Celio Redfly offer at $199 for limited time

[fowljr]

Nope, I'm already sold... The Redfly doesn't just enlarge the screen, it increases the resolution...

I think it makes a great companion. Nice small PPC for those times when something larger is too intrusive, and then the Redfly for when you want a higher resolution screen and decent keyboard to get some more work done...

Of course you could get a laptop, but where's the fun in that?

[tonybro]

But an Asus Eee PC was only £99 today at Expansys - full PC.

I can't see the point in carrying around a device of that size just to see your PPC at higher res. I would make use of the functionality of the PC instead.

If I wanted to output to a screen I'd buy a device such as the I-Mate Ultimate 8150 or HTC Touch Pro and just carry a cable instead.....

[fowljr]

Horses for courses... I just love the tech angle of it... Imagine being able to so away with a PC or laptop in favour of a mobile device and the Redfly... Admittedly the nirvanna isn't there in that there are things you can't do on the PPC... But....

[waveydavey]

I saw this and thought.... meh.
I saw the ASUS eee 701 for £99 and thought cher-ching. So I let my credit card do the talking!
I hear what you're saying about the redfly Jim, but although I love my WM device, it's no laptop substitute. The eee 701 (with a little tweaking) could be a laptop substitute. My WM device is for when I can't carry an ultra portable, just like the ultra portable is for when I can't carry a full sized lappy and further when I can't carry a desktop.

[fowljr]

I hear you, as I've also bought an Eee PC 701... But, I like the direction of the Redfly, I think it's a great idea...

[Griph]

I agree with many here that this thing is a pointless exercise doomed to failure. I have an Asus EeePC900 running XP Pro SP3 and it cost me under 300 quid.m Now that IS something useful!

[DBB]

interesting conversation. time to add some more fuel to it.

i like to look at it from the point of view of what problem do i want to solve - not what technology can i buy that gives me the most features in a new format.

i like the concept of the redfly and this is why i would be tempted over the asus eeepc.
i run a destop pc for business - mostly using outlook and office applications. I'm on the road a fair bit, trains and coffee shops between meetings. currently i use my orbit 2 for receiving emails, but let's face it, the screen is too small to be really useful and it's a pain to reply to emails if i want to use more than a few words. i have an o2 contract that gives me unlimited data.
now i could by an eeepc, install xp (buy another license for xp and office - because i want to be legal) and then outlook to sync with the exchange server so that my phone, desktop and now eee are all in sync. if i want to take advantage of the 30-45mins that i have available to start a word document, i have to boot the eee, write the document and then remember to sync it back to the desktop pc. if i want internet access, i have to buy/subscribe to an network usb wireless account.

if i use the redfly (or something similar) then i get;
-instant on (WM operating system)
-no additional license costs (can use features of mobile office to get thoughts for a document started - can then format on a real screen)
-no additional internet connection costs
-no additional syncronisation issues
-same size as eee 701 (i think)

so, my question is why would i want another stand alone computer?

so, i'm sure you will tell me what i'm missing or what i have not understood here.

[fowljr]

Hi DBB, that is exactly it, remove the need for a laptop when on the road. Just sync your PDA when back at the office. With something like Softmaker Office that retains formatting when editing documents on Windows Mobile, this then looks like an excellent solution to me!

[neilm]

That was the thought I had when I saw this- a decent screen and keyboard for serious text input, and the ability to upscale Softmaker Office and Netfront.

However, my motivation for wanting a device to do more than my Ameo is the desire to run occasional PC programs- especially something like my Clinic Management system while 'on the road' and running some newer educational tools (like Interactive Whiteboard) through a projector without having to wait for IT to come an set up a PC ; the current crop of Windows based 'Netbooks' offer that functionality in a devcie the same side as the Redfly.

As Jim & co said though- horses for courses- the instant on of the Redfly would be a bonus for grabbing the spare short moment

[fowljr]

Aye, all in the eye of the beholder mate. It all depends on the use you want to put things to!!