PocketMatrix

goes to .... [drumroll] .... !

For $600 you get a PDA that is not compatible with Pocket PC, Palm or even Linux, that runs at 20 MHz with 2.5 MB RAM, no wireless, no MP3 capability, and a black and white screen.

Don't fret about those poor specs! The device has many add-ons:

$600: Base unit
$645: Added MP3 capability
$783: Added color screen
$863: Added bluetooth
$1013: Added WiFi

So for $1013 we have something with the typical hardware of a modern Pocket PC, except it it 20 times slower and has 1/32 the ram.

Oh, and since it runs off of a single AA battery, the battery life would literally be a few minutes with all those add-ons. It only runs for a couple hours just from adding the color screen.

Dan East

Wow, the screen looks likes my old Avigo.

Wow, I just can't believe this crap. Looking through their FAQ is so incredibly amusing.

2.3: Why doesn’t Jackito come with Internet Explorer?

Because Jackito is designed to access Internet via a mobile phone.

All mobile phones come with their own configurable web navigator (e.g. WAP). Jackito connects to a phone via Bluetooth.

They're saying they don't include a web browser because cell phones have crappy WAP browsers?


2.2: Do you plan to supply a Jackito PC cradle as standard?

- We have no plans to supply a Jackito PC cradle as standard for a number of reasons.

> Firstly, this goes against Jackito’s mobility principle, as a cradle would be too heavy and bulky.

> Secondly, Jackito is not a ‘PC slave’. Thanks to its core Flash memory and its two removable SD/MMC cards, you don’t need to link it up with a PC as often.

PDA's aren't slaves to PCs, they work in conjunction with them. The cradle makes it easier to sync and charge the device, and makes the device more useful because the screen is at the proper angle. How does having a memory card mean you need to synchronize less with your PC? If you make an appointment on your PC, don't you need that to be transferred imediately to your PDA so it can, um, remind you of that appointment?

2.1: Why doesn’t Jackito come with an IrDA port?

- IrDA ports are power-hungry and are not always compatible with each other. In addition, there has to be a direct line of sight between two IrDA ports before they can work together (no intervening walls, etc.

- We felt it was a wiser choice to invest in Bluetooth, which is a more state-of-the-art technology.

Now this one is pathetic. IrDA is nothing more than an LED and an IR detector. It is not at all power hungry - in fact it is the least power-hungry form of wireless in existance. Bluetooth consumes orders of magnitude more power than IrDA.

IrDA is a <i>standard</i>, and is by definition <i>always</i> compatible, otherwise it cannot be called IrDA. Any incompatibility is a matter of software. Look at all the compatibility issues Bluetooth has.

I just think it is absurd that the two reasons they give to not support IrDA are even greater reasons not to support Bluetooth.

5.1: Is Jackito’s proprietary OS a handicap?

Definitely not. Each digital device that has its own OS can optimize its hardware/software trade-off.

Idiots.

4.1: Doesn’t using the fingers leave marks on the screen?


- Yes, our fingers do leave marks on the screen. So do our cheeks, when we use our mobile phone.
- We need to clean the screen from time to time, just like we clean our eyeglasses.
- However, these marks can be useful, as they reduce unwanted glare. - In practice, we don’t need to clean the screen very often.


Okay, so smearing a bunch of crap all over the screen is a good thing? Somebody needs to reign in their marketing people. This is so idiotic it's hard to believe.

Dan East

Oooh, oooh, here's another good one.

5.2: Have you chosen the right starter applications for the product’s launch?

In theory, this question is irrelevant, as Jackito would still be an attractive product, even without any applications.

Geez, what are they on? A worthless piece of $600 crap without any software is "attractive"?

Dan East

I diagnose a case of "Your head is stuck up your arse" syndrome here. I can't see any benefit of buying this over a Pocket PC.

Mind you, they are French, which might explain it...

Whoever designed that thing is sick. The <a href="http://www.jackito-pda.com/hardware/architecture.php">architecture diagram</a> had me giggling for quite a while. Maybe it's an early April-fools.

/. editors AND that website are both retarded. That PDA is just sad - maybe it would be cool in 1995