3 ms·

do tablets count as handheld PCs nowadays?

rchaud 10mo ago
I wouldn't imagine so. It is a different device category targeted at a different kind of user. They're entertainment devices first and foremost, where as the "handheld PC" category targeted business customers, some of whom could write their own programs for it, without needing a "developer license" or to publish through an "app store".
justsomehnguy 10mo ago
At 10" and 12"? More like twohandheld. I had Acer W4-821 and I think this (along with the Dell counterpart) was the last 8" on the market, at least available in the retail. It was compact enough to go into a jacket pocket and had a full blown OS, I even run CentOS virtual machine on it for testing small things while on the go. Today the only option for less than 10" are Android tablets and they are far from a PC.
- walterbell 10mo ago
  Google Pixels can run a Debian VM with optional external keyboard or display.
  - justsomehnguy 10mo ago
    I would sooner scratch my left ear with my right hand than do this.
    - walterbell 10mo ago
      Comparable to WSL2, including virtualized graphics, available as foldable Pixel handheld with optional external peripherals and standard Debian packages, i.e. supports all three of: phone, handheld and desktop use cases.
- spankibalt 10mo ago
  > "Today the only option for less than 10" are Android tablets and they are far from a PC." Yeah, outside of the odd offering from GPD or their knock-off crews every now and then, that segment only exist in the industry-PC market ("ruggedized"). Everything else is indeed ToyOS land. Or indie hopefuls, most of which either don't make it to market or are not powerful enough.
- NetMageSCW 10mo ago
  The iPad Mini was refreshed just over a year ago.
bigyabai 10mo ago
Depends, is it a computer? The Steam Deck is, no doubt about it. The iPad isn't. If you're walking around calling your iPad a "handheld PC" then you're looking like Dwight from The Office.
numpad0 10mo ago
I think the exact terms "Handheld PC" and "Pocket PC" were technically Microsoft trademarks and branding for non-x86 mini laptops(not all were ARM!) and tiny tablets(Wi-Fi happened later!) that ran CE/PPC/WM. So technically no.

rchaud 10mo ago

I wouldn't imagine so. It is a different device category targeted at a different kind of user. They're entertainment devices first and foremost, where as the "handheld PC" category targeted business customers, some of whom could write their own programs for it, without needing a "developer license" or to publish through an "app store".

justsomehnguy 10mo ago

At 10" and 12"? More like twohandheld. I had Acer W4-821 and I think this (along with the Dell counterpart) was the last 8" on the market, at least available in the retail. It was compact enough to go into a jacket pocket and had a full blown OS, I even run CentOS virtual machine on it for testing small things while on the go. Today the only option for less than 10" are Android tablets and they are far from a PC.

walterbell 10mo ago
Google Pixels can run a Debian VM with optional external keyboard or display.
- justsomehnguy 10mo ago
  I would sooner scratch my left ear with my right hand than do this.
  - walterbell 10mo ago
    Comparable to WSL2, including virtualized graphics, available as foldable Pixel handheld with optional external peripherals and standard Debian packages, i.e. supports all three of: phone, handheld and desktop use cases.
spankibalt 10mo ago
> "Today the only option for less than 10" are Android tablets and they are far from a PC." Yeah, outside of the odd offering from GPD or their knock-off crews every now and then, that segment only exist in the industry-PC market ("ruggedized"). Everything else is indeed ToyOS land. Or indie hopefuls, most of which either don't make it to market or are not powerful enough.
NetMageSCW 10mo ago
The iPad Mini was refreshed just over a year ago.

bigyabai 10mo ago

Depends, is it a computer? The Steam Deck is, no doubt about it. The iPad isn't. If you're walking around calling your iPad a "handheld PC" then you're looking like Dwight from The Office.

numpad0 10mo ago

I think the exact terms "Handheld PC" and "Pocket PC" were technically Microsoft trademarks and branding for non-x86 mini laptops(not all were ARM!) and tiny tablets(Wi-Fi happened later!) that ran CE/PPC/WM. So technically no.