What is your ideal mobile internet device?
With Nokia World, IFA, Apple and Archos events, IDF, and the Zune HD's release all happening within days/weeks of each other, there's definitely no shortage of new product announcements this month. And with so many of these products being launched in the mobile computing/internet space, we'll soon have more options to consider in our never-ending search for the perfect device.
All of us here share a common interest (portable tech), but our individual needs are obviously unique to our personal preferences and requirements. That's why while some people can't wait to buy the Nokia N900, others are lamenting its screen size, keyboard, and/or phone functions. And even though the Archos 5 Android tablet's exact specs are still a bit hazy, early feedback is already rather mixed.
New gadgets always elicit a range of reactions, as nothing can please everyone, but with two of the "main" new products not being what I personally expected or necessarily wanted, I'm kind of bracing myself for what we'll see in the coming weeks. I won't say that I'm disappointed by the N900 and Android Archos, but neither is what I was hoping for. And of course, this begs the question posed in the title of this post: What is your ideal mobile internet device?
This is mine:
- Slide-and-tilt form factor (e.g., HTC Shift, Willcom D4)
- 4.8" or 5" WSVGA touchscreen (capacitive or resistive – no preference)
- 32GB SSD (minimum) with microSD card slot
- 1GB RAM (minimum)
- Windows 7 operating system
- WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
- Optical mouse and left/right mouse buttons on bezel, flanking display
- 5-row backlit keyboard with standard layout (Fn keys double-mapped), chiclet-style keys
- 3.2- or 5-megapixel rear camera with optical zoom, macro mode, and flash
- I/O ports: 2 USB ports, 3.5mm headphone jack, mic, power, dock/dongle connector for ethernet, HDMI, VGA, etc.
- Stereo speakers
- 5-hour battery life (WiFi on, mid-level screen brightness), removable battery
Noticeably absent from my wishlist is the processor. I'm not a multitasker and don't watch a lot of online video, so the CPU speed/type and graphics chipset don't really matter to me. If I was forced to choose something right now, I guess I'd opt for the 2GHz Intel Atom (despite the state of the GMA500 driver). Other features that I'm pretty opinion-less about are a webcam, fingerprint scanner, right shift key, GPS, and built-in 3G.
What I definitely don't want are cell phone functions.
As for the price, considering how much I've paid for "lesser" devices, I'd be willing to pay anything under $1,000. And since MIDs/UMPCs are priced much lower than they were just a year or two ago, I think it's perfectly reasonable to be able to get everything I want for that amount.
Now it's your turn. What would your perfect mobile internet device be like?
Image from GraniteGrok
