Kupitero's Keep Gadgets Page

On to Kupitero's obsolete computers/gadgets...(please note that these are all actual pictures)!

Hewlett-Packard OmniBook 600c:

The year was 1995 and, Hewlett-Packard was hot on the heels of sub-notebook leaders - Sony and Toshiba - to create a faster unit that can run on Microsoft's new Windows 95 operating system, scheduled for release in August of that year.

The outcome was the HP OmniBook 600 series -- the OmniBook 600C and the 600CT. The unit seen here is the former. It is a small (at approx 11" x 7" x 1.5") and light (approx. 3.8 lbs with battery) sub-notebook that came with an Intel 486 DX4-75 MHz processor (Intel had already released the 'Pentium' two years earlier, but mobile versions designed for notebooks were hard to come by), 8 MB of built-in RAM (upgradeable to 16 MB), an 8.5" VGA, back-lit screen using DSTN, either a 170, 260 or 340 MB hard drive which came in a PCMCIA format and a very unique, pop-out mouse called, the 'paw'.

It also came pre-installed with Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and MS-DOS 6.22 but was very much capable of running the, then, upcoming Windows 95 OS. HP also bundled a lot of software with the unit among them: HP Financial Calculator, LapLink Remote Access, CardView, Appointment Book, Phone Book and an IrDA printer driver. The plan was to make the unit an essential tool of, not only the professionals on-the-go (or, the hardcore 'roadwarriors), but also, the collegiate crowd that require a small, all-in-one, compact computer that they can easily move around their campuses and tight dorms.

The unit had all the ports and connectors for hooking-up essential peripherals including infrared devices (which were rare during that time) plus, the de-facto standard for portable computers: two PCMCIA slots.

The OmniBook 600 series was supplanted by newer, faster series later on but, none of them had the amusing, "pop-out" mouse that made the 600 series unique.

After all, HP was a company founded on sheer innovation and this is what makes the company linger on...when all other similarly innovative start-ups had faded out in the background of silicon dust.

NOTE: HP still sells notebooks using the OmniBook and the newer, Pavilion brands.

LifeDrive Mobile Manager by PalmOne:

The first - and probably the last - "mobile manager" released (May 2005) by PalmOne as a business entity. The company acquired full rights to the trademark, "Palm" also in May 2005 and since then, had been known simply as, Palm, Inc.

Although, lacking a phone & camera capabilities like their Treo series, the LifeDrive tried to answer some of the needs of mobile computer users who don't like lugging their notebook PCs. Casual -as well as professional - photographers would find the device a gem. Pictures taken using digital cameras or cell phones with built-in cameras - with their paltry viewing screens - can be transferred wired or wirelessly to the LifeDrive for better viewing (the LifeDrive has a screen size of approx. 4 inches, TFT, 16-bit color at 320 x 480 resolution). And, with its built-in 4GB harddrive, storage should not be a short-term problem.

Key hardware features included built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and the ability become an "external drive" via USB. This made the device virtually compatible under any computer platform. Hence, transferring files to and from the LifeDrive is a snap. And, if you're the typical business user who always use MS Word or Excel, the "landscape" mode (triggered via a side button) will enable you to see more of what you do.

On the software side, Camera Companion allows users to transfer (to computers), copy to the LifeDrive's harddrive (or, to an external SD/MMC card -- the LD has a slot for one) or, simply view pictures. WiFile LT allows you to view networked PC/Mac files via 802.11b. The "Blazer" web browser (v4.3) had been updated to handle most sites. Although, Palm's implementation of their OS 5.4 (Garnet) on the LifeDrive was quite adequate, setting up VPN (virtual private networking) tended to crash the unit on most occasions.

But, having a decent wireless-capable PDA/ultra-portable computer, music player and voice recorder with ample built-in storage capability, made the LifeDrive Mobile Manager, a good match for people who loves to travel light.

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