OQO model 02+ gets OLED screen, Atom chip

OQO in a late-night announcement revealed the model 02+, a significant revamp of its veteran UMPC. The new version is said to be the first ever PC to have an OLED display and, as a result, has a much more colorful, 1,000,000:1 contrast touchscreen that is also more visible outdoors. Without the need for a backlight, it also improves battery life. OQO claims that, in tandem with changes underneath, the 02+ lasts about 20 percent longer with 3.5 hours of use on a normal battery and 7 hours from an extended pack. It also accepts both finger and stylus input.

Simultaneously, the system makes a major switch from VIA chips to as much as a 1.86GHz Atom. The chip contributes to the battery life gain but potentially doubles performance in regular apps and is as much as five times faster in media apps. RAM has also been doubled to 2GB. Networking is also made easier with a Qualcomm Gobi card that supplies either EVDO or HSPA networking outside of the UMPC's Wi-Fi link.

A stock configuration at $999 carries a 1.33GHz Atom and a 60GB hard drive preloaded with Windows XP Home. Options exist to scale back to 1GB of RAM but also to upgrade to either a 60GB solid-state drive or a 120GB hard disk. Orders start today but will ship in a broader first-half 2009 window.

Filed under: computers
Other story tags: Intel, Atom, Qualcomm, OQO, Gobi