3 ms·

$98 Linux Laptop - The HiVision miniNote

19 points by rms 18y ago

rms 18y ago
Drawbacks -- Adobe doesn't support MIPS processors, so this laptop can only run the FOSS versions of flash and .pdf. That's still more flash support than the iPhone.
- maximilian 18y ago
  Its got a pretty anemic processor, so I don't think the lack of flash will be that devastating. It wouldn't run it very well anyway.
  - 13ren 18y ago
    Assuming it's the NB0700 from the manufacturer's page: http://hvsco.com/sp_qx.asp?id=75 http://hvsco.com/sp_qx.asp?id=75 It has a VIA C7-M 1.6GHz. Assuming this RISC is comparable to the 900MHz CISC intel processor of the eeePC, the eeePC is fine for (most) flash, including (some) games. Flashlessness is a killer IMHO.
    - SwellJoe 18y ago
      The XO has a hard time with Flash, but can sort of almost play YouTube low quality videos. It's got a 400MHz CPU. So, I'd say a 900MHz equivalent will definitely play most low-bandwidth Flash content. And, I'm not sure I agree that not having it makes the system useless...I lived without video on the web for the first two years or so that I was on the net (using an Amiga--Real video was the format du jour back then, and they obviously did not have an Amiga player). It was still a seriously useful part of my life. While I think it'll have to have video for US buyers, since YouTube is such a core part of the online experience now, it wouldn't for folks in places where real broadband is not yet available. Without broadband video isn't useful option, anyway.
      - 13ren 18y ago
        Hey, I didn't mean it would be useless, just a killer for mainstream success. I gravely agree that more internet --> less productivity. :-(
netcan 18y ago
What game changing does a $98 laptop do? (Apart from the OLPC mission.) For example, does anyone think that laptop price is holding back mobile phone business models for laptops (free with broadband)?
- SwellJoe 18y ago
  What game changing does a $98 laptop do? (Apart from the OLPC mission.) Why do you need more than the OLPC mission? That's a pretty damned audacious thing. Getting network-capable computers into the hands of an entire class of people that couldn't have owned one is huge. For the folks who are choosing between a white MacBook or a black one, this changes nothing. For folks who could never afford a MacBook, this is the difference between being connected and not being connected. For example, does anyone think that laptop price is holding back mobile phone business models for laptops (free with broadband)? I have no idea what this question means in relation to this laptop. Given that the iPhone is a $600+ device being sold for $200 with contract, and that $600 laptops exist today and have existed for a few years, I'd say the broadband companies, in general, don't find the "give away a computer in exchange for a longterm contract" model appealing, or they would already be doing it. It was tried in the past with free desktop machines, and everybody saw that the deal was a bad one for consumers, and so those ISPs went out of business or changed to a different model. I think it has to be a business that looks more like mobile for this kind of monetization to work--people are accustomed to getting "free" phones, and they're also accustomed to long terms. Mobile is a historically abusive industry, so no one complains about the abuse. Of course, since the shake out in ISPs a few years ago, and consolidation down to just a few carriers, the level of abusive contracts and terms is getting higher...so maybe there will be a subsidized laptop deal soon, once AT&T and the cable companies have finished consolidating and shutting down the last of the real competition in the space. Anyway, I think your question has nothing to do with what changes when a WiFi-capable laptop is available for $98. You're thinking way too much about your habits and expenditures. This device is not for you, or any of the folks you hang out with.
  - netcan 18y ago
    Why do you need more than the OLPC mission? That's a pretty damned audacious thing. I didn't mean to imply anything about the benefits of availability in low-income countries or the OLPC mission. My question intention was more along the lines of: 'apart from the obvious.' Naturally, affordability for the remaining (majority) of the world that cannot afford a laptop is the important consequence of decreasing costs. What I meant was as the cost of a usable, connected laptop or laptop-like machines approaches zero, what changes (if any) can we expect in the behaviour of existing laptop users. Any new uses, products and such that might come out of this?
kilowatt 18y ago
At the risk of downmods I'm going to complain that the first three letters of any product's name should not be HiV. Especially since at a glance it looks like the i is capital.
- yters 18y ago
  Man, now I have to downmod you as a reaction against those who say they'll get downmodded so as to get upmodded, so that people no longer get away with saying such things and taking advantage of reverse psychology. Sorry dude.
- frankus 18y ago
  Almost as bad as the i.Beat Blaxx MP3 player (http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/trekstor-showcases-i-beat-blaxx-portable-media-player/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/trekstor-showcases-i-beat...)
kqr2 18y ago
I always find these announcements frustrating if you can't actually buy the product. By the time, it gets to the US, it will probably be $300.
tuukkah 18y ago
The text is a bit low on details, but on the video they say the current (pink) version is $120 and the October (black) version is $98. You can also see a spec sheet: PWS700A/PWS700B CPU: 400 Mhz 32 bit RAM: 128M/64M NAND FLASH: 1GB OS: Linux or WinCE Display: 7" WVGA 800x480 Network: Wireless Lan 802.11b/g 10/100M Ethernet Controller
ricord 18y ago
Chinese Engineers have done a very nice job! They design a low ressources but dynamic netbook.Now, they can go forward. First, they have to implement a mini OS displaying directly the homepage browser after a few seconds boot as Splashtop.Secondly,to allow alternative energy supplies as FreePlay(solar,dynamo,AAcells).

19 points by rms 18y ago

rms 18y ago

Drawbacks -- Adobe doesn't support MIPS processors, so this laptop can only run the FOSS versions of flash and .pdf. That's still more flash support than the iPhone.

maximilian 18y ago
Its got a pretty anemic processor, so I don't think the lack of flash will be that devastating. It wouldn't run it very well anyway.
- 13ren 18y ago
  Assuming it's the NB0700 from the manufacturer's page: http://hvsco.com/sp_qx.asp?id=75 http://hvsco.com/sp_qx.asp?id=75 It has a VIA C7-M 1.6GHz. Assuming this RISC is comparable to the 900MHz CISC intel processor of the eeePC, the eeePC is fine for (most) flash, including (some) games. Flashlessness is a killer IMHO.
  - SwellJoe 18y ago
    The XO has a hard time with Flash, but can sort of almost play YouTube low quality videos. It's got a 400MHz CPU. So, I'd say a 900MHz equivalent will definitely play most low-bandwidth Flash content. And, I'm not sure I agree that not having it makes the system useless...I lived without video on the web for the first two years or so that I was on the net (using an Amiga--Real video was the format du jour back then, and they obviously did not have an Amiga player). It was still a seriously useful part of my life. While I think it'll have to have video for US buyers, since YouTube is such a core part of the online experience now, it wouldn't for folks in places where real broadband is not yet available. Without broadband video isn't useful option, anyway.
    - 13ren 18y ago
      Hey, I didn't mean it would be useless, just a killer for mainstream success. I gravely agree that more internet --> less productivity. :-(

netcan 18y ago

What game changing does a $98 laptop do? (Apart from the OLPC mission.) For example, does anyone think that laptop price is holding back mobile phone business models for laptops (free with broadband)?

SwellJoe 18y ago
What game changing does a $98 laptop do? (Apart from the OLPC mission.) Why do you need more than the OLPC mission? That's a pretty damned audacious thing. Getting network-capable computers into the hands of an entire class of people that couldn't have owned one is huge. For the folks who are choosing between a white MacBook or a black one, this changes nothing. For folks who could never afford a MacBook, this is the difference between being connected and not being connected. For example, does anyone think that laptop price is holding back mobile phone business models for laptops (free with broadband)? I have no idea what this question means in relation to this laptop. Given that the iPhone is a $600+ device being sold for $200 with contract, and that $600 laptops exist today and have existed for a few years, I'd say the broadband companies, in general, don't find the "give away a computer in exchange for a longterm contract" model appealing, or they would already be doing it. It was tried in the past with free desktop machines, and everybody saw that the deal was a bad one for consumers, and so those ISPs went out of business or changed to a different model. I think it has to be a business that looks more like mobile for this kind of monetization to work--people are accustomed to getting "free" phones, and they're also accustomed to long terms. Mobile is a historically abusive industry, so no one complains about the abuse. Of course, since the shake out in ISPs a few years ago, and consolidation down to just a few carriers, the level of abusive contracts and terms is getting higher...so maybe there will be a subsidized laptop deal soon, once AT&T and the cable companies have finished consolidating and shutting down the last of the real competition in the space. Anyway, I think your question has nothing to do with what changes when a WiFi-capable laptop is available for $98. You're thinking way too much about your habits and expenditures. This device is not for you, or any of the folks you hang out with.
- netcan 18y ago
  Why do you need more than the OLPC mission? That's a pretty damned audacious thing. I didn't mean to imply anything about the benefits of availability in low-income countries or the OLPC mission. My question intention was more along the lines of: 'apart from the obvious.' Naturally, affordability for the remaining (majority) of the world that cannot afford a laptop is the important consequence of decreasing costs. What I meant was as the cost of a usable, connected laptop or laptop-like machines approaches zero, what changes (if any) can we expect in the behaviour of existing laptop users. Any new uses, products and such that might come out of this?

kilowatt 18y ago

At the risk of downmods I'm going to complain that the first three letters of any product's name should not be HiV. Especially since at a glance it looks like the i is capital.

yters 18y ago
Man, now I have to downmod you as a reaction against those who say they'll get downmodded so as to get upmodded, so that people no longer get away with saying such things and taking advantage of reverse psychology. Sorry dude.
frankus 18y ago
Almost as bad as the i.Beat Blaxx MP3 player (http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/trekstor-showcases-i-beat-blaxx-portable-media-player/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/24/trekstor-showcases-i-beat...)

kqr2 18y ago

I always find these announcements frustrating if you can't actually buy the product. By the time, it gets to the US, it will probably be $300.

tuukkah 18y ago

The text is a bit low on details, but on the video they say the current (pink) version is $120 and the October (black) version is $98. You can also see a spec sheet: PWS700A/PWS700B CPU: 400 Mhz 32 bit RAM: 128M/64M NAND FLASH: 1GB OS: Linux or WinCE Display: 7" WVGA 800x480 Network: Wireless Lan 802.11b/g 10/100M Ethernet Controller

ricord 18y ago

Chinese Engineers have done a very nice job! They design a low ressources but dynamic netbook.Now, they can go forward. First, they have to implement a mini OS displaying directly the homepage browser after a few seconds boot as Splashtop.Secondly,to allow alternative energy supplies as FreePlay(solar,dynamo,AAcells).