Re: Eee PC hands on?
On Dec 17, 2007 1:43 PM, Kent Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am concerned about the small size of the screen and keyboard. I've seen the Classmate hands-on, and I've seen scale photos of the XO-1 and Eee, and they all look about the same in terms of keyboard size and screen dimensions. All are small. The screens are all in the neighborhood of 7 diagonal; measure that out on paper to see just how small that is. The keyboard keys are smaller and closer together than most anything I've seen on the likes of a ThinkPad, Dell, etc. If you're thinking this will be like my Thinkpad/Dell/whatever, just a bit smaller, you'll probably be disappointed. These things are designed to be small and light first. You're never going to get full-sized features with that. They're also designed to be cheap, durable, and low-power. Hence all the buzz. As we all know, buzz doesn't mean they're the right tool for every job. :) Myself, I'm interested in them as an intermediate step between handheld computer (on my belt), and full-sized laptop (in a separate bag, protected). These might be cheap and durable enough that I'd be comfortable having one in my regular handbag, without constantly worrying about it being lost, stolen, or broken. One thing I don't know much about is comparative screen quality. I've seen spec numbers tossed about with wild abandon, but none of that really tells you how the things work in real use. Especially the bright sunlight the XO-1 is supposed to do super-good in. and can wait if something better is in the pipeline. Something better is *always* in the pipeline. :-) But even knowing that, I'm likely waiting for it. I'll save you a spot in line. ;-) -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Eee PC hands on?
Ben Scott wrote: If you're thinking this will be like my Thinkpad/Dell/whatever, just a bit smaller, you'll probably be disappointed. No, not thinking that. I know it is not like my MacBook, that is why I would like to get my hands on one. These things are designed to be small and light first. You're never going to get full-sized features with that. They're also designed to be cheap, durable, and low-power. Hence all the buzz. As we all know, buzz doesn't mean they're the right tool for every job. :) I am thinking of this for a few specific jobs: - for my daughter to use while for web surfing and writing away from her desktop. - for me and my daughters to use next summer for web surfing and email when I take a trip abroad. In both cases the alternative is my MacBook Pro, which works great but is also larger, heavier, sometimes in use by me, and worth 5-10 times what the Eee PC is, all of which are disadvantages for some or all of the listed uses. Kent ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Eee PC hands on?
On Mon, 2007-12-17 at 14:35 -0500, Ben Scott wrote: On Dec 17, 2007 1:43 PM, Kent Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am concerned about the small size of the screen and keyboard. I've seen the Classmate hands-on, and I've seen scale photos of the XO-1 and Eee, and they all look about the same in terms of keyboard size and screen dimensions. All are small. The screens are all in the neighborhood of 7 diagonal; measure that out on paper to see just how small that is. The keyboard keys are smaller and closer together than most anything I've seen on the likes of a ThinkPad, Dell, etc. If you're thinking this will be like my Thinkpad/Dell/whatever, just a bit smaller, you'll probably be disappointed. These things are designed to be small and light first. You're never going to get full-sized features with that. They're also designed to be cheap, durable, and low-power. Hence all the buzz. As we all know, buzz doesn't mean they're the right tool for every job. :) Myself, I'm interested in them as an intermediate step between handheld computer (on my belt), and full-sized laptop (in a separate bag, protected). These might be cheap and durable enough that I'd be comfortable having one in my regular handbag, without constantly worrying about it being lost, stolen, or broken. One thing I don't know much about is comparative screen quality. I've seen spec numbers tossed about with wild abandon, but none of that really tells you how the things work in real use. Especially the bright sunlight the XO-1 is supposed to do super-good in. and can wait if something better is in the pipeline. One form factor that has appeal is something the size of a Mac mini. The problem of course is the display. I used to think that those small units that attached to your eyeglasses or could be worn like eyeglasses would be a great solution but this technology has never quite made it into the main stream. What I'd like is something that projects a high resolution screen out and that would appear to be at a normal viewing distance. I guess one big problem is that the real device is pretty much useless in bright light. The other issue is the sheer expense of these things. I googled this article that claims that embedded screens might be available soon: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,667638,00.asp In any case, marry a system the size of a Mac Mini to a pair of these glasses and then add some kind of bluetooth input device and you'd have something that could easily be carried anywhere and that would have normal desktop performance. -Alex P.S. Obviously almost any low power small form factor system that could display VGA would work with the display device and the appropriate input devices. Something better is *always* in the pipeline. :-) But even knowing that, I'm likely waiting for it. I'll save you a spot in line. ;-) -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
[OT] VOIP provider recommendations
A client of mine is looking into VOIP and has a proposal recommending IPTelesis, who I have never heard of. They need 40 telephones and 9 voice paths according to the proposal, which is estimated to cost $850, including 500 minutes domestic long distance. I am not that familiar with VOIP pricing (though I do use Vonage and the like). Just wanted to get anyone's take of this vendor and if the pricing seems reasonable. Thanks. begin:vcard fn:Dan Jenkins n:Jenkins;Dan org:Rastech Inc. adr:;;21 Curtis Lane;Bedford;NH;03110;USA email;internet:[EMAIL PROTECTED] title:Technical Director tel;work:1-603-206-9951 x-mozilla-html:FALSE version:2.1 end:vcard ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: [OT] VOIP provider recommendations
On Dec 17, 2007, at 18:01, Dan Jenkins wrote: A client of mine is looking into VOIP and has a proposal recommending IPTelesis, who I have never heard of. They need 40 telephones and 9 voice paths according to the proposal, which is estimated to cost $850, including 500 minutes domestic long distance. I am not that familiar with VOIP pricing (though I do use Vonage and the like). Just wanted to get anyone's take of this vendor and if the pricing seems reasonable. What else does that include? Are they running their own PBX or does that include PBX hosting or an onsite PBX? Is that a monthly or yearly cost? Does it include the telephone rental (what kinds)? How many phone numbers? A separate switch and cable plant for VOIP? Lacking data, here's a scenario: if instance they own their own phones and asterisk box, and want 9 phone numbers the provider I'm using (Junction Networks) would charge $31/mo (.029*450+9*2=31.05) plus some setup costs. I paid, I think $72 for my Grandstream phone, the drone-worker models are like $40. My Asterisk box is an $800 machine. If you got all of the phones I got, over 3 years that's worth $80/mo. Assuming everything's provided running on your existing cable plant, it sounds like a it should be a $400/mo package with a 2-year contract. Note, I've seen $10,000 Panasonic VOIP PBX's which don't do everything Asterisk does, so this may be a proprietary model vs. open source issue re: cost. -Bill - Bill McGonigle, Owner Work: 603.448.4440 BFC Computing, LLC Home: 603.448.1668 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cell: 603.252.2606 http://www.bfccomputing.com/Page: 603.442.1833 Blog: http://blog.bfccomputing.com/ VCard: http://bfccomputing.com/vcard/bill.vcf ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: Eee PC hands on?
On Dec 17, 2007, at 16:35, Ben Scott wrote: That's so lame. Nobody would ever want to walk around with something like that hanging out of their ear. I guess I was wrong on that call. You were right on the first half of your call, just wrong on the second. We call them bluetools for a reason. ;) Back to the subject at hand, I have a Nokia n810 on order to fill the need folks are talking about. If PC Connection ever gets their shipment I'll tell y'all if it's any good. -Bill - Bill McGonigle, Owner Work: 603.448.4440 BFC Computing, LLC Home: 603.448.1668 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cell: 603.252.2606 http://www.bfccomputing.com/Page: 603.442.1833 Blog: http://blog.bfccomputing.com/ VCard: http://bfccomputing.com/vcard/bill.vcf ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: [OT] VOIP provider recommendations
Bill McGonigle wrote: On Dec 17, 2007, at 18:01, Dan Jenkins wrote: A client of mine is looking into VOIP and has a proposal recommending IPTelesis, who I have never heard of. They need 40 telephones and 9 voice paths according to the proposal, which is estimated to cost $850, including 500 minutes domestic long distance. I am not that familiar with VOIP pricing (though I do use Vonage and the like). Just wanted to get anyone's take of this vendor and if the pricing seems reasonable. What else does that include? Are they running their own PBX or does that include PBX hosting or an onsite PBX? Is that a monthly or yearly cost? Does it include the telephone rental (what kinds)? How many phone numbers? A separate switch and cable plant for VOIP? Thanks for the information. Sorry for the incompleteness. This is a first draft proposal with lots of gaps which I barely skimmed before asking my question. The $850 is a monthly cost. The proposal mentions auto-attendant, unified messaging, unlimited local calling and the above 500 Long Distance monthly minutes in the $850 price. They have no existing VoIP equipment at all. The proposal mentions Polycom IP phones and an Edgemarc router. They also mention integrated VoIP/cellular at $40 per call path using Meru access points. PBX systems are mentioned as ranging from $7,000 to $25,000. No more details provided. Lacking data, here's a scenario: if instance they own their own phones and asterisk box, and want 9 phone numbers the provider I'm using (Junction Networks) would charge $31/mo (.029*450+9*2=31.05) plus some setup costs. I paid, I think $72 for my Grandstream phone, the drone-worker models are like $40. My Asterisk box is an $800 machine. If you got all of the phones I got, over 3 years that's worth $80/mo. The Polycom phones are range from $170 to $380 each. Assuming everything's provided running on your existing cable plant, it sounds like a it should be a $400/mo package with a 2-year contract. New building - new cable plant will be needed - not included in this proposal. An existing building may need some phones until they move out of it. Some phones in Western site to be integrated into new phone system. Note, I've seen $10,000 Panasonic VOIP PBX's which don't do everything Asterisk does, so this may be a proprietary model vs. open source issue re: cost. PBX model not even specified in the proposal. No existing equipment. (Well nothing usable. The old PBX is being retired.) I just want to be able to suggest another alternative. Or at least to give a broader perspective than a captive proposal. Preferably open source. I have not used Asterisk, but one of my associates has and said good things about it. begin:vcard fn:Dan Jenkins n:Jenkins;Dan org:Rastech Inc. adr:;;21 Curtis Lane;Bedford;NH;03110;USA email;internet:[EMAIL PROTECTED] title:Technical Director tel;work:1-603-206-9951 x-mozilla-html:FALSE version:2.1 end:vcard ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: [OT] VOIP provider recommendations
On Dec 17, 2007 7:49 PM, Dan Jenkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have not used Asterisk, but one of my associates has and said good things about it. I saw one of the Asterisk demos (at SLUG) a few years and was blown away. Capabilities only available in very high-end, very expensive proprietary systems, and for free. CTI up the wazoo. Things like integrated CRM, web-based drag-and-drop call routing, PIM contact list dialing directory integration, simultaneous OPX and in-house ringing, voicemail/email bridging. Oh, and it makes phone calls, too. If we didn't have a massive existing investment in our Norstar system at work, I'd replace it with Asterisk in a heartbeat. (Replacing 100+ extension sets is expensive even if everything else costs nothing (and it don't cost nothing).) I gather the learning curve is more like a learning cliff, but if you can climb it, or pay someone else to, it looks ultra-impressive. And again, this was years ago -- things may well have improved significantly since then. -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: [OT] VOIP provider recommendations
Dan Jenkins wrote: A client of mine is looking into VOIP and has a proposal recommending IPTelesis, who I have never heard of. They need 40 telephones and 9 voice paths according to the proposal, which is estimated to cost $850, including 500 minutes domestic long distance. I am not that familiar with VOIP pricing (though I do use Vonage and the like). Just wanted to get anyone's take of this vendor and if the pricing seems reasonable. Thanks. VOIP pricing is all over the place. I'm getting a bit under $0.02/minute and $10/month for anywhere in the US/Canada, with unlimited call paths. This is with Teliax. They also have monthly plans with 1500 and 2500 softcap minutes. Others have lower prices, but usually have a minimum monthly billing. http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/index.php?page=New+VOIP+services has an extensive listing of VOIP service providers. --Bruce ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
