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“TOSHIBA TOSHIBA LIBRETTTTOO,\h
TOSHIBA TOSHIBA LIBRETOOOOO”

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This is the Toshiba Libretto. It came out in\h
the mid-90s. It’s a sub-notebook PC, or Ultra\h\h

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Mobile PC, and it’s a thing of absolute glory.\h
L@@K at it! LOOK AT THAT. It’s cool. It’s tiny!

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But what about this?? THIS is the Vulcan\h
Flipstart. Also an Ultra Mobile PC,\h\h

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but nobody really knows about this one. Which\h
is strange, because frankly. This thing IS NUTS.

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We’ll get to the details of that in a bit, but\h
first, LIKE EVERY DAMN VIDEO ON THIS CHANNEL,\h\h

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Let’s rewind to the early noughties. A time\h
when tech was getting smaller and smaller,\h\h

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as opposed to absolutely mammoth like\h
today’s world of tech playing Tonka toy.\h\h

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God I loved things like my lil’ Nokia 7210i…\h
and one person who also loved it and indeed,\h\h

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wanted to capitalise on shrinking tech\h
was Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

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Allen wasn’t alien to new ventures. In\h
1986 he founded Vulcan Inc. to oversee\h\h

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his family’s business activities and\h
philanthropic endeavours. In 1992 he\h\h

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co-founded Interval Research Corporation, a\h
silicon valley new business incubator that\h\h

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generated over 300 patents, including\h
some which he would later sue Apple,\h\h

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eBay, Facebook, Google, Netflix and\h
Office Depot to name a few for violating.

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In November 1993, he acquired 80% of\h
Ticketmaster. In 1997 he purchased National\h\h

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Football League’s Seattle Seahawks, and in 1998\h
he purchased Seattle’s historic Cinerama Theatre,\h\h

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quickly upgrading it to 3D capability…. and that’s\h
just naming a few of his business side quests.

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So, it’s no surprise that with various companies\h
having jumped on the Ultra-Mobile PC Market,\h\h

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A term that wouldn't actually be termed until 2006, by Microsoft and Intel, but I'm using retrospectively.

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including the infamous Toshiba Libretto,\h\h

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Allen would like to get involved in that,\h
especially given his ties to Microsoft.

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Previewed at the 2003 Consumer Electronics\h
Show with the code name Mini-PC 

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A show that, by the way, holds the Guinness World Record as being the biggest consumer electronics show ever, with over 116k people attending!

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and then First\h\hshowcased in February at Seattle’s 2004 DEMO\h
Trade Show, the same show that had launched\h\h

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the original Palm Pilot back in 1996, the\h
idea was simple; create a fully functioning\h\h

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Windows XP machine but in handheld form,\h
and it certainly got the media’s attention.

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But this wasn’t the first computer of this\h
type of be announced; The Tiqit eightythree\h\h

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was showcased two years prior at the\h
Planet PDA Technology show in Boston,\h\h

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the OQO Ultra Personal Computer had\h
been announced in 2001 and was due\h\h

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out later in 2004 along with the then\h
called Sony VGN-U50, sans keyboard.

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What made the Vulcan FlipStart\h
different was really the name\h\h

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behind it; Paul Allen. Given all these\h
machines were going to run Windows XP,\h\h

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it seemed like the FlipStart should\h
really be the one ahead of the game.

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However, ahead started to feel like behind when\h
it took a further 3 years before the FlipStart was\h\h

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actually launched, with the first units shipping\h
on 27th March 2007. Here’s how they arrived,\h\h

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which I’m going to unbox as I explain the\h
fact that in between its announcement and\h\h

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launch a lot changed, politics, the world,\h
tech, the manufacture process of Pears soap,\h\h

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everything. Which meant some of\h
FlipStarts specs also changed.

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Original specs detailed a 5.8x4x1 inch size, just\h
under a pound in weight, 2-6 hours battery life,\h\h

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20GB Hard Drive, 256MB of RAM, a 5.6 inch HDTV\h
quality display, and a Transmeta Crusoe CPU.

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The actual size came in a bit more at 5.9×4.5×1.6,\h
with an extra half pound in weight. That might\h\h

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not sound a lot, but it makes a significant\h
difference in a handheld device. However,\h\h

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double the amount of RAM, a 30 Gig drive,\h
1.1GHz Intel Pentium M processor and 64MB\h\h

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Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900\h
try their best to make up for that.

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Even said, the FlipStart was now entering a\h
world where literal pocket sized devices like\h\h

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the BlackBerry were common in business\h
and where the first iPhone was starting\h\h

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its domination of the rest of the mobile\h
world. Even Windows XP had been succeeded,\h\h

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by Windows Vista, although really….\h
that wasn’t much of a problem.

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Roger Kay, president of Endpoint technologies\h
commented on the FlipStart’s launch;

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“The only people who will want that\h
is someone with a tremendous demand\h\h

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for mobility and isn’t compromised\h
by a lack of a fully functional set,\h\h

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they might sell a few as executive\h
jewellery, but they won’t sell any more.”

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But Allen was still very much convinced\h
in it’s potential; “Years ago,\h\h

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I began to imagine a super compact computer\h
that would allow us to connect, communicate,\h\h

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work and relax, no matter where we are —\h
one that is intrinsically intuitive to use.\h\h

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FlipStart is the first commercial product to\h
meet that vision; it simply works as expected.”

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As you can see, we got a lot in the box. A Quick\h
Start Guide, manual, battery, headphones, a lil’\h\h

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dock like thing, a case, AC adapter, a crap load\h
of cardboard, and of course, the FlipStart itself.

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First things first, we have to connect the\h
battery. As standard you actually get the\h\h

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chunky version that gives up to 6 hours life,\h
or at least, it may have 17 years ago. Christ,\h\h

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17 years, it’s old enough to drive.\h
We can then plug the AC adapter in,\h\h

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and BOOM, we have life. Windows XP\h
life. Well after it boots. Honestly,\h\h

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seeing a standard PC boot screen on\h
something like this is just so weird to me.

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One thing you recognise right away is the\h
absolute build quality of this thing. It\h\h

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feels like some kind of nuclear grade\h
military tech. Like it would win in\h\h

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a game of Chicken with a Nokia 3310.\h
It’s just so robust and firm feeling.

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It also feels immediately weird to be using\h
Windows, even XP, on a device so small,\h\h

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and that’s not just because we’ve\h
largely abandoned devices like this,\h\h

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but it’s also because, well, this feels like\h
a desktop computer, but it’s tiny. The screen\h\h

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being crisp, the mouse tracking definite,\h
plus the fact it weighs about the same as\h\h

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a desktop PC all help to give it that larger\h
than life feel. Its almost a little uncanny.

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This thing can do everything a desktop can, within\h
reason. We can play games, use applications,\h\h

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even connect to the internet, which is\h
great for checking out sponsor SquareSpace…

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Just like the FlipStart, you know where\h
you are with SquareSpace. It’s solid,\h\h

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dependable, and it truly is such an easy\h
way to build a website that not only looks\h\h

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good and has tonnes of features, including\h
hosting events and posting blogs, but it has\h\h

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all the tools to help you with BluePrint AI,\h
offering curated layout and style options,\h\h

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along with optimised SEO tools so that you\h
show up in Google for the keywords that matter.

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One of my favourite features is the ability\h
to swap between mobile and desktop views,\h\h

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so that you can optimise your content\h
for every device, including this.

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Just head to SquareSpace for a free\h
trial and when you’re ready go to\h\h

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squarespace.com/nostalgianerd to save 10% off\h
your first purchase of a website or domain!

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So the FlipStart feels like a big PC in some ways,\h\h

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but the brains behind Vulcan knew that\h
this very much wasn’t a full size PC,\h\h

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so we’ve got a number of features to help us\h
cope with the change in scale a bit better.

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You’ll note the trackpad is over on the right,\h\h

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with the mouse buttons over on the left.\h
This works pretty well, especially as the\h\h

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pad can be tapped and scrolled like a modern\h
day trackpad. But if you don’t fancy tracking,\h\h

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we’ve got one of those noughties nubs that people\h
got into for a while. They’re an acquired taste,\h\h

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but you can use it to fling the mouse cursor\h
across the screen rapidly. Next to the pad you’ll\h\h

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notice a discrete CTRL-ALT-DELETE button,\h
which is considerate, and the arrow keys.

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in this singular, well, D-Pad isn't it?

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Bottom left, there are a couple of new buttons.\h
This one brings up the dedicated FlipStart menu,\h\h

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which allows you to jump to files\h
and common organisation programs.\h\h

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The zoom button here is especially useful, as\h
it resizes the window you’re currently using to\h\h

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good effect, you can then scroll about if needed.\h
Press it again, and you’re back to normal. Neat.

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Standard media controls at the bottom, then over\h
on the right is essentially an ALT-TAB button,\h\h

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allowing you to flip between applications,\h
and a desktop button which, well,\h\h

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gives you the desktop. These are all very\h
useful features, especially in the XP era.

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But how does it function.

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Let’s start with the keyboard. I mean, it’s not\h
ideal. I’m sure you could get used to it, in the\h\h

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same way you get used to a ZX80 keyboard, but it’s\h
more suited for thumb typing. The only problem is,\h\h

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you need pretty large hands to use it in that\h
way, rendering it a little tricky for typing.\h\h

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Compared to the Libretto, which had essentially\h
a proper mini keyboard, the FlipStart lags behind

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But for general Windows operation,\h
it’s pretty great. All you really\h\h

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need to do is connect up a full size\h
keyboard, and maybe a monitor, and well,\h\h

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then it’s really not a handheld computer\h
anymore, BUT the fact you can do these\h\h

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things makes it versatile. However\h
we need the right ports for that.

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On the front there, we’ve got\h
our standard indicator lights,\h\h

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on the right we’ve got a jog button, a headphone\h
jack and some media buttons on the lid for use\h\h

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when its shut. The rear reveals one USB 2,\h
a power in, an expansion port and a little\h\h

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heat sink vent which pours out some pretty warm\h
air. Oh, we also have a little screen on the top\h\h

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which gives access to emails and the like when\h
you don’t want to open it up. You can navigate\h\h

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using that jog button on the side. Pretty good\h
for conserving battery life. Plus if you have\h\h

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an American version you can put a SIM card in\h
here and connect up to your mobile network.

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Which is prettyyy snazzy for 2007

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If you’re wondering about that expansion\h
slot, that’s where the Port Replicator\h\h

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plugs in. Giving us a VGA out, speaker\h
out, ethernet and two USBs. It’s kinda\h\h

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like a mini dock, and allows us to\h
go into that FULL productivity mode.

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Hell yeah, this thing is pumping out 1280×1024\h
on our new monitor, along with 1024×600 on it’s\h\h

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own screen with no sweat. Alright, maybe a little\h
bit, but LOOK AT THIS SIZE OF IT. It’s nuts. You\h\h

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can push the build in screen up to 1024×768\h
if you really want, but then you just have\h\h

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to scroll about. There’s no need the standard\h
resolution is decent and looks sharp as a pin.

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Alright screw productivity, let’s try\h
and play some games on this thing.

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You know it kinda works, out of the box,\h
the FlipStart shipped with a Quake 3 demo,\h\h

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to show what it’s really made of, and why\h
not, it works pretty well for most games.

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The only times I ran into trouble were trying\h
to use these little arrow keys to games which\h\h

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are very much geared up to use standard\h
arrow keys. Crazy Taxi is a bit of a pain.

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Oh, also you’re not going to get far\h
in Typing of the Dead on this thing.

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But it’s great. It’s almost like a lil Steam Deck,\h\h

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well ahead of its time. I can see many\h
an exec getting in a quick blast on Grand\h\h

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Theft Auto on a lunch break. Pop some\h
headphones on and who’s gonna know?

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Honestly, it’s a shame this didn’t sell\h
better, because it’s both a crazy and\h\h

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incredibly professional bit of kit, and I\h
can see why they’re so sought after today.

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However, the FlipStart witnessed a slow uptake,\h
with it’s US price slashed by $500 just 6\h\h

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months after launch. By January 2008, it was down\h
to $699, or just £339 in the UK, and by the middle\h\h

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of the year, all initial units had sold out, with\h
Vulcan downing tools and making no more. With\h\h

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all warranties expiring a year later, support was\h
withdrawn and the FlipStart faded into obscurity.

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The FlipStart felt like something that\h
people wanted. It felt like something\h\h

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that could fit in pockets and be useful. But it\h
was just a little too big and bulky for that,\h\h

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and if you’re going to carry something around,\h
you might as well make it a more usable laptop,\h\h

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especially given you could\h
get more bang for your buck.

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Roger Kay it seems was right, it was\h
jewellery, a gadget, a cool toy to show off,\h\h

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with very few practical uses, and weirdly enough\h
that’s exactly what it remains. Unless of course\h\h

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00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:09,240
you want to just use it as a very expensive and\h
rare XP gaming handheld. Then, go for your life.

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I... salute.. you...fully.

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Paul Allen fulfilled his tiny computer dream,\h
and in many ways it was a great success. It does\h\h

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everything that he set out for it to do, and it\h
does it well. It’s just the market wasn’t there\h\h

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for it. It was going in the opposite direction,\h
and in just a few years we’d all be playing with\h\h

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whopping great ipads. It’s a shame really, because\h
tiny tech like this, really is cool as hell.

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and I think it always will be...

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So there we go, that’s the Vulcan Flipstart\h
ultra mobile PC. What a fantastic piece of\h\h

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kit from the past. It’s also about to go on\h
my eBay shop, which has just re-opened! So if\h\h

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you want to pick this up, or anything else,\h
follow the link below and see what you find!

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Until next time, I’ve been\h
Nostalgia Nerd, Toodleoo.

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“TOSHIBA LIBRETTTTO, why do you\h
come to myy barrrr?…. [taps]\h\h

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Toshiba Libretto…*sniggers* people walking\h
past like.. what the hell is going on??”