Vadem Clio Explained

The Vadem Clio is a handheld PC released by Vadem in late 1998. The Clio is based on an NEC MIPS VR4111 processor. All models use Windows CE H/PC Pro 3.0 (WinCE Core OS 2.11) as the operating system.[1] [2]

The Clio was rebranded by Sharp as the Mobilon TriPad in 1999.[3] Data Evolution Corporation currently owns the rights to the Clio.

Overview

The Clio is a convertible tablet computer released by Vadem and designed by Sohela. The platform was conceived of and created within Vadem by a skunkworks team led by Edmond Ku. Clio was first developed without the knowledge of Microsoft, and after it was presented to Bill Gates and the CE team, it led to the definition of the Jupiter-class CE platform.

The Clio's "SwingTop" has a pivoting arm with a 180-degree screen rotation. The Clio could run for 12 hours on a single charge. It is measured to be around an inch (2.2 cm) thick.

Handwriting software was from Vadem's ParaGraph group (acquired from SGI), the same team that provided handwriting recognition technology used in the Apple Newton.

Design

The swing arm and rotating screen concept was conceived by Edmond Ku, Vadem's engineering director. The physical design was the creation of frogdesign, Inc.'s industrial designers Sonia Schieffer and Josh Morenstein and mechanical engineers Richard Huang and Jenny Schlee.

The enclosure was made from plastic injection-molded carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide (nylon). The swing arm was die-cast aluminium for stiffness and strength. The video signals relied on a double-sided flex circuit that routed from the base up through the arm to the display panel.

Specifications

C-1000

24 MiB (upgradable)

16 MiB (upgradable to 32)

C-1050

24 MiB (upgradable)

32 MiB

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Brown . Bruce . December 1, 1998 . Windows CE, Round 3 . PC Magazine . Ziff-Davis . 17 . 21 . 41–48 . Google Books.
  2. Biggs . Maggie . November 9, 1998 . Lag in apps holds back sexy Clio . InfoWorld . IDG Publications . 20 . 45 . 119 . Google Books.
  3. Brown . Bruce . August 1999 . Hand-Held PCs . PC Magazine . Ziff-Davis . 18 . 14 . 148–151 .