Orion One Global Positioning Anywhere Device

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Touted as a combination touchscreen, netbook, tablet PC, and Smart Phone, the global positioning anywhere devices (GPAD) produced by Orion appear to be a unique communications and multimedia option for those that don’t have access to satellite phones or mobile broadband connections. Their latest attempt to garner their share of the mobile market is heralded by the release of the Orion One GPAD. But I’ve gotta tell ya, after reading the release and visiting the website, I’m not really sure what the hell it is or why I’d want one.

Orion Entertainment Systems LLC, manufacturer of the first GPADs in the world, has just announced their latest Global Positioning Entertainment Device called the Orion One. After the admitted failure of their version of the netbook called the Ultra Mobile Personal Computer, they’ve given it another go. Their new portable device is targeted at users onboard boats, ships, trains, planes, on golf carts, in trucks and in automobiles; basically the same market that is already inundated with netbooks and smart phones. It’s supposed to provide the ability to receive the Internet 24/7 and view it on a 6-in touch screen without an Air Card or traditional wi-fi.

According to Orion, the new device’s front end user interface is set up like a simple kiosk that allows easy usability for a three year old to a 100 year old. They are certainly on to something with that untapped 100-year-old user market. Maybe it would have been easier to say that it is so easy a caveman could use it. What a minute, I think that’s already taken.

The device lets you play games, use it as a GPS, play recorded music, make free calls, text for free, watch pre-recorded television programs, run office programs, SKYPE friends in foreign countries, read emails and browse the web all hands free. Now that last part I don’t really understand, because you have to hold the thing and it has a touchscreen. Oh well, maybe I missed something.

The Portable Orion GPED is equipped with a web cam, digital camera, Bluetooth, GPRS-EDGE GSM 3.5 G MODEM, GPS Tracking, 160 GB Hard Drive, 1 GB RAM, 1.87 MHz Intel Atom processor, Office XP, GPS, Unlocked SIM Card, 6-in touchscreen, stereo speaker phone and applications. I am still a bit confused about this product because it mentions that is has a 6-in and 7-in touchscreen in the same press release. Which one is it?

Anyway, Orion plans to offer wholesale pricing to the consumers and then sell ad space on the units to help pay for it. Are consumers going to be interested in paying $399 for another wireless multi-function device? According to the release, the plan is to run10-second full motion video advertising at the beginning of some applications. Why not license these things to the cruise ship companies instead? Seems to make more sense. The Orion One unit is supposed to be available through Orion’s on-line web store and in retail electronics stores worldwide, but when I visited their site today it wasn’t up and running. See for yourself at www.orionentertainmentsystems.com.