OQO Model 2+ questions: ask 'em here

[Guest]

[adamg]

Hello folks!

As you all know, we've now officially announced the long awaited OQO Model 2+.  Most of you seem to be enjoying the specs and pricepoints, and that makes us very happy!

You may find the spec sheet here, along with links to a PDF version, an overview, features, and photos
http://www.oqo.com/products/model2+/specifications.html
or
http://www.oqo.com/intl/products/model2+/specifications.html

I wanted to provide a place where you could ask questions about features, capabilities, limitations, and other stuff not readily or immediately available on the website. 

I will do my best to get an answer to you, and hope that you understand that some questions may take longer to answer then others, and I may not be able to answer every question asked.

--adam gould
  oqo tech support manager

[tchernev]

Having such a thread is a great idea! Here are some questions. Does the 3G module of the 2+ support the T-mobile 3G US network? Can one do simple video capture (no filtering at all) at 30fps from a DV camcorder 720x480 source with no dropped frames? Thanks! 

[ameen]

Hello Adam,

I don't see the new models on www.expansys.com .

When will we be able to order from Expansys and when is the soonest we can get them delivered in the UK?

[alee]

1. Talk to me about heat and fan noise compared to the 02.  Running full-tilt and plugged-in, the 02 fan sounded like a small blow dryer, and if I didn't run the fan frequently, the device was extremely uncomfortable to hold.  How much quieter is the 02+?

2. Can I playback YouTube HD video smoothly (no stutters)?

3. The 02 came with a factory applied screen protector.  Does the 02+ come with a factory screen protector as well?  I hate putting those things on.

4. Would love to hear comments on why the active digitizer went away and why resistive touch screens were chosen over capacitive.  Same goes with screen resolution... why 800x480 in a 1024+ resolution world?

[NPN]

Hey Goulie!

Are all the Model 02 accessories like docking station, batteries, power adapters, and such compatible with the 02+? I assume they are, but wanted to double check.

Congrats on the lower price point too!  Great work as always!

Regards,
Ted

[ameen]

Is it too late to have change of plans and up the resolution to 1024x768? If May is the expected availability date, maybe there's enough time to consider that option 

[3goldens]

what happended to the sun optimized screen option, did that bomb out?

[BurningOrange]

touchscreen related questions:

1. is the touchscreen a resistive passive touchscreen ? if so, why did you choose a resistive touchscreen rather than a capacitive touchscreen (e.g. iphone/dell xt) ?

2. why was the active digitizer downgraded to a (presumably resistive) touchscreen and not upgraded to a dual touch & active digitizer (e.g. n-trig) ? or at the very least, keep the 02's active digitizer ?

3. why keep the inadequate 800x600 native resolution and not opt for a native 1280x768 (with zoom capabilities for those who want it) ?

I have an 02 and am happy with it, and was hoping to get the 02+ (the other specifications are great) but am dissapointed by the touchscreen. An active digitizer is indispensible for proper handwriting recognition, ink notetaking and drawing, and although capacitive multitouch would be a welcome addition, if forced to choose between the two, I will always opt for the active digitizer.

My 02 is my laptop, my work computer and my Moleskine. An 02 withouth an active digitizer cannot be a Moleskine... 

[galtoid]

1) Is the internal speaker the same?  Please tell me it's the same as the iPhone's.

2) Is the Atheros chipset the same, or if not, can you tell me the new model #? (linux)

3) There doesn't seem to be support in Linux for Gobi.  Do have any details on this?

4) What is the unofficial status of Linux on the model 2+?  I assume someone there gave it a whack...?

[NPN]

Looks like the thumb capacitive scrollers are gone - I liked that feature.

Also, from the pics I've seen, looks like the actual screen is inlayed with a bevel around the screen and not a smooth flat screen like the 02.

I see the DirectX support, is this in software only or now supported in hardware?

[Stuart]

Q:  Why did you X?

A:  Because you wanted a lower price.

(That'll cover most of the items)

[Kenrick]

Is the touchscreen hard or soft touch?

Any upgrade incentives for 02 owners?

I'd also like to know how loud it is if it's running a real CPU-crunching program with full performance.

[Bungee]

operating systems:
    * Windows Vista® Business
    * Windows® XP Professional
    * Windows® XP Home

Q1. Any chances to see Windows XP Tablet edition being offered, or does the use of a resistive touchscreen make that a non-feasible option? Will someone be able to do use the stylus to do decent handwriting recognition (hopefully with palm-detection) or does the stylus now become essentially a glorified mouse?

Q2. If the Windows XP Tablet edition isn't available, will I technically be able to use my existing XP Tablet recovery CD and updated XP drivers to build a customized Model 2+ XP Tablet edition (legality issues aside)?

[Ox]

Thanks Adam,

We want the OQO only for two things:

1. Full-blown Apple Keynote 2009 (iWork 2009) and Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 presentations using the video-out (VGA) port after booting as Mac OS X 10.5.6 (Leopard). Is that possible?

2. Smooth-natural DVD video playback. And I mean it.

Is that possible with the OQO 2+? I have tested the older OQO model e2 1.6 GHz 1GB-RAM 120GB-HD (received from OQO with my thanks!) and it did not deliver on any of them: DVD commercial movies were played slowly, stuttering and dropping frames, and it was absolutely impossible to install or open any --and I mean any-- Office 2004 for Mac application or even installer or updater (unexpected quits all the times when trying to open them). It seems that such behavior is due to an OQO limitation that remains on the model 2+, which is NATIVE SCREEN resolution (as far as OQO Talk member "trf" thinks):

System Requirements for Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac:
Display: 1024 x 768 or higher-resolution monitor displaying thousands of colors.
Source:
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/Office2008/system-requirements.mspx

More here (with trf and my feedback):
Now OQO is the smallest MAC in the World...Instructions Complete on page 9
http://www.oqotalk.com/index.php/topic,2430.510.html

We love the OQO, but unless it runs as requested above, we should be forced to consider other options for our University, like the brand new Sony Vaio P Series, which seems to deliver what we need (extra-wide 1600 x 768 pixels of resolution):

The Sony P-series Lifestyle PC: Just don't call it a Netbook
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-19167_1-10131906-100.html

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896

Or the OQO-like VAIO UX Micro PC (resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels)
http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/subcategory.do?catId=SEL-yf-dnser-36415

http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/product/VGN-UX490N/C

Any information most welcome. As said before by OQO Talk member "ameen":

"Is it too late to have change of plans and up the resolution to 1024x768? If May is the expected availability date, maybe there's enough time to consider that option".

Thanks!

[marovada]

Ox:

I can appreciate your frustration with OS X and Apple software, but I'm willing to bet that OQO is not able to answer questions relating to an operating system that isn't supported by OQO and, indeed, that cannot legally be shipped with, or installed on, the OQO.  Also, OS X will not be supported by Sony either.

May I suggest that you purchase a Macbook?  Alternatively, there are other systems that the community has had more luck running OS X on such as the MSI Wind (albeit not legally according to Apple's licence).  See this link for more details: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/mac-os-x-on-net.html.