Because it’s a constantly moving target.

[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]Within the subnotebook genre you have different classifications.

Ultraportables - I see these as the fully functional notebooks…i.e. have an optical drive and the mostly used ports built into the system so you don’t have to use some sort of docking station to use it.
Ultralights* - I see these as the really thin and light units that don’t have an optical drive.
Handhelds - These are the smaller sized models and may include the Vulcan and OQO type systems.

* as per dbs’ suggestion

I’ll go with this as long as our definition of subnotebook includes the 8.5x11x1.5 size constraint and the 4lb. weight limit.

The next question is, at what point does a cramped keyboard and small screen move a PC from the ultraportable/ultralight camp into handheld?

Some folks with big fingers may already put the TR there.

[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]The SR7K had a 10.4” screen and was slightly smaller than the TR overall…but my point was that it could accomodate a 12” LCD in the same form factor based on today’s technologies.

I think everyone here has a different notion of what subnotebook really means. In general, subnotebooks are defined as any notebooks that are smaller than regular notebooks. Yes, it’s vague and probably purposely so. Most definitions I’ve seen say anywhere from 2 to 4+lbs.

Within the subnotebook genre you have different classifications.

Ultraportables - I see these as the fully functional notebooks…i.e. have an optical drive and the mostly used ports built into the system so you don’t have to use some sort of docking station to use it.
Ultralights* - I see these as the really thin and light units that don’t have an optical drive.
Handhelds - These are the smaller sized models and may include the Vulcan and OQO type systems.

There may be more but I think most things can be classified in those three categories. I didn’t include tablets as they are in their own genre altogether.

* as per dbs’ suggestion

Here is where the problem is…that JVC is tiny and has an optical drive. So by your idea both the TR and the JVC are ultraportable but not ultra-light, however, the 12” S is also floating on ultraportable. Three totally different machines are now in the same class…I find that hard to swallow.

Erik

The only people I know who respect ZDnet and its associated publications don’t work with the actual equipment/software. My boss for example has a bad habit of reading eweek, network world and the other free trade pubs. Needless to say, I need to talk him down from stupid ideas much of the time… 

PC World is an IDG publication. PC Magazine, PC Week are Ziff-Davis.

http://www.idg.net/federator/index.jsp

PC World has always sucked. PC Mag has at least some credibility with me.

[quote author=“tifosiv122”][quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]The SR7K had a 10.4” screen and was slightly smaller than the TR overall…but my point was that it could accomodate a 12” LCD in the same form factor based on today’s technologies.

I think everyone here has a different notion of what subnotebook really means. In general, subnotebooks are defined as any notebooks that are smaller than regular notebooks. Yes, it’s vague and probably purposely so. Most definitions I’ve seen say anywhere from 2 to 4+lbs.

Within the subnotebook genre you have different classifications.

Ultraportables - I see these as the fully functional notebooks…i.e. have an optical drive and the mostly used ports built into the system so you don’t have to use some sort of docking station to use it.
Ultralights* - I see these as the really thin and light units that don’t have an optical drive.
Handhelds - These are the smaller sized models and may include the Vulcan and OQO type systems.

There may be more but I think most things can be classified in those three categories. I didn’t include tablets as they are in their own genre altogether.

* as per dbs’ suggestion

Here is where the problem is…that JVC is tiny and has an optical drive. So by your idea both the TR and the JVC are ultraportable but not ultra-light, however, the 12” S is also floating on ultraportable. Three totally different machines are now in the same class…I find that hard to swallow.

Erik

Well, first of all, I never said that the S (which is a 13.3” LCD) is an ultraportable. It’s not. I just mentioned that it blurs the lines since it approaches the 4lb barrier while offering desktop-like performance. The Type S is a “thin and light” according to the industry.

Also, the Ultralight category isn’t necessarily “lighter” than the ultraportable. It just isn’t as full featured.

I would put the TR and the JVC in the same category since they do the same things in terms of functionality. Of course, there will be new products that may create new sub-classes so we’ll need to take that into consideration when the time comes.

“Of course, there will be new products that may create new sub-classes so we’ll need to take that into consideration when the time comes”

As technology is changing so fast I can’t see us setting up any guide lines of what each notebook is.  One day they might say the TR is a standard size for a notebook.

I just can’t see in the future eveyone carring these 10lbs 17inch screens with a battery life less than 2 hours and even call them notebooks.

THat is crazy in its self.  I can make a shuttle and carry a small lcd and I could call that a notebook

When I went in to comp usa to buy my TR the smallest form factor was the TR.  Even next to the 12” powerbook it look so much smaller than the rest.  It actually looked as if it was a new line of notebooks to be seen in the future.

I think the size will come back down to reality.  And these large notebooks will be less and few.  And the standard will be in the 13” widescreen.

I mean I checked out a Type “S” and I can’t see why you would need a notebook any bigger than that.  Unless you used it as a portable desktop.

And maybe thats what they should call these huge notebooks with 17” screens weighing in over 10lbs..

Portable Desktops.

I think there’s already a trend away from the big desktop replacement units. Based on the marketing hype, I suspect a lot of folks found that hauling one from home to office became a real burden—particularly when you could have a regular desktop in both places for about the same money.

I think the market will center on the ten to thirteen, possibly fifteen, inch screen.  As they all get lighter I think the focus will be on desired screen size vs portability.

As for our little exercise in classification, were it a “real” consensus standard it would be useful for the foreseeable future.

FLASH FROM THE PAST, here is a look at what it used to be like, back in the day. By the way, the author of the short stairs story is myself by another name.

ULTRAPORTABLE OF THE 1980s: http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=446

[quote author=“jiggy”]FLASH FROM THE PAST, here is a look at what it used to be like, back in the day. By the way, the author of the short stairs story is myself by another name.

ULTRAPORTABLE OF THE 1980s: http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=446

It’s more like ULTRA-UNPORTABLE!

And…as they DESKTOP REPLACEMENT systems continue to to get bigger they should just be renamed HIP or SPINE REPLACEMENT systems as they’re likely to hurt you when trying to move them around. 

And the day before that:

http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/timeline.php?timeline_year=1981

[quote author=“dbs”]And the day before that:

http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/timeline.php?timeline_year=1981

It makes me love my TR more and more!   Can you imagine what notebooks are going to look like in 20-30 years.  That blows my mind.

I wonder where the will go.  Some technoglies good or bad catches on for the consumers. 

It will really be up to them to where we end up.

I wonder if it will go to like virual eyeglasses.

Or like starwars stlyle.  Where it would just project into the air.

This was my first baby. It was small and light.

http://biphome.spray.se/baxtrom/t1000/

we are truely blessed and i should listen more to the guru who lives across the street:

[quote author=“jiggy”]we are truely blessed and i should listen more to the guru who lives across the street:

Nice pic Jiggy!  Your sure have some talent.  Taken such good still pics on the TR3A.

thanks! that might be an interesting thread: pics taken on the tr gallery!

indeed..  :ph34r: