Double the DualCor = Double the Fun!
Posted on 20 October 2006, at 3:00 pm, by Judie Lipsett
I just received a brand new DualCor cPC with updated hardware and software. I believe that this is considered version 0.9, which means that the release model should follow shortly.
I’ll share the unboxing with you now, and post some of the new features later. 
It’s still a plain cardboard box, so it’s still an engineering sample and not the retail version.
One little bit of paperwork…
…which details network and connection settings.
Why is it that anytime I am opening a new gadget, the anticipation seems to just grow – even when I know what is coming?
Inside are the DualCor cPC, the Ambicon CF WiFi wireless card, the AC charger and the mini-VGA dongle. The leather Rhinoskin case is hidden under the cPC’s compartment.
The front…
…and the back.
It is charging now, and next I’ll need to reload everything from the old model to the new.
I guess I know how I will be spending much of my weekend. 
More later! 
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Just Another Mobile Monday » New DualCor cPC Unboxing at Gear Diary Says:
October 20th, 2006 at 8:50 pm[...] Gear Diary – Double the DualCor [...]
October 20th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
Sweet! It is very exciting unpacking for the first time
Which do you like more? the DualCor or the OQO?
(The OQO price dropped recently… maybe that means they are clearing out inventory to make room for a new model)
Not sure which one to get.
October 20th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
Well, I guess it is technically the second time, since this is my second DualCor…but yes – it is still very exciting!
Allen, the only thing I am not thrilled about with the OQO is the screen size and the touch-screen itself. You should read Julie’s review, she included a video of the touch screen in action.
October 20th, 2006 at 3:38 pm
Does this one have the integrated WiFi/Bluetooth?
October 20th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
Ha! I haven’t even been able to look at it yet (seriously bogged down with a review for another site), but I know it won’t include integrated WiFi because it came with another Ambicon WiFi Card. I’ll let you know about the Bluetooth, but I am not holding my breath.
October 20th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
hmmmm… despite the OQO’s cons, I think the product is promising being able to dock to a full-size monitor and keyboard. But, I just noticed that the specs for DualCor indicate that it can also connect to a monitor and I suppose you can use a BT keyboard and mouse with it.
Very interesting, maybe the DualCor is the way to go
October 20th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Allen, not only can you hook the DualCor to a full size monitor, you can also use both a fullsize USB keyboard and a mouse with it if you wanted to - as there are two assignable (to XP or WM5)built-in USB ports.
I see the DualCor as a portable computer with the added benefit of a built in WM5 PDA and the exceptional battery life PDA vs. computer entails. I’m telling you – adding the PDA fucntionality was brilliant on their part.
I would never presume to say which ultra-portable would work better for you, but I have no doubt about which one was the better choice for me.
October 20th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
I overlooked the USB for keyboard and mouse. So with that WM5 ability… you can run pocketPC programs too? Wow, I want one!
October 20th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
That’s what I’m saying!
There are two USB ports on the right side, and what makes it even better is that they are assignable to XP or WM5!
You can use flash memory drives on the WM5 side…which I believe may be a first.
October 20th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Yes, Judie, but what about a scroll wheel? If I remember correctly, the dualCor doesn’t have one, but the OQO does. Right?
Personally, I think a 800 x 480 W-VGA 5″ screen is plenty big, especially if it means you can hold the device in one hand and read your eBooks. But didn’t exactly fill me with joy–it sounded like they were partway there, but not all the way, if you know what I mean.
On the flip side, of course, the OQO has that magnetic stylus thingee, which sounds like a nightmare. (I mean, how many of us have used our thumbs or a fingernail or something on our PDA? Not to mention that, in my house, I buy a stylus 3-pack as a matter of course every time I get a new PDA.) Also, Julie’s review, if I recall correctly, mentioned that the battery life was “up to 3 hours,” which for me, no matter how I seem to adjust the screen brightness and tweak the various settings and whatnot, always means “an hour and a half on a good day, and don’t count on watching that episode of Monk you pulled off of TiVo.” Can you remind me, Judie: how does the battery life of the dualCor compare? If I remember right, it was really good.
I’m hoping against hope that the dualCor people decide that one of the problems with the OQO was the price point, and will offer the dualCor at a lower price than the $2 grand U.S. that we keep hearing about. But I don’t have much hope.
But man, I want that scroll wheel.
October 20th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
It should read “but Julie’s review of the OQO didn’t exactly fill me with joy;” my HTML code didn’t come through, for some reason.
October 20th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
Oh Doug, you know how much I want that scroll wheel, too – but a great scroll wheel on a less-than-steller gadget does not a happy Judie make.
ha ha…I just referred to myself in the third person. ACK!
Anyway, you are right about the battery life bit; being able to put the DualCor into WM5 mode greatly extends the battery life beyond anything a dedicated XP UMPC could provide.
I think perhaps it might be time to post that comparison spreadsheet you were working on.
October 21st, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Now i’m confused.
DualCore recently said (to GottaBeMobile) that they had stopped developement on this device to concentrate on new hardware for 2007.
here’s my post at Carrypad.
Do you have any more info about this?
Regards
Steve.
October 21st, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Steve, I don’t want to answer out of turn. Let me speak with my contact and then I will reply.
October 21st, 2006 at 10:07 pm
WHAT? I was all excited over wanting the version 1… now have to wait until spring of 07 for a version 2? Sigh. :S
October 21st, 2006 at 11:50 pm
Hm. In my experience, devices that are delayed for a quarter or so don’t tend to go down in price, they go up. In addition, dualCor missing the holiday buying season is not a good thing. I’m not thinking that this is good news.
Of course, if they add a scroll wheel or a page up/down rocker switch. . .
(Never say die!)
Doug
October 21st, 2006 at 11:59 pm
I’ll let you know what (if anything) I am able to find out…but it probably won’t be until Monday or so.
October 22nd, 2006 at 5:55 am
Thanks Judie.
Steve.
October 22nd, 2006 at 6:02 am
Looking back at the original GBM article, it looks like the ‘quote’ has changed. It will be nice to have this cleared up.
Steve.
October 22nd, 2006 at 3:30 pm
I just spent over an hour on the phone with an insider that I trust implicitly. I hope to have a statement from DualCor that I can publicly post on Monday afternoon, or Tuesday at the latest.
October 23rd, 2006 at 6:33 pm
We eagerly await the comments!
October 23rd, 2006 at 7:24 pm
Rob Howe, the President and COO of DualCor, called me today and we spoke for a bit about the cPC and where it is headed.
I have since emailed him the notes I took during our conversation so that he can expand upon anything he feels I didn’t fully “get”, and make sure that I didn’t mis-quote him at any point.
For the record: He did not ask me to do this and I did not offer to do it, but since there is a lot of misinformation out there about the cPC right now, the last thing I want to do is add to it.
Hang in there, and I should have some information that comes “straight from the horse’s mouth” soon…
October 24th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Excelent work. Thanks.
Steve.