Mobinnova Beam — Windows CE Laptop Because… I Don’t Know
LAPTOP Magazine is showing off a special notebook from Mobinnova called the Beam. What makes it special is the OS that the Beam is running… Windows CE. Yep, it’s a smartphone OS in a full laptop form. Why? I’m not really sure. The company claims it will get hours and hours of battery life, but I suspect that’s because it won’t do all that much. Windows CE is rather dated for phones, and is not even designed for larger format devices.
The Beam is built around a 8.9-inch screen, meaning the keyboard is not big enough for touch typing. It has integrated 3G for connectivity, but such connectivity is achieved through the Windows CE browser, email, etc. The Nvidia Tegra processor will play HD video well once Adobe Flash 10.1 comes out. I will admit the price is likely to be pretty special, but even so I’d have to think — who would want one of these? If you would, let me know in the comments. I’m trying to understand, honest.
Who told you that CE is a “smartphone” OS? Windows CE is used on a lot of industrial devices world over. Are you confusing Windows Mobile with Windows CE? We find CE to be very robust and stable. Sure, it’s not sexy, but there is a lot under the hood for industrial and mission critical apps. Just my 2¢ there…
If they have gotten the WinCE kernel to support Tegra, that is great as we have reference to the video processing capabilities. While I agree that an 8.9″ display likely means a cramped keyboard for our larger American hands, it is still an interesting device for some. What is not to like about (virtually) instant on, etc.
Also, I believe the reference/link to $119.99 was for the Win7 Home Premium upgrade, not the device. Wish it were, though…
-MB-
You’re correct CE is used in lots of industrial or mission critical situations. I don’t feel that a consumer notebook is one of those, though. The notebook situation is going to depend on the applications available for users to get typical work done and we’ll have to see about that.
Thanks for pointing out about the price error, that’s now fixed. You are officially an editor.
but why would you carry a device that has more limitations, the idea, as many have pointed it, is to have a device that you will use, and have with you. The first device I remember was the LX200, loved that device, it could do more than I needed, it was with me all the time, now I have S5 and a MBP. to use this device you would have to sacrifice much, and I don’t see that as real mobility, when all you could do is limited by the device you are using. In the end the device could be used by some that may not need full mobility, but limited access.
If the price is right, I am sure that many would line up to buy, early adopters pay a heavy price, but in tis case, when a “netbook” is under $250.00 why would you want to sacrifice.
We all have devices that seem great on paper, like the sony UX, but the battery life destroyed its potential as as a device I would carry, and yes Battery was the main issue, under 2 hours, why would you carry a device that you could not work uninterrupted with?
I would not buy such a closed and constrained device.
But, after saying that, any news on the Nokia N900? would love to see that device in a video
Check out Matt Miller on Nokia Experts. He has an ongoing eval of the N900 with video.
“Yep, it’s a smartphone OS in a full laptop form.”
Many GPSs and the SlingCatcher are currently powered by Windows Embedded. Most likely not the old crusty pda OS James remembers. But rather the relatively modern Silverlight and Flash Lite-capable platform. Having said that, I’d prefer something else on my netbook.
I dunno, I can see a niche market. Depends on whether or not you can install some software on it – but if it could handle Opera 9.5 (or 9.7) for windows mobile and Softmaker Office it could actually be a useful little gadget. Still, most likely not worth the downgrade in capabilities from your average netbook with windows 7 basic on there.
James, I gotta completely disagree with your assessment of WinCE. WinCE is a multi-purpose OS that runs high-grade applications like the touch-based Micros Point-of-Sale terminals, and it behaves very much like full-blown XP if you let it. It has a surprising amount of functionality to it, and is shockingly stable (my POS terminals run for months without a reboot, for example).
Would I buy a system running it? Probably not, but then, I already have my Touch Pro 2 and a 2730p tablet that I’m quite happy with… not to mention I’m a power user… but if I just needed a light-weight email/internet device… sure, why not?
I understand what you are all saying about CE. It is a fine OS for the dedicated type of devices you are all describing. Notebooks are different in that owners expect to be able to install software on them. Windows Mobile apps don’t necessarily work on CE and I foresee confusion. Apps also can have screen size limitations on Windows Mobile, too.
Are you sure its not an IBM Z50 Workpad reborn?
–Ken
This is exactly what I was thinking, someone reviving the Workpad Z50 form factor IBM tried years ago. Windows CE can be given the Aqua or Aero theme, plus SoftMaker has a full-fledged Office-compatible suite for CE at http://www.softmaker.com/english/ofc_en.htm.
Now from what I’ve read Windows Mobile on smartphones uses just a subset of the full CE API, so porting an app from the former to the latter is in theory painless, if a port is needed at all. Maybe some tweaks to take advantage of the bigger screen and full keyboard.
I’d rather it not be called and marketed as a netbook. Not an UMPC either by Microsoft’s spec. Any other effective moniker, perhaps?
No…just stop it. ‘Nuff said.
I liked the specs of this netbook/smartbook/etc. I was wondering if a GNU/Linux distro would be compatible with the hardware. Could you just use an ARM Ubuntu for example, or is that missing a bootloader? My main concern would be non-free software compatibility; Flash, Nvidia driver and Skype. Would be an awesome little device if possible.
WinCE on a smartbook isn’t a good idea purely because of software availability.
There’s not much end-user software out there for WinCE in any profile other than the Windows Mobile profiles. Anything would have to be either a very well behaved .NET application (not many of those out there,) or modified specifically for WinCE.
ARM Linux stuff, OTOH, is just a recompile away for quite a lot of stuff. There’ll be an ARM Linux binary blob for Flash, I suspect there’ll be a Skype port, so that just leaves the nVidia driver, which I believe is being done, although you may not be able to download it from nVidia’s site.
We did the first ever actual review of a smartbook and its not the form factor or necessarily the hardware… its the Windows CE that totally makes a device of this nature fail.
Review:
http://www.shanzai.com/index.php/component/content/article/12-smartbook-reviews/138-worlds-1st-real-smartbook-review
Video Review:
Included 3G connectivity but the connection will connect through the browser Windows CE, by email.
CE in many situations in industry or business.
Alot of these arguments could and have been made about netbooks vs. full function laptops. Call this a sub-netbook. It’s the same idea, but even more so. Portable, long battery life, instant-on, and presumabely cheap.
To succeed, this device will need to cost significantly less than a netbook. If they can sell this for $150 or less it will do well. If they can sell it for under $100 it will be very popular. If they sell it for $250 it will be DOA.
Oh, and another thing. I think cell phone carriers would love a device like this as a subsidized “netbook” precisely because it is so limited. They won’t have to worry about people installing all sorts of high-bandwidth using apps.
Very good point about the carriers. I hadn’t thought about that.
Hmmm… Not sure I agree about CE not being suitable for larger format devices. It worked pretty well on my ancient HP Jornada 820. I could see a market for an updated version of it supporting the latest web standards on a similar sized device.
I am a teacher of high school history. Over the past 6 months I have been trying to incorporate more web 2.0 tech in my classroom. The most effective has been Google.docs. A classroom full of laptops would be idea, however our last years economic dive has shriveled most would be suitors to educational spending. Netbooks 5-6 months ago seemed the likely route, yet again the belt for use teachers was tightened further. So here I see smartbooks running Windows CE.
Here is my question. If most of the work and exploration my students are doing is all web based: Google.docs, Discovery-Streaming, You-tube, Facebook, Flicker,School Loop, Weebly and the such, would not Windows CE be sufficient?
weeomalley,
I can understand your position. If a classroom’s IT needs consist of what you mentioned, then yes, a set attractively priced Windows CE-based devices would do. One advantage of having an embedded OS is that since it is wholly or largely in ROM, it is less susceptible to infection by viruses, Trojans. It woulnd’t be invulnerable, but at least the attacks wouldn’t be able to penetrate to the core system files of the OS.
Windows CE already supports Adobe Flash (Lite), and I think MS’s own Silverlight too, so video-rich websites shouldn’t pose a problem.
With the Win CE Citrix Client and Open Office or Softmaker, these smartbooks would make a great device! Don’t know if these softwares will work.