A number of Asian manufactures are expected to launch ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) products following Microsofts UMPC announcement at CeBIT earlier this year. Code-named Origami during development, the new UMPC is the size of a paperback book and combines the functionality of a laptop with a media player, with features such as MP3 and video playback, mobile TV, digital organizer, and GPS navigation.
Showing: All entries for April, 2006
30Apr2006
We know we’ve been giving the UMPC — specifically the Q1 — a lot of face time, but we have to admit, even though we’re unimpressed with the first generation of these devices both in capabilities and having played around with ‘em, we’re still interested. And to our surprise an English site called Personal Computer World not only got and reviewed a Q1, but gave it some very high marks, citing its quiet fan, sleek form factor, and bright, clear display as high points for the device. In fact, they only knocked on it for having a “standard” battery life (huh? 2.5 hours is now standard?), smallish drive, and, of course, sucky Celeron-powered under-performance. Will all those 4/5-star ratings they laid down be enough to get users to plunk down £799 (about $1450 US) for one of their own? We don’t know, but we didn’t exactly find it encouraging that Samsung told PCW only “hundreds” had been pre-ordered.
Verdict
Pros: Small; good design; plenty of uses
Cons: Standard battery life; small hard drive; processing power
Overall: A new era in mobile computing, but we’re struggling to work out who it’s aimed at
30Apr2006
The Ulta Mobile Portable Computer is the next series of Windows based devices coming to market. The XP Tablet PC Edition device will provide a more portable solution for those of us who want to do more on the go than our current Windows Mobile 5 or Palm mobile phones will do.
26Apr2006
For UMPCs to be a success, they must be more than a slimmed-down notebook or large PDA. “If it is going to end up that way, I don’t think it will succeed. It has to be something beyond just an ‘in-between,’ ” said Dadi Perlmutter, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Mobility Group.
25Apr2006
UMPC, Mini Laptop and Tablet PCs all have their own peculiar features, and potential customers need to think carefully about the use they will put it to.
The UMPC is equipped with Microsoft’s Windows XP, including the various applications that comes with, but only weighs around 800g. But there are serious drawbacks. The screen measures a mere 7 inches, while the price is a hefty W1 million (US $1,000). For that, customers get a battery life of a paltry two or three hours.
