I’m starting to get worried. Its only 3 months until CeBIT and I haven’t got a ultra mobile PC for my ultra mobile reporting kit. I sold the Kohjinsha SH6 as the battery life wasn’t good enough and the Packard Bell Easynote XS20 went to someone in Holland and I’m left with a few slate UMPCs and a Nokia N810. Strangely enough, the device at the top of my list now is the old Kohjinsha SA1 F00KS that I took a version of last year. (AKA Vye S18P) Its got the battery life, the form factor and the good keyboard. There isn’t another device on the market that brings in that sort of battery life, screen quality, keyboard and portability and I really doubt that there will be one before March 2008.
The only problem is that I need built-in HSDPA which it hasn’t got so currently I’m looking to see if I can pick up a Vye S18P, get it modded with a 16 or 32GB SSD and then add the Vye CF-HSDPA adaptor. Isn’t it crazy that two years after the launch of UMPCs’ I’m looking at a device based on a platform that wasn’t part of ‘Origami’ at all. Its all about battery life I guess.
So if anyone can find me a 7" convertible touchscreen notebook PC with a good keyboard, Windows XP, SSD, built-in HSDPA, and 4+ hours battery life, let me know! A modded EeePC you say? Yes, its a possibility but I want to have a word with the guys at VyePC first. I wonder if they can do me a special version of the S18P with SSD and a UMPCPortal logo!!
One bit of related news: The Vye S37 is now being offered with XP and a ‘no-os’ option in the U.S. Thanks to Neal for that tip-off.
