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Qualcomm's 3G-Enabled 'PC Alternative'
Takes aim at developing markets, netbooks...
Qualcomm today announced that they're developing a new "PC alternative" device named "The Kayak" aimed at expanding connectivity among emerging markets. The device, which the company plans to start testing on CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS) networks in Asia, should come with embedded 3G functionality and retail for less than $300. Obviously many emerging markets skipped copper infrastructure and went right to wireless, so Qualcomm hopes the new device will help them gain a broader base for their Snapdragon chipsets.
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phoneboy3
@shawcable.net

phoneboy3

Anon

LOL!

Of course seeing as how it's Qualcomm and uses Telco standards it will be locked down to providers and will charge for every single byte of bandwidth used with all sorts of convoluted fee's, contracts, and cancellation penalties. I'm sure people in the 3rd world/emerging markets will welcome such a device with open arms! LOL!

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: LOL!

That's how Qualcomm makes its money... and by patent squatting.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

wifi4milez

Member

Nothing new here

This sounds like just another netbook, but instead of running Linux or XP it will run some weird homebrew OS. You can buy XP netbooks for around $300 these days, and the number one reason netbooks are returned (this is a fact) is due to Linux. People buy them and get home to realize they cant load Outlook or any of their favorite applications, so they send it back. Why introduce yet another proprietary OS into the mix?? People (here) may not love Microsoft, but if their OS can be offered for the same cost why use something less compatible with everything else?

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD

Premium Member

Re: Nothing new here

because adding ms windows adds $100+ to the cost of the unit. over 33% to the base cost which breaks the price point of the unit.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

wifi4milez

Member

Re: Nothing new here

said by AVD:

because adding ms windows adds $100+ to the cost of the unit. over 33% to the base cost which breaks the price point of the unit.
You can currently buy a Windows machine for around $300 (retail). Any kind of bulk discount will drive that cost below the $300 mark. That being said, why would anyone pay the same amount of money for a proprietary (Kayak) OS or little used (Linux) OS?

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD

Premium Member

Re: Nothing new here

said by wifi4milez:

You can currently buy a Windows machine for around $300 (retail). Any kind of bulk discount will drive that cost below the $300 mark. That being said, why would anyone pay the same amount of money for a proprietary (Kayak) OS or little used (Linux) OS?
You can't buy any decent laptop for $300 and the incremental cost of a free OS vs. a proprietary OS is real and significant. Bill Gates ain't giving it away for free.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

wifi4milez

Member

Re: Nothing new here

said by AVD:
said by wifi4milez:

You can currently buy a Windows machine for around $300 (retail). Any kind of bulk discount will drive that cost below the $300 mark. That being said, why would anyone pay the same amount of money for a proprietary (Kayak) OS or little used (Linux) OS?
You can't buy any decent laptop for $300 and the incremental cost of a free OS vs. a proprietary OS is real and significant. Bill Gates ain't giving it away for free.
Not really sure how you came to that conclusion, however I am assuming you havent heard of a netbook. They typically run between $300 and $400, have the same exact form fact (size, weight, etc.) as the OLPC garbage, AND they come with XP pre-installed. Sure, they arent powerhouses (typically 1.6Ghz processor, 1GB or 2GB RAM, 120GB HD, 10 inch or smaller screen) but they are flying off the shelves.

Check one out here »www.amazon.com/gp/produc ··· i=507846

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

1 edit

AVD

Premium Member

Re: Nothing new here

I know what a netbook is, but I wouldn't call it a "decent laptop" and the linux version are cheaper.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY

wifi4milez

Member

Re: Nothing new here

said by AVD:

I know what a netbook is, but I wouldn't call it a "decent laptop" and the linux version are cheaper.
Whats wrong with netbooks? Sure, you arent going to play the newest graphic intensive games on them but thats not what they are meant for. They arent meant to be CAD rendering stations either, they are meant to be simple everyday computers. Let me put it this way, the computer I am using right now (my computer at work, brand new as of a few months ago) is a Dell Latitude D620. It has a 1.6Ghz processor with 2GB of RAM, the exact same specs as 99% of netbooks on the market today. The only real difference is that my work computer has a much bigger screen. My primary computer at home has an even slower processor (1.2 GHz I think), and I have never once had a problem doing anything I wanted to with it. I guess it all comes down to what you (the end user) wants to do with a computer. I personally use my computer (at home) for surfing the internet, checking email, word processing, and for troubleshooting networks (its small and easy to carry around). You on the other hand might need a gaming laptop with 4GB of RAM and a 3GHz processor, so a netbook wouldnt work for you. Keep in mind that the OLPC crowd isnt going to need anything more powerful than a netbook anyway, as I dont think they will be playing FPS games sitting in their 3rd world country homes!

As for the Linux versions of netbooks, you are correct they are even cheaper than the XP version. However as I mentioned, the reason the majority of them are returned is because people buy them expecting all their programs to works (outlook, photoshop, etc.) only to find out they wont. With XP at the tail end of its supported life (MS is dropping it very soon), I suspect the price will come down even more for 3rd world applications.