15May2007
Posted by Joe
in Analysis and Videos.
Steve has done a great job on demonstrating the Via based Medion UMPC with Vista and from using it as your main desktop. Take a look at the video below for details.
One thing to note is that I’ve optimised Vista on this UMPC. If you’re using Windows Vista on any UMPC I recommend the following optimisations: Turn off Indexing. Turn off Windows Defender checks. Turn off the anti-phishing filter in Internet explorer. Reduce screen candy (System->Advanced->Performance Settings) and try out the registry mod that the members of Origamiproject have been testing out. I’ve found it to be good at reducing disk activity on this UMPC.
Vista on VIA. Desktop UMPC Demo [UMPC Portal]
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06Apr2007
Posted by Joe
in Analysis and Hardware.
We’ve been hearing about the new Intel platform for UMPC for sometime now. Today HKEPC gives us more details about the product. This is codenamed “McCaslin” and to be released 18th of this month. They are reporting a while lot of details some of which are too hard to believe, but really encouraging — like by 2010 Intel expects 10% of the total PC users to be using UMPCs.
…McCaslin adopts the north bridge codenamed Little River, which occupied a space of 22mmx22mm, and approximately 34% of space is freed when compared to the previous model. Little River also supports 400MHz FSB and DDR-2 400 memory modules up to 1GB. In addition, Little River contains Intel GMA X3000 and supports the DirectX 9.0c, as well as achieves Vista Premium. On the other side, the south bridge adopts ICH 7U which is the simplified version of ICH7-M. ICH 7U supports 8 groups of USB 2.0 ports, occupied space is 15mmx15mm, and around 77% space is saved…
Intel expectes the share of UMPC in the PC market will continually go up and score around 10% raising or above by 2010. Therefore Intel has sketched out the detailed future plan for UMPC. By the 2nd quarter of 2008, the Menlow platform will be launched, and all spaces will be further shrunken as the single-ship design will be adopted by the chipsets. The processor will also shift to the 45nm manufacturing. In 2009, memory controller and IGP engine will be further integrated into the processor, and new chipsets will be taken up. It is expected that efficiency will be heightened 2 times when compared to that of two years before, and the runtime of battery will be greatly heightened to 12 -24 hours.
Intel Launches a Brand-New UMPC Platform: Stealey Walking to Micromation [via engadget]
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30Mar2007
Posted by Joe
in Analysis.
Time has an article about a Billionaire’s bet, yes they are talking about FlipStart backed by Paul Allen. Though OQO has been in the game long enough, even before the concept of an UMPC came in to being, they already have the second generation of devices shipping. The only problem is that according to Microsoft the UMPCs were supposed to have a 5 to 7 inch screen with touch screen — the OQO does not have touch enabled screen but is categorized under UMPC.
Paul Allen seems very confident about the future of these devices. FlipStart was first announced / showcased about 3 years back but never made it in to production. They have their first generation now in to production.
Allen, 54, sees UMPCs as nothing less than a game changer. “We’re going to see an explosive evolution of devices like this,” he says, “because people want to carry their personal computer with them wherever they go.”
But then Time seems to be saying that Apple which has seems to be having the major buzz for its forthcoming iPhone (running a slim down version of the Mac OS X) might actually make an UMPC which might be a killer competition for this market. Time suggests that they have something like a “subnotebook” already in the plans!
Apple could employ flash memory instead of a standard hard disc, extending a mini Mac’s battery life and allowing it to start up quickly, like a phone. A Jobs subnotebook would likely be bigger than FlipStart’s but smaller than a laptop. Apple would have a distinct software advantage, given its focus on nongeeks.
Not sure if all Apple fan boys are “nongeeks”, but hey thats what Time has to say. Remember the Apple Tablet? We welcome your opinions too, go ahead comment!
A Billionaire’s Bet [Time]
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22Mar2007
Posted by Joe
in Analysis.
It’s been well over a year since the UMPCs were announced. The first generation of UMPCs were not that promising, but the second generation devices seem to be more powerful, sleeker, smarter, lighter and better performing. With such devices soon to hit the shelves there has been a lot of media (those that are more news & business focused than just technology) coverage on these devices lately. Here is a run down.
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19Jan2007
Steve has found more details of the US700 series. Well I was wondering why the product is named US* and I hope we have the answer.
(US700 series compared with Asus R2H - it is slim!)
From the details, looks like this is designed and manufactured by a team named KIDC The name US700 series is probably because they are calling their UMPC as USPC — so what does that mean? Ultra Slim PC.
So anyone know about the KIDC? (Not sure if it’s the “Korea Internet Data Center“) The Korean site has the LG logo on the very top and not sure if it’s a part of LG. (If you are from Korea can you please let us know).
Head over here for tones of images of the KIDC US700 series. [via Carrypad]
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