Optoma's Operis-1 is a slate-style webpad device designed to serve as a mobile thin-client terminal. Its light weight makes it easier to carry around than a laptop or Tablet PC, while its relatively large display makes it better suited for business applications than most PDAs. However, the lack of a built-in keyboard will restrict its appeal outside of niche industry applications.
Released last month, the Operis-1 is about the size of an A5 page and weighs about 800g. It comes with an 802.11b CompactFlash adapter as standard, and so can be used out-of-the-box in a wireless environment. Target markets for the device include hospitals, schools, and warehouses, according to Optoma.
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In our tests, we found the Operis-1 a little heavier than expected, but its compact size made it much easier to use held in one hand than a typical Tablet PC. The drivers for the wireless LAN (WLAN) adapter were already installed in our review unit, so we needed only to supply the correct Wireless Equivalent Privacy (WEP) key to connect to the IT Week Labs wireless network.
The Operis-1 is based on Microsoft's embedded platform, Windows CE.Net 4.2, and so cannot run the same applications as desktop Windows. However, it ships with Internet Explorer 6.0 for Windows CE, which has much of the functionality of the full desktop version of Microsoft's browser; and also RDP 5.1 and ICA 6.2 clients, for linking to Microsoft and Citrix application servers respectively.
We found the screen of the Operis-1 perfectly adequate for browsing internet sites, as most web pages are formatted to fit the 800x600 native resolution of its screen. Its physical screen size of 8.4in does mean that small text could be a little difficult to read on some pages, however.
Firms deploying the Operis-1 have many options for expanding the device's capabilities. It has slots for Secure Digital (SD), CompactFlash and Type II PC Cards, all of which can be used to add storage or further I/O devices. Two USB ports can be used to plug in a keyboard and mouse, or USB Flash storage devices. A further "upstream" USB port is for synchronising data with a PC, and the Operis-1 also has an infrared and a serial port.
We had no difficulty accessing standard Windows applications running on a terminal server while carrying the Operis-1. A pop-up on-screen keyboard allows text entry, but we preferred to attach a USB keyboard when entering much data.
The version of Windows CE used by the Operis-1 ships with viewer applications for Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, plus a PDF viewer for Acrobat files, and MSN Messenger and Windows Media Player. There is also an email client, Inbox, which can link to POP3 or Imap4 mail servers.
Optoma ships the Operis-1 with a zip-up carrying case, which can be opened into a stand, in a manner reminiscent of old-fashioned travel clocks. The case also includes a loop for holding the passive plastic stylus of the Operis-1. The device itself lacks the usual stow-away slot found on most pen-driven systems.
The Operis-1 is based on a 400MHz Intel Xscale processor with 128MB of memory. It has a battery life of about four hours, according to Optoma. This means that the device cannot be used for a full day's continuous work away from a mains supply. Unfortunately, there is currently no extended battery option, as is common on many laptops and Tablet PCs.
An attractive alternative to a PDA or Tablet PC for niche industry applications involving data capture or form filling. It is more portable than a Tablet PC, and its 800x600 display and IE 6.0 browser allow users to access corporate web applications. RDP and ICA clients also let it serve as a mobile thin client terminal.
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