Jun 1, 2007 | blog
Kevin C. Tofel has posted a fantastic article over at jkOnTheRun that got me thinking. The article talks about mobility And how the features of his UMPC have augmented his smartphone.
In answering a reader’s question about what smartphone software he recommends, Kevin talks about how most of the functionality he used on his smartphone simply works better on his UMPC. I also have noticed a big change in how I use my mobile devices. Ever since I started using standby and sleep molds, my laptop usage has changed dramatically.
I have found that using standby allows me to get to my desktop faster and with minimal hassle. Since about February of this year, my laptop has become more useful and I have become more productive. Unfortunately, this also means that I have been using my smartphone much less than I have in the past.
On my pocket PC I have many software packages installed, but find myself using them less and less often. For example, I have a blogging client on my pocket PC but rarely use it because it is much harder than using the client on my laptop. I also have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for my device but again find it cumbersome to use.
While I do not have a UMPC device, I have noticed a significant difference in how well use mobile computers. So how has a UMPC or other mobile computer change the way you use your smartphone?
Via: jkOnTheRun – Has a UMPC influenced your smartphone usage?
Technorati tags: jkOnTheRun, Smartphone, Mobile Lifestyle, UMPC
Jan 17, 2007 | blog
I’ve been heading in the direction of using a UMPC for a few weeks as I contemplate my next computer sometime this winter. Hugo Ortega of Uber Tablet has moved fully to a UMPC solution rather than a traditional laptop or Tablet PC.
I’m considering doing a similar thing, though I may end up getting a miniture Tablet PC rather than a UMPC – not sure on that. The performance of most currently shipping UMPCs concerns me, but it sounds like there are more options (including dual core) on the way for 2007.
Anyway, if you are interested in how moving to a Samsung Q1 would work as your main computer, you should watch Hugo’s 3-part video detailing his setup.
Via: Uber Tablet – My Samsung Q1 Story (Video)
Jan 8, 2007 | blog
The more I’ve been thinking about which new laptop to get, the more I’ve been drawn to the UMPC concept. The lightweight mobility provided by the devices has been very appealing.
Samsung, for example, has a great device called the Q1 that really helped to defined this new genre of devices. Incidentally, Samsung has just announced the upgraded version, the Q1P SSD at CES (more info here at eWeek), that includes a 32MB Solid State Drive (Flash Drive).
The really neat thing about a UMPC like the Q1 is the PDA-like touch sensitive screen that you can use your finger or stylus on. This makes the device much easier to use and more accessible on the fly. It’s easy to pull out, turn on, and use quickly when needed, especially when standing up or on the move. But with a full WinXP install, the systems can run off the shelf software that allows you to do almost everything that you do on your main PC. This is the flexibility that I’m after in my next computer.
My current interest in this category of mobile devices is the Fujitsu LifeBook P1610 Notebook. This device is technically labeled as a notebook, and includes a touch-sensitive 8.9″ screen rather than a standard electromagnetic digitizer found on most Tablet PCs. The differences allow you to use your finger or other stylus rather than the custom pens delivered with Tablet PCs. Also, you miss out on the “hover” mode that the digitizer offers, though I’ve heard that is not a totally bad thing.
The system is kind of a hybrid device, that is technically a notebook, but because of the touch-sensitive screen mounted on a swivel it and the Tablet PC OS option, it can be called a Tablet PC. In addition, the size and weight of the device, along with the functionality lend itself towards a UMPC.
There have been several previews and reviews of the device of the last few weeks, with a nice video review over at jkOnTheRun. The only thing I wish for would be a dual core processor, but that would just consume battery at a ridiculous rate.
So, why am I considering a ultra portable computer as my main PC? Simply because I have no huge computing requirements. I have a decent home system that can accommodate my DVD burning and other processor-intensive requirements. My daily computing needs revolve around mainly web based services like GMail, meme-trackers, browsing, online office tasks, etc… The other things I use are a few local tools for blogging and editing photos and such. So I can get by with much less computing power than most people. The only thing I need is RAM, and the P1610 can top out at 1GB so it should work out quite well.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to pick one of these up in the next month or two and be able to give some real world feedback. There are so many options, a person could also go for a regular “convertible” Tablet PC with a 12″ screen for the same price point but get more processing power and DVD burning options. Tough choices for sure!
What’s your opinion on UMPCs and Tablet PCs?
May 16, 2006 | blog
Yesterday, Ilium Software announced on their blog that they will be producing UMPC versions of all their software in future releases. This marks the first Teir 1 vendor of Windows Mobile software to support the new platform.
“The UMPC is a natural evolution for users seeking a comprehensive mobile experience,†stated Marc Tassin, Senior Product Manager for Ilium Software. “We’re very excited about the prospects for this new platform.â€
I’ve used several of Ilium Software’s products. My favorites are currently eWallet and ListPro, but their new RSS reader (NewsBreak) has gotten a number of great reviews, and I guess I’ll evenually give it a try – I’ve not had a real need for a mobile RSS reader yet.
