On Carrypad.com we define a ultra mobile PC as:
A highly portable computing device with 5-10″ screen, wired and wireless connectivity that is able to load and run common internet, office, media and pim applications operated through a graphical user interface.

Its not a strict definition as we cover devices with 4″ screens such as the Sharp Zaurus and the Nokia 770. There are other devices though that we’ve considered from time to time but have not put on the product portal for one reason or another. Here’s a list of the ‘almost’ UMPC’s!

Read the full story

Over at Origamiproject.com, Kevin J has been asking for more info about the Q1 powerbank which I didn’t even know existed. Its an external power-pack that costs nearly $250 and weighs over 500gm. Thats a lot of money and a lot of weight. The advantage is that you will probably never have to plug the Q1 directly into the mains supply again! The powerbank plugs into the power input socket on the Q1 and acts like a normal mains supply giving you 9hours of life or allowing you to charge the main Q1 battery. After use, you just re-charge the powerbank on it’s own.

Hamtaro has the powerbank and replied on the forum with a picture and some more info.

You charge the power bank using the charger from the Q1. Then you plug the power bank in the Q1. The Q1 will react as if the charger is plugged in. I really like the power bank, because it gives me a lot of extra power. I also like the fact that I never have to use my Q1 anymore while having it plugged in the wall. I just use the power bank and than I recharge that.

Thanks to Hamtaro for permission to use the photo.

Steve/ Chippy

[url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6100498.html]ZDNet[/url] just ran a story about Arimasa Naitoh, who created the ThinkPad and had some exerpts from a press conference from the other day and had his thoughts on where he feels the mobile computing market is heading.

The only remark about the ultra mobile PC market in the story were:
When asked about the future prospects of Microsoft’s “Origami” mini-tablet design, Naitoh was skeptical. “I’ll have a hard time to convince myself that Origami will be a primary device,” he said.

So though he obviously believes in notebooks and small form factor devices he feels the ultra mobile PC will never take over as the main mobile PC.

I tend to agree with this. I don’t think these devices are meant to eliminate other PCs. The PDA was never meant to eliminate the notebook. Unless the ultra mobile PC can get as much power in it as a laptop can fit, it is at a disadvantage.

One of the things that you get with larger screened devices is ease of use. I can use Photoshop and development IDEs on a laptop happily, though this isn’t as easy on a 7″ screen. The ultra mobile PC has it’s place but I don’t feel it is as a primary device. Read the full story

[url=http://mobilitytoday.com/articles/sony_ux_90s_shots.html]MobilityToday.com[/url] just received a Sony Vaio UX-90S from [url=http://www.dynamism.com/]Dynamism[/url].

The UX-90S is the first PC to hit the market with a flash based hard drive.

The video review of the product is located [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mej7sf4uonI]on YouTube[/url] and has some good comparisons between the UX 90s and the Vaio UX-180P. Around 9 mins into the video review there is a start up comparison and the UX-90S goes through a whole boot up and restart before the 180p is even started.

There are some great performance test results available [url=http://mobilitytoday.com/articles/sony_ux_90s_shots/3.html]here[/url].

Interestingly the new flash based Vaio doesn’t have a GSM slot like the old UX models did. I am assuming this is to keep down costs. though it does have a CF slot. Go figure. hopefully it will include Edge capabilities like the 180PS in the future as I think having built in cell abilities is a great idea. Read the full story

PocketPC solutions, the Tablet Kiosk agent in the UK and Europe have a special offer that they are running through August on the eo 7110 UMPC.

The eo 7110 is being offered for a discounted price of £699.99.

We’ve tested the 7110 (actually we tested the Paceblade Easybook P7 which is the same device.) and didn’t really want to give it back. The mouse pointer and docking capability mark this as the workhorse of the ultra mobile PC market as it stands. A great device which will become even more useful when the docking station becomes available.

UK and European readers should pop over to PocketPC Solutions for more info and ordering details.

Carrypad Tablet Kiosk Eo 7110 data sheet with news and review links.

Steve / Chippy.

I’ve just got back from a week away in the UK where I was worried about keeping up with the ultra mobile PC news. There wasn’t much news though was there. I needn’t have worried. I think I can sum up last weeks ultra mobile PC news with just a few paragraphs.

Founder coming to America.
Firstly, there’s a new ultra mobile PC coming to America and it turns out that it’s the Founder which, in fact, isn’t new at all! ultra mobile PC core specs were announced at the beginning of March and 5 months later, the Founder Mininote dissapoints a little as it uses the Celeron processor. Granted, it has some good accesories, especially the docking station. The big question is, who is going to brand it? Frank seems to think that its going to be a Tablet Kiosk brand but with a Celeron processor, its going to cut right across the same performance bracket as the eo. If the founder had a different processor however, it could make a nice high-end brother to the eo 7110.
Tablet Kiosk said that they’d be making an announcement in July so maybe we’ll hear something next week.

Founder Mininote datasheet and news links

DualCor cPc
The second and final piece of real news this week was about the DualCor cPc. Judie Hughes of ‘The Gadgeteer‘ decided to take up an offer to buy a pre-release model and received it last week.
As expected, the first versions have no wifi or bluetooth built in but Judie says:

future shipping versions will include built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. Even better, I was told that I would be able to upgrade my device to the shipping model once they are ready. YAY!

The ongoing blog by Judie is available here.

So it seems that my little story about the cPc shipping was partly true. It looks like its available by invite only. Final versions are said to be shipping in the 90-120 day period. Thats past the Christmas sales period so I’d say Jan 2007 for this one.

DualCor cPc preview.

And thats it for now. Here’s hoping that next week is going to be a bit busier!

Steve / Chippy.

Cnet is running an article comparing the
[url=http://digitalliving.cnet.co.uk/specials/0,39030785,49282099,00.htm]Apple Newton against the Samsung Q1[/url].

Pitting a new machine against one that was released 10 years ago seems a little strange. However, CNet claims that the Apple Newton comes out on top.

After going through 10 grueling stages between the two devices the winning claims that won it all was the price, ($100 for the Newton and $1000 for the Q1) and the battery life where obviously the Newton lasts longer with an impressive 30 hour battery life while the Q1 doesn’t quite reach that mark and falls about 27 hours short.

So if you want a fat PDA from the late 90s I think you should seriously consider the Newton. if you want a fat new machine that runs new software consider the Q1.

Source: [url=http://hardware.slashdot.org/hardware/06/07/28/137207.shtml]Slashdot[/url] Read the full story

In an effort to report news a week after it happens, here is some news on a Founder type ultra mobile PC being released in Korea called the Daewoo Lucoms Solo M1.

According to the website the Lucoms features a Celeron 900, a 7″ touch Screen, MS Tablet PC, Bluetooth & Wifi, a 1.3Mpix Video camera, DMB TV Tuner, and a S-VIDEO out on its cradle station.　

Another important feature is the enjoyable message printed on the front of the device making sure that you always remember to “enjoy mobility”

[img]https://www.umpcportal.com/umpc/images/lucoms_enjoy.jpg[/img]

[url=http://www.lucoms.co.kr/]Lucoms Website[/url]
Source: [url=http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-12135-Solo+M1+the+new+Made+in+Korea+UMPC.html]akihabaranews.com[/url] Read the full story