DualCor, an American company, is set to unveil the cPC, a “handheld” computer running on Windows XP, which also integrates a smartphone operating on Windows Mobile 5.0.
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DualCor cPC |
The cPC measures 16.5 x 8.4 x 3 cm and features a 5-inch display. Steven Hanley, the CEO of DualCor, stated that the target customers for this product are business managers who frequently travel.
According to Hanley, the cPC is essentially “two devices packed into one.” The “computer” portion runs Windows XP Tablet, powered by Via Technologies’ C7-M 1.5 GHz processor and equipped with 1 GB of DDR2 memory.
DualCor opted for Via’s chip due to its maximum power consumption of 7.5 watts, while still delivering performance comparable to a standard computer. “Previously, we used a Transmeta chip, but it caused the system to take 7.5 to 9 seconds to load documents,” Hanley explained.
The “mobile” section includes the Windows Mobile 5.0 version for Pocket PC, featuring Intel’s PXA processing unit, 128 MB of DRAM, and 1 GB of flash memory.
This mobile and computing device shares a common 40 GB hard drive. In x86 computing mode, the battery life lasts for 3 to 4 hours, which is standard for laptops on the market. However, the product can operate continuously for 8 to 12 hours when switched to smartphone mode.
The cPC’s display utilizes a special type of glass from LG with a brightness of 200 nits, making it one of the brightest smartphone screens available.
The cPC is expected to attract attention, especially as many office workers begin to abandon notebooks in favor of BlackBerry or other handheld devices.
Sony and OQO have also introduced complete handheld Windows computers. However, customers have shown little interest due to the limited battery life and processing capabilities of these devices. Meanwhile, thanks to several design and technical improvements, the cPC’s battery lasts long enough for users to run applications synchronously for over 8 hours.
Nevertheless, the price of the cPC is not budget-friendly. The system is set to debut at the CES exhibition in Las Vegas next month, with a price tag of $1,500.
