Remember the Dell UMPC mockup that one of our readers sent us way back? Later Ultranauts had a posting on the Dell entering the UMPC market on the April 1st (yes April 1st). Now Ultranauts seems to have some insider information on Dell entering in to the UMPC arena.
Bottom-line? A Dell UMPC is officially on the drawing board and slated for release within the next 12 months. Not many specifics, but the designers are looking to differentiate from the pack with a design that is “indicative of the one shown in the promotional videos where the screen ‘turns out’ to reveal a keyboard.� Dell is apparently working to create a device that “appears� as small as possible. I don’t know what “appears as small as possible� actually means, but I would imagine it has to do with a small screen bezels and very rounded corners/edges…
Not just that, Tabletkiosk (according to Ultranauts) might be releasing a major update to its line of eo within the next 2 months.
I do hope that Dell deviates from the 7″ screen as what is missing is a device that has a touch type keyboard, about 3.5″ x 7.5″ x 1″. People want a basic computer with keyboard input (NOT any variation on thumb) and we want it just small enough to fit in a jacket pocket yet not so small the screen is tiny and the input method is thumb type. Dell should just copy the old Psion 5mx and use that design as the hardware model and make it operate with tablet xp. That small pocket size device had a expanding keyboard that enabled fast touch type input.
Let’s put it this way, If Dell decides (for real) to come in to the UMPC market, they will do the homework. Saying that they’ll come up with something that has been lacking in todays UMPCs. Pretty much with what you wanted and best of all you can customize it and get some good discounts
If Dell does go into the market hopefully they will do their homework as Alan does make a good point, so far the many hardware options for umpc did not do their homework. Price is only an issue with these devices when they do not meet our needs. Since all of the umpc’s thus far are not pocket size, require a bag to carry, lack a touch type keyboard; I can easily see why people say they are overpriced. It is for something lacking that much. If they did their homework and made a touch type device that fits in a jacket pocket then price is not an issue as it would meet the needs of many people.