Bluetooth Enabled External Harddrive 178
anocow writes "According to this press release at Nikkei Biztech (Japanese), Toshiba will be selling a Bluetooth enabled 5 gig external hard disk called the "Hopbit". It will be priced at 49800 yen. Apparently it will run on batteries for a maximum of 6 hours continuously. Talk about mobility!"
for that businessman on the go (Score:1, Funny)
Re:for that businessman on the go (Score:1)
Re:for that businessman on the go (Score:1)
Re:for that businessman on the go (Score:1)
Come on. For the businessman, 5 gigs is just enough for the powerpoint presentation of his company!
Re:for that businessman on the go (Score:1)
If I were so inclined that is.
Re:for that businessman on the go (Score:2)
If I were so inclined that is.
Yeah, I don't have any MP3's on my iPod either. All pr0n.
Re:for that businessman on the go (Score:2)
Compare 5GB battery powered toy to a rock-solid 40GB External USB 2.0 HDD. You're just paying a high premium for the wireless connnectivity and miserably small storage space.
Why?
Re:for that businessman on the go (Score:2)
You could share a drive with multiple machines without a network.
You could bring a new drive on line just by turning it on, no need to search for the right port.
Heck, you could hide the drive and store your child porn collection on it. Won't be easy to find when you get raided!
In any case, here's a lesson for you: Not everybody wants a hard drive with large capacity or ridiculous speeds, some people have other needs. Wireless is one of them. I personally would like one so I could ferry data between here and home (like backups, for example) without needing to hook up the drive every single time.
As a matter of fact, I have a wireless network at both home and work so my laptop can do that job. It'd simplify my life a lot if just had a cheapy wirless drive to do it for me.
Personally, though I'd prefer 802.11 over Bluetooth. But I'll takes what I can gets.
Thankyou babel fish (Score:5, Informative)
Toshiba announced October 9th of 2002, for Mobile of Bluetooth correspondence hard disk " HOPBIT " is sold on November 1st. You sell with the Web sight of the Toshiba digital media engineering. As for price 4 ten thousand 9800 Yen.
As for the new product, the hard disk unit and the place where the Bluetooth is combined with is a special feature, the large capacity data of the picture and music et cetera in the wireless the transmission * retention * read-out possible product. Inserting in the bag, and the like the case where it carries about you adopted the individual packaging technology which holds down vibrating * impact, loaded the HDD of 1.8 type 5GB.
When the power switch is turned on, because automatically it becomes long time stand by, the radio with just operation of the equipment which such as personal computer is connected and PDA, sending and receiving of the data is possible. Because of this while it is inserted in the bag and the pocket sending and receiving it does the data, looks at image with such as PDA of labor assistant, can verify the data. As for communication range with prospect approximately 10m. Besides the fact that also data transmission with the USB1.1 is possible, the Bluetooth USB adapter the same it is densely we to do, even with the personal computer of Bluetooth non- correspondence available.
The continual expecting time by the built-in battery maximum of 200 hours, continual drive time maximum of 6 hours. The height 110× width 70× depth 22mm (the projection section you exclude external size). As for weight 180g. (Akira Kimura)
* Tip of inquiry
* Toshiba digital media engineering
Business technical charge HOPBIT person in charge telephone 0428-33-6791
* Related information
* The Toshiba Web sight http:
BizTech compilation
Re:Thankyou babel fish (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Thankyou babel fish (Score:3, Informative)
If you want to discover any BT device, it must be set into "discoverable mode".
Then, you must "pair" any device before they will trust each other. It is done by entering same phrase into each device - so you must have physical access to device, and war-anything doesn't cut it.
Then you can turn off discoverable mode, pairing remains and the device works the way it was set up.
In other words, I can have this harddrive few steps away from you and transfering data from/to PDA and you will not find it (without special equipment, that is).
Re:Thankyou babel fish (Score:2)
Still Japanese (Score:4, Funny)
thank you babelfish
(English -> Japanese -> English)
The babelfish appreciate in you
Re:Still Japanese (Score:1)
> This still seems Japanese to me
Don't you mean:
This still Japanese me to seems?
The babelfish translation wasn't (does it ever?
Oh, well. At least babelfish saves us the time of translating stuff. We should be grateful.
Besides being a cool device, that site looks like a cool place to practice my Japanese translation skills. Or will be when I get done with www.godzilla.co.jp and the "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidora: Giant Monster All Out Attack" soundtrack booklet.
"His return is near..." Godzilla 2000 trailer
G Countdown: 18 days (www.godzillaoncube.com)
Won't it be slow? (Score:2)
Batteries? (Score:5, Interesting)
SWEET! (Score:5, Interesting)
I'd love to see some more Bluetooth devices coming out. Buzzwords aside, if all my random tech bits could say hi and do something usful when I put them in the same room, that'd be so incredibly cool, and probably useful too. Rather than a Picturebook with a camera you have to carry around with you all the time, I'd rather have separate camera and laptop, but when I take pix with the camera while the laptop's in my bag, it should send the pictures there, keeping the internal storage free. Keep a copy there in case I don't need the space, but mark it as "duplicated" so it can be overwritten Tivo-style if the space needs to be used.
Combine this with some of the wireless power things coming out, and we're halfway to a Star Trek world. Network the tricorders indeed!
Re:SWEET! (Score:1, Interesting)
You mean something like the Sony DSC-FX77 [slashdot.org]?
Re:SWEET! (Score:5, Funny)
My PDA+DCamera+laptop+cellphone+datawatch+tablet+HD will assimilate me...
Re:SWEET! (Score:2, Funny)
Combine this with some of the wireless power things coming out, and we're halfway to a Star Trek world. Network the tricorders indeed!
Easy tiger... there's still all that warp drive malarky to invent...
Re:SWEET! (Score:2)
Re:SWEET! (Score:2, Insightful)
At just under 1 Mbit, you'd better be staying in the room a long time if you want to sync up more than a single MP3. Bluetooth was obsolete before it hit the shelves.
Re:SWEET! (Score:2)
Hardly. It was never intended for that kind of thing, still you can do it.
BTW... How do you synchronise your E-Mail with your PDA?
Or your Address-book? And with your mobile?
How do you access the Internet with your mobile?
And with other people's?
With infrared? Not
Re:SWEET! (Score:2)
Or your Address-book? And with your mobile?
How do you access the Internet with your mobile?
And with other people's?
It's very simple. I have a server in my house, and all the data is there. Wherever I am, I can access the data, either using somebody else's internet connection (or my work connection), or through the browser on my cell phone which connects to the internet directly via my carrier. What do I need a PDA for? My phone has a browser, and my server does that.
The best part is that after all that effort, I only use all that stuff as a last resort, because when I'm away from my desk I don't want to be bothered with work.
Other then my CDMA2000 enabled cell phone (Sprint PCS Vision, faster then bluetooth BTW, so If I did have a PDA and it was bluetooth enabled, I wouldn't be able to get my phone's full bandwidth to my PDA), why do I need slow wireless?
Anyway, back on topic: Hardly. It was never intended for that kind of thing, still you can do it.
We're talking about a bluetooth hard drive here. At the optimal transfer speed, you'll need three sets of batteries to read all the data off of this thing. I understand that this is not what bluetooth was designed for, but it's the kind of thing that people want it for, and it should have been taken into account. Hence it was obsolete before it arrived.
Re:SWEET! (Score:2)
This is of course a solution. (Actually one I use, too. Except for accessing it via a CDMA2k mobile).
>[...]Sprint PCS Vision, faster then bluetooth BTW, [...]
Is this a reproducable fact, or the numbers Sprint gave you?
> At the optimal transfer speed, you'll need three sets of batteries to read all the data off of this thing.
So, essentially you're complaing about the HD being to large?
Re:SWEET! (Score:2)
This is, of course, makes it quite enjoyable.
Would it be less enjoyable with 6kB/sec?
> $0.02/kB
This on the other hand, could be quite a downside.
Hmm, 5Gb with $0.02/kB = $1000. It seems you have to pay for the extra bandwith and storage.
>>So, essentially you're complaing about the HD being to large?
>That's rediculous.
It's not ridiculous. Let me deduce my statement.
>Bluetooth should be 10x faster.
Then take WLAN. It is even 11 times as fast. But then you'll have to pay the price (energy consumption).
You want both? Me too. Furthermore, I want a high payed job with no work (not really, just to make a point).
So, Bluetooth exists and is as fast as it is for various reasons (simplicity, costs, energy consumption).
Then there are PDAs with a storage of let's say 32Mb.
It isn't unreasonable to assume that this is currently quite enough for most purposes, otherwise noone would by these things or even ones with 8Mb or less.
So, 32Mb is the total Memory a PDA. Now maybe you need more storage space, (Note the word "storage", not memory). There is a device where you can save the whole memory in roughly a minute and additionally you have a multitude of the PDA's space on it.
It may a ridiculous small disc and a ridiculous slow, but it is intended for ridiculous small devices with ridiculous processing power.
Compared for the targeted enviroment, it would be more appropriate to say it is ridiculous large. But it is probably the smallest capacity one get get these days.
Re:SWEET! (Score:2)
Bluetooth is mainly a replacement for cables used to connect peripherals, but it's also convenient for ad hoc networking (beaming stuff to other people without the point-and-squint infrared hassles).
It would make more sense to have a 1 GB flash drive with Bluetooth, since battery drain is a problem. But if you have a big enough battery, a hard drive is quite useful, and the idea of having data available to various devices is a good one.
It's entertaining how the component parts of a laptop are fragmenting out into separate devices to some extent - e.g. PDA (small version of laptop screen+keyboard), mobile phone (like a modem), hard drive, etc. A bit like the mecha's shuttle craft near the end of 'AI'...
Bluetooth stereo headphones? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Bluetooth stereo headphones? (Score:1, Informative)
For Synchronious Connections only up to 3x64kbit/s.
So, you'd rather have an integrated Ogg-player in your headset.
Re:Bluetooth stereo headphones? (Score:3, Insightful)
The solution would be reasonably complex and expensive as two bluetooth devices would be required, either a modified player, or a BT tramsmitter that connects to the headphone jack, and the headphones / earpiece itself. Both of these would require an independent power source. I would also wonder about the quality of the audio, as the current BT headsets are for voice and not HiFi quality music.
I would love to be able to keep my minidisk player in a backpack and listen to it without trailing wires, and have the phone interupt the music if someone calls. But at the moment vibrating alert will have to do.
Warsurfing? (Score:5, Interesting)
I wonder when "Bluesnort" will be coming out. >;->
Does anyone know if the encryption for Bluetooth is as braindamaged as some of the others out there at the moment, or if it's actually something halfway decent?
-SD
Re:Warsurfing? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Warsurfing? (Score:4, Insightful)
But I believe Bluetooth does have better authentication - including encrypted exchange of pairing and link keys - than WLAN.
Re:Warsurfing? (Score:5, Insightful)
Every new tech starts with issues. 802.11 is getting there. So will bluetooth when need comes up. But in the case of BT, you will have to be real real close to the person to *snort*. And so it is not really that big a security risk
Re:Warsurfing? (Score:2)
You only have to be close when you're using standard products. I'm sure some guy sitting outside in a van with a high-powered signal amplifier would have no trouble communicating with your BlueTooth stuff.
Re:Warsurfing? (Score:5, Informative)
Yes. It's decent. They've written a white paper [bluetooth.com] about it. And while I'm on the subject, Extremetech did a very good Bluetooth overview [extremetech.com] some time ago. Read it.
--Bud
Comparison with 802.11 (Score:2, Informative)
This Google-mash of a PDF [216.239.39.100] gives a comparison of security betwen 802.11 and Bluetooth. Essentially it seems to conclude that it's much harder work to get into BT than 802.11 unless you do it during the initial pairing of the devices.
What isn't mentioned is that Bluetooth is almost continually changing frequency, so I guess you'd have to be pretty lucky to follow it for long enough to get something useful if you weren't known to the "network". I must confess to being completely ignorant of 802.11 - does it do this too, or is the frequency relatively fixed?
My Bluetooth headset died a couple of months ago. Mind you, I did drop the thing in a fish tank a few months before that...
Re:Warsurfing? (Score:2, Funny)
>>by sdeath on Friday October 11, @07:05AM
>>As though 802.11 wasn't bad enough. Now we can
>>have someone sniffing hard drive accesses as
>>well?
>>I wonder when "Bluesnort" will be coming out.
With its 30ft open air range, I think you'd maybe kinda sorta be aware of anyone snorting in your vicinity.
Unless, of course, the snorter uses a BT(tm) enabled Pringles can to enhance reception...
Re:Warsurfing? (Score:2)
Talk about security! (Score:4, Funny)
Errr... transfer rate? (Score:5, Interesting)
Assuming you sustained a full 721kbps, you're looking at over 16 hours to fill the disk.
Hmmm.
Hugo
Re:Errr... transfer rate? (Score:2)
Re:Errr... transfer rate? (Score:2)
Hmmn... (Score:5, Interesting)
10Gb iPod on amazon is 400 dollars (same price)
But ther battery life is 4 hours longer
And 6Gb more space.
And MP3 player.
But no bluetooth. I dont think that advantage outways the disadvatages for most users.
Re:Hmmn... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Hmmn... (Score:1)
Re:Hmmn... (Score:1)
Doesn't seem so cool... (Score:5, Interesting)
I understand that this is more for synching portable devices like cell phones and PDAs, but again: why do you need this sychning to be so damn portable? Why not just buy a Bluetooth card for your PC and do all that work at home?
However, here is one cool idea: A bluetooth-broadcasting digital camera! (Do these things exist yet?) You would have the drive in your backpack and the camera will be able to take quite a few pretty huge pictures before it fills up 5 gigs! Still, I wouldn't want to go backpacking with something as fragile as a hard drive in my backpack.
Re:Doesn't seem so cool... (Score:3, Informative)
Troc.
Re:Doesn't seem so cool... (Score:2)
Oh great, so the next time you take a picture, all you will be able to see on the LCD is "Hacked by Chinese!"... ;-)
Tim
Security (Score:5, Interesting)
lots, apparently (Score:4, Interesting)
Retailers are going to need to examine these types of things rapidly, or there will be a backlash to the technology and it will go back on the shelf.
Re:Security (Score:3, Interesting)
It is now possible to just put this device in your backpack put it in range of a computer you have access to, and copy all files you want to.
At least with stuff like drives and USB hard drive devices you had to physiclly connect something to the computer, with this large amount of storage that is no longer needed.
Re:Security (Score:2)
Or do mean like plugging an iPod into a store computer and grabbing Office, PhotoShop, Illustrator and Appleworks? There's $2k worth of risk right there...for you if you get caught.
Copying all the files you want takes time and as you said, requires you to have physical access & control over I/O in the least...if you have access, what's the big deal with one type of portable storage over another...nothing unique about Bluetooth in that regard. If I have access, I can email it out or hit an FTP drop box, then wipe the logs.
All of these 'risks' are real. How real depends on who gets or loses or uses what. None of them are standouts and none of them are trivial.
Why not USB? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Why not USB? (Score:1)
also you have to attach the usb cord.
(Sure usb2.0 is a hell-a-lot faster than bt too, and so is firewire).
but for luggaging data between home/work/study/friends this would be ideal, you could have it in your pocket/bag and not bother even take it out.
obviously this product and usb2.0 40gigger are meant for different users.
Terapin Mine? (Score:3, Interesting)
This [terapin-mine.com] was always interesting to me, since it has storage AND the possibility of plugging in an 802.11b PC card (maybe even 802.11a? only supports 16-bit pcmcia), but there hasn't been much buzz about this product (though thinkgeek sells it [thinkgeek.com]
Something like this Toshiba device or the terapin mine seems like a great external storage device for PDAs (ipaqs and others with BT capabilities) or maybe a music store for a car player with BT capability (are there such things yet?)
I have my doubts about bluetooth for this, though... will not users suffer the same sort of issues as they do (did) with large-capacity mp3 players with serial or plain old usb 1.1 connections?
Re:Terapin Mine? (Score:4, Informative)
- Despite promising a developer kit, it is at least 9 months late [terapin-mine.com]
- It is expensive. More than an Ipod.
- No known updates (or ways to update) the linux based OS. And they are not GPL friendly, in that you can't get their mods to the OS.
Bluetooth would not of helped them any. Theoretically, you could plug a bluetooth PCMCIA card into the mine and it would do it as well (runs linux inside) so it should work. I would seriously consider it if these issues could be resolved....The "HopBit"? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:The "HopBit"? (Score:2)
Re:The "HopBit"? (Score:2)
(I really did!
Bluetooth Peripherals Yes...Storage? Maybe... (Score:4, Interesting)
Still, it does offer a taste of the type of devices we may eventually see that can take full advantage of wireless. I just don't think Bluetooth is there yet and I'd be uncomfortable trusting my data to it even if I could find a good application.
Just my thoughts.
~Cloudmark
Re:Bluetooth Peripherals Yes...Storage? Maybe... (Score:2, Insightful)
The trick is that if its not data that you need to keep secure and if it can be configured for say read only (or even write only) then its a lot safer.
Re:Bluetooth Peripherals Yes...Storage? Maybe... (Score:2)
bluetooth is great for things like keeping you cellphone/pda/laptop/desktop in sync. if you have a BT phone and laptop, you can use the phone as a modem for internet access (if you have the right hardware/software). wireless access to printers and scanners is great. printing and scanning in generally slow enough that BT is not going to bottleneck it. as time goes on there will be more additions to what it can do (things 802.11b is not meant for)...... like now if you have a bt phone and a Mac running OS X 10.2 they will sync. if you phone is sitting in your bag across the room and rings, you can have your addressbook on the machine set to pop up a callerID window so you know who is calling you before leaving your seat. you can also dial your phone from your machine (either a number from your address book, or one you find in an online phone listing).
i think it's things like that where bluetooth will pick up. it sounds like there will be a boom of gadgets for it that people are not even thinking of right now. at some point i would think it will be integrated into home automation. at least in the way of connecting a computer to a programmable control box.
Re:Bluetooth Peripherals Yes...Storage? Maybe... (Score:2)
Re:Bluetooth Peripherals Yes...Storage? Maybe... (Score:2)
This would be useful for small teams of workers who have to arrive somewhere with laptops and PDAs, and be productive quickly - particularly since the HD should be a lot more reliable than Windows laptops
Good grief. (Score:5, Insightful)
Bluetooth is nice for SMS, but anything bigger you're better off with an old fashioned serial cable cerca 1970.
Re:Good grief. (Score:2)
Now imagine that this thing comes out, in a nice small form factor. And that devices support it. You leave it in a jacket/ purse/backpack, charging it every couple of weeks (hopefully).
Provided the software is good enough (always the key), I would take pictures with my digital camera, and they'd be saved (via BT) on the drive. I get home, all I have to do is hang my coat somewhere near a BT receiver, and have it sync. None of those steps now apply. I decide to listen to some music, I use something like Musicmatch/iTunes to move it over there. Take something like the PalmPilot's keyboard, marry it with some sort of LCD (or glasses, etc), and there's your ultraportable. Hell, have TiVo save things to it on demand - now I can go to a friend's house with an episode of (tv show) and watch it en masse. Only catch on some of these is speed.
Ideally, instead of a "Bluetooth Backpack", this would be solid state, hardened, about the size of a credit card, and I'd have it in my wallet. Or if it was small enough (again, solid state, or just higher tech - how much do those USB keys hold?), on my keychain. Have an inductance charger on my desk (or wherever I hang my keys), and I never have to deal with it... it's just there. Talk about pervasive computing.
Of course, you'd have to buy a ton of stuff. Hard drive, BT-equipped camera, BT-equipped mp3 player (or headphones), BT PDA attachment, BT receivers for my laptop/computer/TiVo, etc. And some nice synchronization software would be a must. But hopefully I'm not the only one who would find this useful. And hopefully some of the manufacturers see the potential to sell me more stuff.
Hopbit? (Score:3, Funny)
Is the firewire version called the "Sauron"?
Re:Hopbit? (Score:1)
Great if I can... (Score:5, Interesting)
I prommise I won't type caps again, I'm just real excited.
In case you were wondering, 49800 Yen is... (Score:3, Informative)
Better start saving up. And I'm guessing that price doesn't include shipping.
DEAR APPLE... (Score:5, Insightful)
The part of the iPod that is reserved for the palm or whatever BT device accesses it could be allowed full transwer two-and-from except for .mp3's so RIAA doesn't have a shit fit. Do this, Apple, and I'd buy a basket of the little things!!!
Apple Replies... (Score:3, Funny)
The iPod is an MP3 player, its selling well. We don't want to turn it into a piece of technical bloatware that geeks can ask for any old crap to be put into because its "cool". The iPod is "cool" not because of all the things it has, but because of the fact it does what it sets out to do well.
We see no evidence that there is consumer demand for the device you describe, and USB and Firewire hard-disks already exist, we know this because we support them.
One product does not have to do everything, to sell well it should do what it sets out to do very well, and we believe the iPod achieves that aim.
Regards
Apple
PS. We had a bet in the office that you've never designed hardware, can you confirm this.
History repeats itself with your post... (Score:2)
"You can have your car in any color you want, so long as it's black."
Ummmm (Score:2)
Bad example, insert 2c to try again.
Idiot! Listen up... (Score:2)
One small change, including BT, and the device becomes SO MUCH MORE USEFULL!
Remember, there is a REAL WORLD of business and "stuff" going on outside of your little world of comic books, home work, and jerking off.
My only comment (Score:5, Interesting)
The Hopbit (Score:4, Funny)
Some evil use... (Score:1)
I wonder if it might be possible to install some of one's software on such drives?
If so, I could just imagine hordes of stressed-out execs on the Tokyo subway, turning their drives on in the train, then sitting down with some hot sake' and enjoying all the pr0n and mp3s the drive collected during the trip home.
So what's the "darchalk" symbol for an open HD? (Score:4, Funny)
The point? (Score:3, Insightful)
I mean what is the point? I could perhaps imagine some highly convoluted situation where it might be useful but it just seems like a solution where no problem exists. Besides, this kind of thing would be utterly useless on a plane where any kind of wireless devices would have to be switched off anyway.
Re:The point? (Score:2)
There are lots of other examples for PDA users who want to have a huge set of data with them (e.g. large databases, huge number of online books, MP3s, videos,
Re:The point? (Score:2)
If they want to do a network, why not use 802.11b? It would be much, much faster and more importantly is designed for such use. File sharing would be no more difficult than it is over normal ethernet.
Digital photography (Score:4, Insightful)
Take a digital camera. Add a memory card to act as a buffer. Add Bluetooth.
Take this product, but add a bigger battery and stick it in a backpack. Add a Firewire connection.
Now, when the camera takes a picture, with the memory card acting as a buffer, it quickly transfers the picture to the hard drive. If you take several pictures in succession, they are buffered and sent when feasible.
When you're done for the day, plug it into your laptop or desktop with the Firewire connection and move the pictures off portable hard drive.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Next Phase (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe a bigger version, with a slim dvd drive and a HD bay?
I love the USB/Firewire drive cases. Record SG-1, transfer it over and watch it during lunch at work for 4 days...
Might be good for digital photography... (Score:4, Insightful)
Amazing.... (Score:4, Funny)
That is, a lifetime of transferring over Bluetooth. This is such a step backwards it's not even funny.
I can't wait for the new 40GB external serial port hard drives. RS-232 baby! When technology really gets advanced, the computer and hard drive will communicate across a room with robotic hands doing sign language. Without thumbs you could do eight bits...how about 01000010?
I demand Bluetooth tooth (Score:2, Insightful)
New ads... (Score:2, Funny)
Trip to Mac section of computer store: free
Free software while you "pose" around the imacs: Priceless
(of course, it's mac software, so depending on your perspective it could be worthless... your call)
2.7 GB transfer per battery charge (Score:2, Insightful)
Make it bootable! (Score:2, Funny)
Another flash in the PAN, so to speak (Score:2)
There's something attractively geeky about stuffing your pockets with all of this junk and having it work together.
Re:Wow. Uh, why? (Score:1)
Well, for example, to use it as a storage device for a PDA. Or as a data source for a portable MP3 player. Or so I could hook it up to my home/work computer without having to shut it down.
Mind you, a removable disk is already a part of my combat gear. Wouldn't leave home without it.
Because (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Wow. Uh, why? (Score:4, Interesting)
- On an airplane you could be running the laptop while the disk is in the overhead. (After getting squashed by the people who boarded after you...)
- At work you could keep your disk on your desk while you move your laptop around. (And you have to make room for yet another piece of clutter for your office that needs a power source...)
- On the road you could keep your disk in your car while you move about. (And the wardrivers converge on your car from every direction so that they can tell their friends that they saw your hard drive...)
There are some downsides of course, but you could have a really super light laptop.Re:Wow. Uh, why? (Score:1)
Funny, cos in my laptop, it's the battery and the TFT that weighs the most
Re:Wow. Uh, why? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Bluetooth RAID? (Score:2, Informative)
Sorry, I don't know that it's practical. =]
Re:Show's Over. This "invention" is useless. (Score:2)
>External 40 GB Hard Drive. / USB 2.0
Wohoo. Great. Now how do I connect it to my Sony DSC-FX77? Or my iPAQ 3850? Over a computer?
Do they deliver it with the Harddisc?
Granted it's not a likely scenario, and that's the reason for the price-tag. Few people have a need for it, and they have to pay for the development costs.
>The concept is flawed
What point of the BT concept is flawed?
The idea to keep it small and simple to make it cheep and less powerconsuming? The idea of ubiquitous and cheap network?
The baseband-specification?
The pico-net concept? The small-range? The low bandwidth?
The SDP? PAN? The simple migration paths for old protocols like IrDA Obex? Serial Communictation?
DUN? Basic Printing Profile? Common ISDN Access Profile (CIP)?
Maybe, you didn't notice it, but there are a lot more mobiles out there than PCs.