jkOnTheRun have relayed some rumors from the OQOTalk forum that there are problems over at OQO. The rumors have been around for a while and we even contacted OQO about them a few weeks ago but at the moment there’s nothing much that we can be sure of. The official line from OQO was that the OQO 02/e2 was no longer being produced and that the production line was being re-tooled for the OQO 2+. We also found out that the UK-based global sales manager is no longer with the company.
With devices like the Aigo and UMD around and a global financial slowdown in progress, it’s not difficult to imagine a scenario where OQO are having to re-organise and re-finance the new production run so we keep our fingers crossed that they can pull through because not only is the OQO 2+ a good step forward [prototype review] but they have design skills that we’d really like to see put to work on an OQO 3.
New article: OQO Rumors http://cli.gs/g1qvrJ
OQO Rumors | UMPCPortal – The Mobile Internet and Computing … http://bit.ly/IxnCj
a not very promising move on the market side …
” Dear Customer,
Unfortunately eXpansys has taken the decision, due to uncertainties
to stock availability of the OQO Model 2+, to remove the OQO model
from our web site.
While we try to keep the information on our web site fully up to date
with the status of each product, inevitably in some cases we are not
informed that a particular item is no longer available until after we
have orders for it.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
Regards
Order Processing
eXpansys”
source: http://jkontherun.com/2009/04/13/oqo-rumored-to-be-looking-for-buyer-expansys-pulls-new-model-off-website/
The OQO 2+ is good with specs but its too costly and the battery life is too short.
I think tye same that DavidC1.
Viliv S5 is the new top UMPC/MID.
OQO 2+ is very expensive and a batter life very short.
Put OQO 2+ with 6hours battery life and the price of Viliv S5, good marketing and you have a winner.
Why not put OQO 2+ as … OQO Touch ¿?¿?¿
Of course, I know nothing about the situation. It seems to me though that this isn’t the first time that OQO has been extremely tight-lipped about their plans. This certainly isn’t the first time people have wondered about the company’s future. For OQO’s sake, I hope people are wrong this time too. (However, it’s like dancing for rain. Rain dances always work because you keep dancing until it actually rains.)
$999 for the low end model isn’t intrinsically unreasonable. It resembles a beefed up Aigo and it’s priced accordingly. (I do wonder about the $700 premium for the SSD though, only available on the high end model.)
Apple, buy OQO with engineers and make it the best pocketable Mac ever. After all, the OQO was founded by ex-Apple executives.
Not executive, former apple employees…
Well the price certainly fits apple. :’)
Never happy if people lost their jobs, but did anyone really believe they could charge a premium on their umpcs and remain afloat these days.
Related:
Is Dynamism.com going to remain too with this drought since the public aren’t buying overpriced underpowered gadgets as much similar to OQOs?
I’ve always thought it would be the returns that would sink them.
Gottabemobile is now reporting, 2nd hand, that a director has said “times are tough”
Pity, the 02+ looks a good product and hopefully would keep them afloat for another year, but where is the funding going to come from for the 03?
They have good technology but I predicted that if they do not change the form factor so that it provides reasonable touch type input they will go bankrupt which looks like a real possibility?
If they used the size and shape of the HP Jornada 720 series handhelds as an example that would provide about 35% more increased volume than their current size and it would have a touch type keyboard. That size would still be small enough to fit in a jacket pocket but the longer size with touch type keyboard would attract many more business users. I would buy one if they changed it that way and would consider it a value as it would then be able to be a true laptop replacement for millions.
BUT when you look at the OQO now with a thumb input that is a HUGE negative aspect regarless of price. I know die hard OQO users love the pocket size and would hate to see a larger version but I feel that is the only way that they could be profitable. It would be great if they could add a touch type keyboard version as a second model to keep everyone happy but as a small company maybe that is not possible?
My prediction is still the same, they need to either add a second model or change their current model so it is a touch type keyboard size and shape like a HP Jornada 720 series or Psion 5mx size device or they will go bankrupt if not this year very soon.
I disagree. Not everyone wants a mini-laptop for a UMPC.
I prefer the slate design of the OQO. It would be unfortunat if they don’t stay afloat, since right now the OQO 2+ is about the only serious competitor for my $$$ as a replacement when my decrepit Everun dies.
Yes but only 8-15k people agree with the current OQO computer so the market for the mini laptop which is not what you want is huge in comparison. The market for a thumb PC is shrinking as well as the margins as the M1 and others are all the same basic size and run full Windows at half the price.
If they do not use their more powerful PC internals in a longer size version so that a touch type keyboard is integrated they will go bankrupt and have the same fate as FlipStart, gone forever. That is the reality, they have 8 years to try to sell the same thing. If they got more money to go for a ninth time the result will be the same, weak sales, no profits = bankrupt and out of business.
When I first heard about the OQO the marketing said something like pocket laptop but when I tried to use the keyboard it was a joke. To me it is a fancy toy. I do want a mini-laptop as that would be a lot more useful than the OQO.
i hope oqo busniess better after year. me not want to see out of busniess i like oqo 02 i have it use everyday nonemiss day but RMA too long almost 3 repair wait long . i hope they do batter
Al
I totally disagee with you.
I love my Oqo ESPECIALLY by it’s form factor
It’s the ONLY ONE this size. If it changes It would be another concept. If someone doesn’t want this Form Factor then he shouldn’t be looking at an OQO (he should try a P or something like that, Why to look at something wich main goal is to be really, really small)
The Vaio P isn’t anywhere near what Al is suggesting. The P is an overgrown monstrosity. I do agree that the OQO is its own shape/size. But it is too expensive! If the parts are the same on an Aigo, then where is the extra expense coming from?
So expensive, and only 800×480… :/
That resolution is the main thing that made me shun the whole OQO line. Nice formfactor and all, but that screen is so… 5 years ago.
ssagg, and other current OQO owners I know you are likely to prefer the current size/shape being a small thumb based full PC computer but less than 15k a year are sold so not many people share that view. I personally would like to see them add a larger version as I described that has touch type keyboad input and still is jacket pocket in size but as a second model so the few that still want thumb based PC’s can still have their computer but they both would share the same guts basically.
By having the larger size and shape millions of users could use it as a complete stand a lone computer without needing to own another computer. I bet that not many OQO owners only have that as their sole computer?
Al
My opinion is that if someone want a touchtype PC there are a lot o options (some almost pocketable some not) but if someone wants a trully pocketable PC there’s only the Oqo so why to look at it if size isn’t your main request? I would’t mind Oqo to build an alternative model but this would probably mean the end of the current model and it’s succesors and that would be a crime.
BTW I use the 02 as my primary computer (I still have a Desktop in my office to use autocad because while it runs fine in the Oqo I prefer that PC because it’s higer resolution)
Ssagg,
There is NOT ONE touch type full PC computer available that will fit in a jacket pocket. There are however other computers like the OQO that are thumb input full PC’s such as the M1, Sharp D4, Wibrain, and others have just been announced.
Thus to me your OQO is facing tough competition as those other computers are about half the price. I still feel that that size/shape has an overall smaller market just becuase most people would not find a thumb input computer that is going to run full Windows programs what they would desire especially as most only want one primary computer and are not computer hobbyists whom own several computers.
That to me does not provide any likely scenario for a company like OQO to have a good business model to make money especially if they now need to get funds or another buyer whom will want to make money for their investment NOT be content with a small and likely shrinking market. Sure you can diss the other competitors as the OQO has better features etc. but a more powerful PC limited to thumb input is just not going to get customers to buy it.
If there was an OQO model as I suggested with a touch type keyboard and is jacket pocket in size using the exact same internals as the current OQO that would be enough of a value to warrant people to buy them at the current OQO prices as it then could be their only PC for the people whom value mobility.