with kickstand is great)
+ always in useful orientation (no opening hinge to access screen)
+ comfortable one hand operation
+ more comfortable tablet operation
+ only access hardware controls when necessary

- If it's a plastic screen, very prone to scratches
- Less durable

Again, not knocking Clamshell.

Agreed.
Clamshell= high durable + medium functionality
Slide= medium durable + high functionality
Its a trade-off, "best design" depends on the user (clumsy? want more func's?)

 

[laurencevde]

slide:
less space for controls
weaker, more complex hinge

 

[Asmo]

Sony making noises:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703502804575101013088128250.html

a portable device that shares characteristics of netbooks, electronic-book readers and handheld-game machines

 

[rabidpoobear]

Sony making noises:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703502804575101013088128250.html

a portable device that shares characteristics of netbooks, electronic-book readers and handheld-game machines

I have a hard time taking Sony seriously.
Do we really need more devices with proprietary connectors, proprietary storage media, and proprietary OSes?

 

[Asmo]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/usmarts-mc-1-claims-worlds-smallest-title-certainly-wins-ov/

Looks edible.

 

[Cloudef]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/usmarts-mc-1-claims-worlds-smallest-title-certainly-wins-ov/

Looks edible.

Was fine until the Intel Atom part <_< Also no gaming controls ._.

 

[Pleng]

Atom part doesn't bother me too much. No gaming controls a but sad. Price is very good. As is often the case with Engadget, no links to the manufacturer's website or where to actually get hold of one.

 

[hosant]

If I can't run a torrent app and download files to an USB & Network HDD, then is not a competitor. (I can do that with Pandora, right!?)

 

[WizardStan]

If I can't run a torrent app and download files to an USB & Network HDD, then is not a competitor. (I can do that with Pandora, right!?)

Yes.