Podcast: Interview with Jory Bell of OQO

Flashback!

Last year, for my second podcast (37 min), I interviewed Jory Bell of OQO and we discussed handtops and the future of mobile computer technology…

I asked him some difficult questions and it’s particularly interesting to listen to his answers from a few months ago now that the OQO Model 02 is here!

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The OQO Model 02 is here

It’s Murphy’s law… Saturday I sold my OQO Model 01+, just in time for the start of CES. Sunday I kept an eye on my favorite gadget blogs, and all was quiet until I was away from the San Francisco bubble, away from my computer (without my old OQO)!

Yes people, the OQO Model 02 was announced while I was enjoying fried bananas at a friend’s birthday party, with no computer in sight. By the time I was able to use a computer to order my new OQO, pictures and video were already available. Oh well :)

It was well worth the wait – the Model 02 addresses many of the criticisms of the Model 01+:
- Faster processor (1.2 or 1.5 GHz VIA C7M ULV)
- Faster memory (533 MHz DDR2 SDRAM)
- Better graphics (VIA VX700)
- Better screen (6x brighter)
- Better thermal management
- Backlit keyboard
- WiFi a/b/g
- Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
- Optional: more memory (up to 1 GB)
- Optional: larger hard drive (up to 60 GB)

It also features some interesting new features:
- TouchScrollers (TM) (horizontal and vertical touch-sensitive scroll-surfaces on screen bezel)
- Zoom buttons
- HDMI output
- Optional built-in EVDO (through Sprint, unfortunately for me)
- Optional docking station (with dual-layer DVD+-RW/CD-RW or DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive)

So what’s missing, then?
- No IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
- No built-in digital pen storage
- 0.7″ wider and 0.1″ thicker (yet 0.1″ shorter)
- No optional built-in HSDPA (through Cingular)

So there you have it… I’ll be doing a full review of the OQO Model 02 as soon as I’ve got my hands on it!