Is The World's Smallest Windows XP Computer For You?

3. Features: Stuffed To The Max

The following table details the wealth of features OQO managed to include in its tiny Model 01+. I'll discuss many of these features right after you peruse the table.

Unlike most mobile computers available today, the OQO doesn't use a lower power CPU from Intel or AMD. Rather it's outfitted with Transmeta's low power Crusoe TM5800 central processor. The processor's frequency range is supposed to be 667 MHz to 1 GHz, but I've seen evidence that it can run at lower speeds, 300 MHz for example. At 1 GHz the TM5800 can draw as little as 6.5 W and that's while providing Northbridge functionality, which is built into the CPU. How well does the CPU perform? I'll talk about that a little later.

Unless you plan to void the product's warranty and risk destroying the Model 01+, you'll have to live with the device's 512 MB of memory. That's because memory is soldered to the motherboard. There's really no room inside the OQO's case for sockets to hold removable modular memory boards. For a computer of this design 512 MB should be adequate, though I do wonder whether the OQO will be able to handle more powerful, more memory hungry operating systems and applications such as Microsoft's Vista and the next version of MS Office.