Paul Allen's latest start-up, FlipstartPC (from which the image at right is taken) has delivered its first product, which The Register mistakenly refers to as an "Always-On" PC.

I say the reference is a mistake although I know they will disagree. I'm defining Always-On as one thing, they're defining it (in this case) as simply something that doesn't really turn-off -- it just goes to sleep when you close the lid.

Be that as it may, when I first read the news I wanted one. Ever since I defined "Dana's Iron Law of Laptops" -- an ounce on the desk is a pound in my hand -- I've been looking for a full-featured (that means it has a keyboard) PC that "gets it."

This one seems to "get it."

They are claiming a real QWERTY keyboard, a real screen, and a real XP-running machine (at just 1 GHz) that weighs one pound -- that's .4 kg. metric.

Judging from the picture that's a stretch. My fingers aren't this small, and if a QWERTY keyboard is to be useful both hands have to get on it. Many companies, including Palm, have found ways to create real keyboards that fold-up.

There is a lot that's right here, but that last is a deal-breaker in my case. So far the best (by far) laptop I've seen for my needs, in 20 years of looking at them, is the old Sinclair ZX-81. (The picture comes from "Jerry's Computer Museum" at the Chester Carlson Center over at the Rochester Institute of Technology.) Give me a a flip-over color screen that doubles as as a keyboard cover, just enough power to run what I need on the road, wireless networking, maybe a modem for when I'm in a pinch, and we're there.

Dana Blankenhorn