Shoreline Research

'OYSTER' OFFERS A DIFFERENT SLANT ON DOCKING: MORE DESKTOP ROOM WITH A VIEW

Just last week, another simple yet effective solution quietly entered the scene at the DEMO Mobile event held in La Jolla, CA. We have known about this product for well over a year now, having met with the principals of the company to first see a prototype of the product, and offering a bit of advice here and there as they wrestled with the challenges of bringing that product to market. It is called the ‘Oyster’, which is a very unique docking solution developed by TCOM International, Inc. (Sherpaq Mobile Products). You may not have heard too much about it since a number of press people attending the DEMO event erroneously dismissed the product in a line or two of their reports as a ‘cable management solution’.

In reality, the Oyster is this and a whole lot more, as we discovered having had the opportunity to take a long look at the system and play around with the prototype for a while. Although we really hate the preconceptions associated with this word, the Oyster is a highly ergonomic device that transforms a standard notebook computer into both a very slick desktop system and a neat little presentation system that can be used in front of small groups. The docking system is not only easy to use, but it also connects keyboard and mouse through a single cable. It also positions the laptop so all those ports and connections on the back end are effectively lifted up top and into your line of site.

We should warn you, though. When you first see the Oyster, the whole concept will scare the chips out of you since it requires that you completely open your notebook to its farthest angle (nearly 180 degrees with most notebooks), and then slip the computer into the Oyster so that it is actually sitting upright on its front end. We have to admit, we were a bit skeptical about sliding our ThinkPad into this unusual device. However, just like scotch and caviar, using the Oyster is an acquired taste and can only be understood once you play around with it for a while.

The prototype device we have in our office offers connections for both a keyboard and mouse. However, the production system unveiled last week has an integrated USB hub that allows connecting keyboard, mouse, and printer and even allows access to the Internet. Both systems function the same way, since they lift the notebook screen to eye level and offer an easy docking solution with little muss or fuss about cables. The device is also available in multiple covers, to fit most office environments, and looks quite neat sitting on your desk or in a conference room. The system was actually shaped by a well-known European design firm, and has all of the charisma and cachet of a sports car.

We think the Oyster will be successful, since it comes at a time when a lot of people are mobile and are looking for quick and effective docking solutions that can be shared by systems from multiple vendors. Only very recently have notebook manufacturers decided to standardize on docking systems that fit their own systems lines. For example, the port replicator we now use with our ThinkPad T20 also fits an older ThinkPad 570. The Oyster takes that a step further by offering compatibility with most notebook systems.

Notice, we did say most notebook systems. While we did not test it on every notebook computer in existence (even we have our resource limitations!), we believe it may not offer quite the right fit for some computers that have a lot of controls locate forward of the keyboard, up near the touchpad, for example. Many of these systems target consumers, since the up front controls offer one-button Internet access, and even buttons that let you play a CD ROM without having to ’light up’ the computer. But, these consumer systems and users are not likely to be the primary target customers for Oyster.

Rather, we see Oyster appealing mostly to business users within a corporation, or perhaps in regional departments, who need a quick and easy docking or presentation solution that can be shared by many people. Telecommuters and at-home workers will also like the Oyster. If you are in the insurance biz, the product is even small and light enough to tuck into an oversize briefcase and carry right into a potential client's office or home. We would advise TCOM/Sherpaq to capitalize on the presentation aspects of the product, and maybe even strike a deal with a maker of remote control devices to offer an un-tethered method of zipping through a graphical presentation from across a conference table.

We can also see the Oyster popping up in college dormitories, since it can be an effective means of transforming a notebook to a desktop and then back again when class time calls; and it offer a dynamite way to watch DVDs on your computer since the screen is now lifted and tilted to a very ergonomic (whoops, there’s that word again!) angle.

Exact pricing for the system hasn’t been set as yet, although the company is looking to price it competitively at about $200 or so.

TCOM International executives have already met with at least two major notebook manufacturers to discuss co-branding the product – a relatively easy task since the front panel of the docking station, which covers the keyboard, lifts off and would be a highly visible location for a corporate logo. (Full Disclosure: Shoreline helped set up a few meetings with these potential partners.) Hey, we even plan to use the prototype during our many in-house corporate presentations and overviews, especially when there is no projector available to enlarge PPTs for a small crowd.

By Tim Scannell, President and Chief Analyst, Shoreline Research

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