Smaller and smaller.
Some prognosticators say in the not-too-distant future, you will be a walking computer, with all the necessary components embedded in your body somewhere.
The miniaturization of computing devices is part design advances, part cultural competition. Storage, processors, connections, circuit boards…they just keep getting more efficient and smaller all the while getting faster. The buying public seems to hanker for this trend, and so inspires the marketplace to meet the demand.
The latest manifestation on my radar: The Ockel Sirius B…which I found on an IndieGogo site. The smartphone-sized fully functional Windows 10 computer is made in the Netherlands.
- It weights just over 4 oz.
- Dual Band 2.4/5.0 GHz Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Intel Quad-Core Atom chip
- 2 x USB 2.0
- HDMI Output
- AUX audio in/out
- Micro SD slot (up to 128G)
…and best of all for voiceover people. NO FAN. All for $189 USD. This model has 32Gig HD Flash on board, and 2Gig RAM. It’s amazingly fast.
In the first 24 hours on Indiegogo, the Ockel Sirius B campaign was 100% funded. 29 days later it reached a mind-boggling 2945% campaign funding. I ordered mine in November, and it got here at Christmas-time. Here’s a nice little summary article on BGR.com
Ockel is already working on the next version — The Black Cherry — with faster components and more storage.
CAVEATS (nothing bad at all)
- You’ll need a screen that accepts HDMI (and an HDMI cable — which comes with the Ockel). What hotel/motel room doesn’t have that anymore?
- You’ll need a power outlet (Ockel comes with a USB plug and USB power cable)
- You’ll need a mouse and keyboard (but no cables. See below for why this means you really only need a keyboard)
HERE’S MY TOTAL OUTLAY (assuming I can find an HDMI monitor at my travel destination)
All of this fits in a 6 in x 6 in x 1 in pouch.
The keyboard connects by Bluetooth (but you could do USB). A mouse? I use my iPhone-as-mouse, and a program called Mouse Pro or MOBILE MOUSE that connects to the same WiFI as the computer. You could use a USB mouse…but again, why tie-up a USB port?
I’m AMAZED at how fast the Ockel Sirius B is. I typically use an Intel Core i7 with an Solid State HD, and 16 GB of RAM on my Win 10 Laptop, and this thing smokes it by a factor of 20. Seriously.
Obviously 32 Gigs of onboard storage is not much, but you can connect a TeraByte external HD if you want.
Any USB Mic configuration that you have will work with the Ockel. I’ve got Adobe Audition 6.0 installed and running like a top. I use my Zoom H6 to either connect via USB to record, or record separately, and insert the micro SD card (with the audio file) to import into AA 6.0.
Who needs a tablet or a laptop?
I reiterate. This is the full desktop install version of Win10, Microsoft’s best OS yet.
Technology.
I love this stuff!
CourVO
