Digital Trends

The FlipStart is based on a clam-shell design which opens like a miniature laptop computer; it's less than 6 inches wide and weighs about a pound and a half. The design is designed to be friendly for desktop use, as well as the "two-thumb" typing approach commonly employed by users of BlackBerries and other keyboard-enabled mobile devices. The FlipStart will run either Windows XP or Windows Vista, and is powered by a 1.1 GHz Intel Pentium M processor. The system ships with 512 MB of RAM, a 30 GB hard drive, and offers Bluetooth, EVDO wireless mobile broadband, and 802.11 Wi-Fi wireless for connecting to the Internet on the go or using an open Wi-Fi hotspot. Also on board: a VGA camera for video conferencing, a built-in microphone, and USB 2.0—a port replicator enables users to connect a larger display and standard keyboard in an office setting. A secondary LCD screen embedded in the FlipStart's lid can display data like upcoming appointments and calendar items without having to open the unit. The FlipStart offers both a trackpad and mouse stick, and FlipStart clams the unit can operate for up to 3.5 hours on a single battery charge.