Info on an impending OQO 03 release?

[Guest]

[Dennis Moore]

Folks --

Yes, indeed, that is an OQO prototype shown with an Intel(r) Atom(r) processor.  Intel is showcasing the OQO prototype in a couple of their keynotes and elsewhere at IDF because we have achieved by far the best performance with their processor in our technology demonstration.

Note that this is not a product launch or announcement, but is a demonstration of what we think an Intel Atom processor should do in a product targeting users who need the ultimate in mobile productivity, and demonstrates all the areas where OQO has led the market for years -- performance, battery life, thermals, usability, design, and form factor.  While there are other small and light devices using Intel's Atom processor, none of them comes close to the performance and productivity we are showing with this technology demonstration.

Intel selected OQO to collaborate on developing technologies that will further enhance the productivity of enterprise mobile workers and individual mobile professionals, and did so due to OQO's longstanding leadership in ultra-mobile computing.  OQO is participating in this technology demonstration to showcase leading-edge advances in ultra-mobile computing and to reinforce OQO’s leadership position in this growing market.

I hope this helps explain today's news -- a technology showcase, not an impending product announcement.

Thanks for being our customers!

-- Dennis Moore, OQO

[marovada]

Dennis,

Intel is a chip maker, not a manufacturer of computers.  Therefore, if Intel and OQO are collaborating on developing technologies, reading between the lines, it seems logical that the outcome of that collaboration will be an OQO computer with an Intel chip inside.  It follows that this may not be a product launch/announcement but presumably it is only a matter of time before that occurs.

I accept that you would not want to highlight this, and your posting in this forum so quickly indicates that you see it as a high priority to provide clarification, so as not to affect sales of the current model.  Nevertheless, I for one am very jealous of the prototype, especially since you describe it as being leading edge.  How much do you want for it?

Anyway, congratulations on Intel choosing your company.

Marovada

[jkim]

Can't wait to see the new and improved OQO with Atom!

[Lazarpandar]

reading between the lines

assuming makes an ass out of u and me

[tnkgrl]

@Dennis, this is the best OQO news since the launch of the Model 02! You just made my day...

[stuartguthrie]

While I'll be honest and say that I was hoping for the VIA Nano and am a little disappointed, I have full faith in Dennis' decision and know that he knows what is best for OQOs future.

Stu

[Stuart]

Here are my thoughts, wild guesses, and a bit of devil's advocate.

• Intel has a new processor and wants companies to adopt it.
• OQO is a prime candidate and a very good hard test for the processor.
• OQO is an ideal device to showcase and use as a marketing tool.
• Intel is working with companies to test the new processor and give feedback.  OQO has helped Intel as Dennis says/implies.
• OQO is prototyping devices with both Intel and VIA processors (I'd be scared if that isn't the case).
• Dennis's quick response to say this is only a showcase is also a message to VIA that a decision has not been made.

All of this seems normal to me for the research on new processors and OQO designs.  It depends at what stage in the device development cycle most of this took place as to how much this is a sign of a "confirmation".  If this was from the earlier stages, then it's closer to investigation.  If it's later in the development stage, then it's closer to design refinement.  Since we don't know when the work took place, and we don't know OQO's release schedule (based on only two very different lengths of releases), I think it's a stretch to say it's confirmed.  That said, the odds are still roughly 50-50

[KosherCoder]

Since we don't know when the work took place, and we don't know OQO's release schedule (based on only two very different lengths of releases), I think it's a stretch to say it's confirmed.  That said, the odds are still roughly 50-50

I agree. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. The threads here about OQO being dead, etc, seem mooted by a possible alliance with Intel.

[dlach]

Good post Stuart!

I completely agree and think it is ludicrous to jump to the conclusion that an Atom based OQO is in any way "confirmed".

In the "OQO Atom confirmed!?" post it was asserted that even though Dennis claimed it was just a technology showcase, it was "just a matter of time' before there is an announcement.

Well they showcased WiMax late last winter and it hasn't been heard of since.  Although I suppose you could posit that it is simply a matter of (a long) time and that it will show up in the O3, it seems more likely that it was simply that, a technology showcase and that the market will drive their actual product choices.

So no, I don 't think it follows, especially in light of how quickly Dennis jumped on my (somewhat irresponsible) post of the link to the Atom pic.

Dennis recently mentioned that they had been very busy and I believe this just one of the fruits of their labor.

[Dave P]

I would take the opposite tack. OQO is a small company and creating a working prototype based on a new processor (implying a new motherboard and new chips associated wirh it) is no trivial task. While OQO may have been contracted by Intel to do the work or while Intel may have done it all themselves, I doubt it.

This prototype represents a significant investment of time and intellectual capital and, if it works, I would say you are looking at the OQO3.

[stuartguthrie]

I think it's a stretch to say it's confirmed.  That said, the odds are still roughly 50-50

I hope you're right in that there's a chance that the Nanos could still be used because to me it seems as if the Nano chips are leaps and bounds ahead of the Atom. I've actually been very impressed with what I've read about them, while on the other hand I have heard that the Atom is underpowered in comparison to the Nano.

Stu

[Stuart]

I would take the opposite tack. OQO is a small company and creating a working prototype based on a new processor (implying a new motherboard and new chips associated wirh it) is no trivial task.

A prototype to choose a processor need only be a motherboard change.  That is a much smaller task.  The fact (imo) that they must do these prototypes is also why the release interval is in years and not months.

[PlacidoDomenech]

First of all excuse members of forum if 'Oqo use atom.confirmed!?' (with question, used for debate it) topic, has caused some confusion. That isn't my intention, only promote just opinions and show the echo of the internet about this new.

I am sure Dennis and OQO team are excited by the reaction of the community about any new OQO product / prototype / showcase or anything. They know if Intel show OQO using Atom something happens not? 

I'm agree wit Stuart. And i think they are in final stage of development. Actually OQO models are out of stock, no responses from providers...OQO is no dead  , so all signals indicate a new model. But please, this is only my innocent opinion 

Thanks

[dlach]

I would take the opposite tack. OQO is a small company and creating a working prototype based on a new processor (implying a new motherboard and new chips associated wirh it) is no trivial task. While OQO may have been contracted by Intel to do the work or while Intel may have done it all themselves, I doubt it.

This prototype represents a significant investment of time and intellectual capital and, if it works, I would say you are looking at the OQO3.

Once again I'm afraid I don't at all agree.  I used to work at Intel.  My group produced reference design boards expressly for this purpose.  Taking a reference design mobo and getting it integrated into the OQO, does not, in my opinion make for such a significant investment of time and intellectual capital that it logically follows that this is the OQO3.  And though I have no inside knowledge and don't for certain, I can easily imagine  that given the big push Intel is making with the Atom,  it may be that they actually provided various incentives, including physical resources and or $$,  to OQO to get the work done. 

[j0]

I hope you're right in that there's a chance that the Nanos could still be used because to me it seems as if the Nano chips are leaps and bounds ahead of the Atom. I've actually been very impressed with what I've read about them, while on the other hand I have heard that the Atom is underpowered in comparison to the Nano.

Stu

For the same reason, I hope that it's a "technology demonstration" because it is using an not yet released Intel chip that have better performance than the current Atom chips if they do decide to include Intel in the next generation OQO.