The Gemini PDA Brings Back the Handheld PC

LAS VEGAS—Fans of historic handhelds will thrill to this. Today at CES, we saw the Planet Gemini PDA, a folding clamshell Android-based computer that looks like a Psion or Windows CE device from 15 years ago.

Are portable keyboards having a tiny renaissance? The Gemini is the third fourth dimension nosotros heard nearly QWERTY returning to our pockets hither at CES: first with the promise of more keyboarded phones from BlackBerry, and then from a Moto Modernistic with a 5-row QWERTY.

The Gemini is the nearly luxurious of all. Spec wise, information technology's a smartphone with a keyboard: 6-inch, 1080p 18:ix screen, Mediatek Helio X27 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage plus a MicroSD card. It tin boot into either Android seven.one, or a Linux command-line—the latter role will go far a dream troubleshooting device for sysadmins and IT professionals.

It'southward connected, of course. There's GSM, LTE, and CDMA connectivity, making it, in theory, compatible with all four US carriers, as long equally Sprint and Verizon don't pull shenanigans and block information technology. You can make calls using a speakerphone way or a Bluetooth headset, and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera supports video chat. The battery is 4220mAh.

There are two USB-C ports on the sides, for charging and—peripherals! Planet's will have an HDMI adapter and a USB-A/Ethernet dongle for the device. The plugs together will price $75.

Simply oh man, the reason yous're getting this is the keyboard. Now, I don't find this the about awesome form factor, personally. At six.7 inches, it'south a lilliputian bit likewise wide for me to comfortably thumb-type on. But folks with bigger hands volition thrill to the scissor-like depth of the keys and the sculpted, laptop-like key edges. Chiclets these ain't.

Planet went ahead and skinned Android with some software that adds an application "dock" to the Android UI, letting you spring between apps apace.

Certain, it's a niche device. Merely it's great! Dual-window multitasking is a blast on the Gemini, and that command line is going to thrill coders and geeks. But … I can't milk shake the idea that this is near too skillful to be truthful. The Gemini is currently rolling out from Indiegogo, where it costs $399 for the next two weeks; it'll exist $599 at retail subsequently that, and it arrives in March. Nosotros'll see if that happens, and if the device works when it does.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/news/19067/the-gemini-pda-brings-back-the-handheld-pc

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