Real Customer Mobile PC Challenge #3. The Pastor and his projector.

The latest customer challenge is from Brazil where ‘reverendo’, a pastor with a good choice of username, is searching for a UMPC. The query came through in the forum and Reverendo tells us how he has bought a wireless Panasonic projector for presentation and interactivity with his audiences but wants a ultra mobile PC to drive it. He tried a Palm solution but ended up in UMPC-land:

After accepting defeat with the Palm I started looking out for small notebooks and stumbled upon the Tablet PCs, sth absolutely new to me. To make a long story short I ended up finding out about UMPCs.

Read more after the jump…

The key points taken from the post:

• Windows XP in order for me to use the software that Panasonic developed for the wi-fi connection with their projector.
• It shouldn’t have any problems running all office applications including medium size excel sheets.
• It should be inkable, since I would like to use this feature in interactive training sessions writing down the results that different study groups have worked out.
• I would need a rather small device (7” sounds quite right, but I’m rather flexible).
• My main input method would have to be a keyboard, since I’ve never been a pen-and-paper person.
• I would have to be able to type with ten fingers
• Finger touch screen would really be fantastic, since it would make working with the device much easier, faster and more intuitive.
• I would also like to use this device for surfing, occasional blogging, reading, listening to music (with my Bluetooth stereo headset), skyping and other normal desktop chores.
• HSPDA would be really great, since these little devices don’t seem to be really upgradeable, especially here in Brasil. Real HSPDA is coming out in march here and though prices will initially be ridiculously high after some time they might be accessible to even myself.
• Money.

So assuming that we don’t need a VGA port built-in for the wireless projector, lets start with that ‘inkable’, keyboard-capable, ‘finger-touch’ requirement. Its probably the toughest requirement to fulfill. The keyboard requirement is for ten finger typing so I’ll call a lower limit to the screen size at 7 inches. Below that screen size you won’t find a finger-touch capable keyboard. The inking requirement means a tablet mode is needed so we’re down to convertible devices as being the ideal form factor. The finger touch requirement is difficult to define. I’m going to assume that Reverendo wants to drive the operating system UI with a finger. That means you need to be looking at 800×400 on a 7″ screen or 1024×600 on an 8.9″ screen. Its possible to configure a 1024×600, 7″ screen to be finger-navigable (large icons, wider scrollbars etc.) but it can be a pain in the neck to get right. The finger touch capability goes against the grain on the ‘inkable’ capability but lets assume we’re talking about quick scribbles and annotations here. No handwriting recognition. A soft touch screen could work.

So that’s form factor and screen tech out of the way. Lets look at the processing requirements. We’ve got Skype in the list of requirements there and in my opinion that can be a real CPU and memory hog. It needs at least 1Ghz VIA or 800Mhz Intel for voice comms. On top of that we’ve got the requirement for an office suite. There’s no 3D requirement and no extreme video requirements so either the VIA 1.2Ghz or Intel 800Mhz+ platforms are going to be OK. As there’s aren’t any VIA-based convertibles, its down to the Intel based options. Namely the Kohjinsha/Vye range, the Fujitsu P1610 and the Flybook V33/V5. The problem with the Vye/Kohjinsha devices is that they don’t come with the 800×480 screen The 1024×600 screen makes finger touch very difficult. They won’t even run an interpolated 800×480 either (this seems like a silly omission) and the inking experience is especially poor on these due to the frame, controls and battery position. You have the 8.9″ Fujitsu P1610 which should be finger navigable. The problem is that is has a relatively hard touch screen. The fingernail or stylus would have to be used. Its an expensive solution but a good one. The new P1620 would be the high-end choice but again, its very expensive.

At this point we should also think about two-part solutions. A 7″ slate ultra mobile PC and keyboard. Samsung Q1 range and Amtek T770 would satisfy the needs here. The Asus R2H or even R2E could be a solution but the heavy-touch screen would hinder any finger navigation. It would all have to be done with a stylus or using the end-of-fingernail method like on the P1610.

Lets add the final requirements in:

• Reading. The Q1, T770 and R2H don’t have very bright screens which limits them to indoor use. The fan on the T770 could be annoying when reading. The P1610 and 1620 have outdoor-readable screens.
• Money. T770 is good value but difficult to find. Q1 is also under $1000. Complete Q1P and R2E solutions will be in the $1200-1400 range. The P1610 and P1620 are significantly more expensive. A fully-outfitted P1610 will run over $2000.
• Bluetooth headphones. All of these solutions are Bluetooth 2.0 enabled. Reverendo would need to check that the A2DP profile is supported though. (I’m sure someone can confirm that in the comments below though!)
• HSDPA. The P1610 is available with HSDPA in some countries. The ASUS R2E too.

Reverendo doesn’t mention battery life in his requirements so I assume a 2-hours capacity would be enough. That’s all you’ll get from the T770 and P1610 (standard battery.) The Q1 will run to 2.5 hours and has a good extended battery option. The R2H is a 2-hour solution but usually comes delivered with the bigger battery (and a USB keyboard and case.)

There’s one more solution to condider. The HTC Shift. A unique sliding, folding design. 7″, 800×480, Intel 800Mhz, finger-typable keyboard (not as fast as other solutions) very nice soft touchscreen, HSDPA, 2 hours battery life. The only problems here are the availability and price. Oh, and the fact that it runs Vista. Bzzzzt! We’ll have to throw that choice away as Reverendo wants XP.

Final choices:

Choice #1. Fujistsu P1610. Its got everything that Reverendo wants except that finger control. Potentially too large to use as a reader. Its expensive. Tip: Watch out for the P1610 being discounted as the new P1620 is launched. In my locality, the P1610 has dropped by 300 Euro since Christmas. The P1610 might also be available second-hand.

Choice #2. Samsung Q1 or Q1P with the organiser pack. Excellent keyboard in the organiser pack. Powerful enough for Skype (has a nice array mic too) and expandable with an extended battery pack. Good community support. Prices under $1000. Q1P is relatively powerful. Finger-touch screen. Negative points: Screen brightness not exactly best in class. (Should suffice for indoor use tho.) Q1P is expensive. Resale of this shouldn’t be a problem if it doesn’t work out. Organiser pack does not allow lap-top use as its a fabric construction and not stable. Good two-way stand also helps with holding and inking while standing up.

Choice #3 Amtek T770. Solid construction and good two-handed controls. Keyboard (either Bluetooth or USB) will have to be purchased separately. Negative points: Fan noise could be annoying for reading. Also available under the Ubiquio brand. Resale could be difficult due to unknown brand.

Choice #4 ASUS R2H or R2E. R2H available in many places. Good value. Comes with a USB foldable keyboard. Has a heavy touch screen and a lot of ‘crapware’ pre-installed that can mess up the user experience. R2E comes with Vista Business (includes an XP downgrade option.) but includes HSDPA in some territories. GPS is included. Larger and heavier than most 7″ slates, especially with the (often supplied) extended battery. A Vista version with Pentium processor (R2V) is also available in some countries.

If Reverendo really really wants that finger-touch screen he should consider the Flybook V33i (or V5) but again, its expensive and seems to be extremely difficult to get hold of.

So there you have Chippy’s recommendations. Feel free to comment below and if you’re looking for a ultra mobile PC and don’t know where to start, let me know your requirements in the forum and I might pick it up for the next customer challenge.