HP Elite x3
by Volker Weber
This is a surprise. HP is going to make a smartphone that can replace a PC. First of all it's a Windows 10 Phone. It supports Continuum like the Lumia does. It will have a dock to connect your screen, keyboard and mouse. So far, so good. But now it gets interesting:
HP is going to make a Mobile Extender that looks like a notebook, but isn't. There is no data on this thing. It's just the screen, the keyboard and trackpad. And a battery to run it. Everything else is happening on the phone. You either connect over Wifi or USB 3 cable. Your phone can stay in your pocket, while you work on the Extender.
But wait, there is more. You will be able to run a full Windows desktop and X86 apps. How? They will run in the data center through virtualization. Can't wait to see this in the summer.
Comments
Jupp, same here.
And how much is the fish :-)
Exactly the solution were looking for.
Maybe the Windows strategy for mobile phones of my company makes more sense than expected 3 months ago when they announced it ...
This has been tried before. Droid Bionic Lapdock and similar solutions come to mind. Maybe it works this time.
The Palm Foleo would have been my dream machine, btw.
Die Frage die sich mir stellt ist, um wieviel leichter und/oder günstiger wird das Extender-Setup sein als das leichteste Notebook. Und IP67 gilt nur für das Phone? Fragen über Fragen... und noch ein knappes halbes Jahr zu warten. Steht und fällt mit dem Pricetag.
BUt why not just take a real laptop with you instead of this?
Don't get me wrong, the idea is great. The only reason I can think of is weight. But then, Notbooks don't weigh enything anymore...
I can think of more reasons. One app, one storage, one connection.
But Volker, the Extender is not a notebook - think about some ugly Java apps used in enterprise... how would you run those on Windows 10 Mobile? And then, about one storage - we have that, cloud storage (ok you will need to be connected for that).
Got told today that a business case is a 200$ Windows Phone together with a Surface capable of running anything. I think thats a valid argument if comparing prices with this X3 solution.
Now all you need is a multitasking 'server' mobile. And lots of Extenders. And then you have a thin client system like the good [bad] old days....
Hmm, so HP are once more flogging a dead horse.
I still remember the WebOS desaster.
OK, you mght say "hey, this is completely different". Is it? WebOS was an innovative, but niche platform that could not compete against the two dominant ones, iOS and Android.
Is Windows for Phones so different? Just because some like this (admittedly charming) idea?
I remain sceptical.
Thomas, Surface solves the 3-device-problem (Notebook + Tablet + Smartphone).
Martin, HP is indeed trying something unproven. Which I find interesting.
Citrix and Motorola tried something similar with the Atrix phone + lapdock some years ago. The Atrix never took off, but maybe HP has better luck this time. A mobile thin client. I'd give it a try...
And these guys are trying to get crowd funding to do something very similar: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nexdock-turn-your-smartphone-into-a-laptop--2#/ and for 100US$ (if you're an early bird).
Sexy indeed!
I hold the device today in my hands on the MWC and the concept did not really impress me:
- Why should I pay for a dock and an notebook extender, that only supports so far a special phone model?
- The apps running locally are limited to the Universal App set with Continuum support - reminds me on Windows RT
- Remote Desktop / VDI/ Is that someting new and unique?
Let's see how the product will emerge. At least I welcome a new High-End phone with W10M.
Thank you for sharing, Peter.
This impression of yours does not surprise me. As I can see now, the gap between mobile/tablet and desktop apps has not really been closed - not on Android and not on other platforms either.
HP for their product have to rely on what MS provides, and we all know where they stand now.
Imagine an office full of unassigned desks, each with a Mobile Extender on them. Conference rooms have Mobile Extenders on the tables. Employees have Mobile Extenders in their home offices. Just go anywhere, connect to any Mobile Extender and bring your customized computing environment with you. It's perfect mobility through perfect uniformity.
Just add perfectly uniform employees and you have the perfect organization: sterile, boring, and with no personality at all... but it's perfect.
