Turn a Handheld into a Desktop with Blue Dock

[Ed Hardy]

Synosphere is currently developing the Blue Dock, a docking station to allow a handheld to function as a desktop computer.

Read more at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Sy...ping_Blue_Dock

[mbk1487]

Very interesting possibilities with this type of device.....could be revolutionary......could be an expensive paperweight, too. I'd like to see this thing with multiple front-side USB 2.0 & firewire ports.....Bluetooth or WiFi (WiMAX???)??? And how would the handheld's processor translate in terms of speed when all these full size peripherals are added?? Would there suddenly be apps like Pocket Excel appearing with full-on functionality???

Gotta add that this concept has been seen in various forms in my mind's eye before reading this. I must have too much time on my hands.....

[Timothy Rapson]

I have often wondered about dumping my desktop altogether. This looks terrific to me. Pop the Ipaq out to go, do, play and pop it in to connect, print, and charge.

I wonder how this would sell in China, Japan, and SEA where space is at more of a premium, desktops are not everywhere, and cell phones are often outnumbering hard line connected phones? Looks like a Windows Mobile 2004 with support for higher and rotated screens is coming at just the right time for this, too.

[MuldrzSiS]

I'd be interested to hear what Gerard thinks of this. He uses his PDA as his primary computer now. Personally, I like my desktop.

[Double-Trinity]

For that price you could probably pick up a moderately old computer. I think this kind of thing might be more useful, though, once hard drives, faster CPUs and so on make their way into the handhelds.

[mbk1487]

I'll be surprised if Palm or HP doesn't steal this idea and incorporate it into what currently is just a charging cradle...

Are you listening folks??? Patents aside, of course...

[Gerard]

What Gerard thinks of this has already been typed, and frankly the product doesn't spark much interest from me, so I'll save myself the re-typing and just offer a link to another thread:
http://www.pocketnow.com/forums/show...=&postid=48065

[k2stingray]

This sounds interesting, but how will you load software onto your PPC without using a real computer and ActiveSynch? Am I missing something here?

In addition, what about software compatibility. Is there a way to transfer word files to pocket word without active synch and vice versa?

[Gerard]

This is not intended as a full replacement kit for a PC, just something to enable PC-less presentations and other functions normally considered to rely on using a PC. Of course you still need a PC to install certain programs, though for most there are workarounds possible in the PPC itself. Often developers make CAB or other installer types available, which offer independence from Activesync.

For full Word-type documents, a software solution in TextMaker is available. Saving as a full DOC or RTF type is easy there, with images and tables and all other formatting intact. Same for PlanMaker, the spreadsheet app from SoftMaker. I find software tools are more important than hardware in terms of getting rid of the PC. After getting a device set up properly, a regular regimen of Sprite Backups is the best insurance of continued computing without data loss and return to the PC to fix things.