Whether you refer to small PCs with batteries Ultra-mobile PCs, ultramobile PCs, mini tablets, or UMPC, this category packs innovation into a little bundle that you can carry with you. Between Intel and VIA designing special chipsets and processors with better power management, rotational hard drives dropping in price, and the popularity of small display sizes in consumer products we've seen the sub 2lb PC market start to expand. The innovation doesn't stop with chipsets and processors though. We're seeing touch screens on more PCs. You can tap your way around web pages with your finger or a stylus. When you're using a full Windows OS with browser, you can run Flash and Silverlight based web apps, read and write PDFs, and even use a full productivity application suite. You can use these little PCs as a companion or as a simple PC system.
Is a product still in the UMPC category when a rotational hard drive is replaced with solid state drive? What about when the screen is just a regular display and doesn't have touch? Or how about when the operating system is mobile or limited? Why or why not?
Do you consider the ASUS Eee PC a UMPC? It's under 2lbs and has a battery, so it's definitely mobile. Granted, the machine as it stands today does not support touch technology. What about the rumored HP 2133 specs? It has an 8.9" display and is 2.5lbs. Is that ultra-mobile? If it has a solid state hard drive and runs Linux is it suddenly a mobile internet device (MID) instead of a UMPC?
Confusion in a category name is common when there is burgeoning growth in that area. Don't fret. The diversity is good. Companies will have plenty of opportunity to differentiate their product from others. As a result, we'll be able to refine how we use PCs and devices and find the right ones for the way we work... and play.
The key will be to make sure that the spec matches how you're really going to use the PC or device. For example, if you're planning on installing several applications, then you'll want to make sure you have good storage space or at least constant access to storage space. If you're paying for EVDO or always connected to a network, then you can consider accessing your document library from the web.
In your opinion, what makes a good UMPC?
The problem is...
The problem with the UMPC/MID space are the varied reasons for wanting a tiny computer. There are a few major categories:
Each of these broad groups have different requirements and, of course, the input method is critical: web surfers/IMers can live with the thumb keyboard; job specific use will probably favor barcode readers & touch input; while authors & spreadsheet mavens need to have a near real keyboard. (forgive the gross over-simplification)
One reason the Windows OS will likely fail in this space is that there has been no effort made to tailor the interface to the hardware display size with a "UMPC" display mode. That really leaves the desktop PC workers out in the cold.
The EEEpc (Xandros) did a tremendous job for me on my Spring Festival, 2-week, round-the-world trip. The Linux-based OS and non-touch screen limitations only prevented me from using one valued piece of translation software. Everything else was SUPER.
Is the EEEpc a UMPC or MID? Who cares! It does good work and is ultra portable.