Pocket/UMPC market is dead?

[cheRRymonk]

How is this happened this era is gone? I love the idea to have a mini PC in your pocket with resistive screen and that does have full Windows on board. I would not mind have a mobile Steam that can install games. I know the hardware would probably be weak in a small palm gadget but it still could handle indie or classic games, right?

So do you know a company that still produce UMPC's or Pocket PC's? I found just one, OQO brand that was bankrupted and bought out by chinese company. Last model they produced is OQO 03 that is Windows 7 capable but it cost about 4000$ :(

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Cause we have touch tablets; quite capable of running full Windows 8, Steam Client and all that. The mobile crap is for Phones.

[cheRRymonk]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Cause we have touch tablets;

I hate touch screens.

quite capable of running full Windows 8, Steam Client and all that.

Can you name a few?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

U can still use a Keyboard on most tablets, via USB, or Wireless Bluetooth.
And usually a Stylus too, which is better for accuracy and also for writing, as opposed to using your finger.

Ones such as these run full Windows 8, the same OS capability as a laptop or desktop.
Dell Venue 8 Pro & 11 Pro
Microsoft Surface 3 Pro

Stay away from "Windows 8 RT" that is a cut-down version and uses "Apps". It does not support your everyday "x86" apps like normal Windows OS does.

[Pomelo]

These pocket PCs have been rendered obsolete by smartphones and tablets. Those usually don't run windows bar some Windows 8 tablets like the Surface series or some Acer W series ones, but overall usually the kind of programs you'd use on the go are all available in various forms for iOS/Android/WP8 too.

And while you hate touchscreens, the majority of users don't, and that's all that matters to companies. And even then there's accessories for most devices like bluetooth keyboards that often even also serve as screen covers etc.

So actually "pocket PCs" are still there, they have just changed in terms of OS and evolved/improved in terms of hardware and screen space/quality. And of course, the additional features.

[cheRRymonk]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Dell Venue 8 Pro & 11 Pro
Microsoft Surface 3 Pro

Looks interesting. I didn't know there are x86 tablets with wacom screen. The size is still quite big compared to UMPC's but it's definitely interesting.

Originally posted by Powl:

And while you hate touchscreens, the majority of users don't, and that's all that matters to companies. And even then there's accessories for most devices like bluetooth keyboards that often even also serve as screen covers etc.

I am talking about a small palm device that has resistive or wacom screen, which makes easy to use Windows software or play games. The stylus for capacitive screen is a joke. Something like Samsung Note but based on x86 architecture.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

x86 would be fairly pointless on anything smaller than a 7 or 8 inch screen; as they would simply be hard to use and navigate on such small screens.

[cheRRymonk]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

x86 would be fairly pointless on anything smaller than a 7 or 8 inch screen; as they would simply be hard to use and navigate on such small screens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGic6twUggo
This device has 6 inches screen. Doesn't look like a challenge for me.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Ok not a valid point I guess; as I have a 5" screen in my Jeep running Windows too. But that is not a tablet, it is touch-lcd, but it's connected to a hidden HTPC.

But here is another point; obviously there is a lack of interest is such small screens.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2455580/lenovo-stops-selling-smallscreen-windows-tablets-in-the-us.html

TBO I can see why; below 5 - 7 inch; u might as well use a Phone or something like Galaxy Note.

If you want a x86 platform, then u are looking at 7 inch and higher. People are making the market turn this way based on what they use more often everyday. You really think they going to carry around a Smart Phone (with iOS, Android, or Windows Mobile) and a Windows Tablet too. No they will usually just choose between them and not buy the one they don't use most.

Most people really do not do a ton of x86 on tablets. Sure maybe for work purposes more now, but games, hmm no. Most do that on a laptop or desktop. Obviously laptop if u want it mobile. Now there are more and more convertible Laptop/Tablet hyrbrids and also Laptops w/ Touch. It's just the way things are going. Get used to it.

[Pomelo]

Originally posted by cheRRymonk:

I am talking about a small palm device that has resistive or wacom screen, which makes easy to use Windows software or play games. The stylus for capacitive screen is a joke. Something like Samsung Note but based on x86 architecture.

And what are you gonna do on that small screen? Note-taking? Playing some veeeery light gaming? Calendar? Calculator? That's what smartphones and tablets do these days. You don't need x86 and full Windows for that. There is simply no need for such kind of pocket PCs, because the pocket devices we have now are far better focused and optimized for such small tasks. Yeah wow the capacitive screens aren't as good as wacom, but the resistive ones on the older pocket PCs were even worse. I've played around with older Palms and stuff. The writing on those was hardly detailed and sensitive, it was like writing with crayon.

What we have these days is far better I dare say, because it's properly tailored towards tasks you can actually effectively do on such small screen estate.

Probably the thing closest to what you wish for is are the Samsung Galaxy Note devices. Not the Note 10.1, but the Note 8.0 or Note III.