It was meant to be the next wave of technology, the first step on the path to computer chips in the brain: the ultra-mobile personal computer. Too bad the reality was nowhere near the hype. The first-generation was an absolute failure – substandard hardware and superficial software in a size that did nothing to make up for the lack of performance, power and battery life (three hours at most). The mutant word “Palmtop” cropped up in nearly every critic’s review –- anyone remember it? I didn’t think so.
It began with Microsoft’s Handheld PCs, introduced in 1996. Half a dozen devices were launched before the format was quietly snuffed out in 2000. Many feel UMPCs are following the same path, but a recent slew of prototypes and promising announcements have bolstered confidence in the format, with the most optimistic reviews hoping they might be that coveted all-in-one device. Analysts are predicting prices to drop below $3,000 and batteries to last all-day by 2009 – which we all know is more like 2015. But if you’re desperate to relieve the back strain from lugging around that bulky laptop, here’s a range of the best UMPC’s coming out in the next few months.
Raon Everun – A one-pound, 600MHz monster that holds 60GB of storage space and has a minimum battery life of 7 hours. It borrows the palm pilot’s physical appearance – vertically shaped, the keyboard underneath – with the option to switch to landscape. Windows XP, WiFi, a touchscreen and a rumored $5,000 starting price round out what’s probably the finest UMPC out there.
Via Nanobook – Designed for those in need of a laptop’s horsepower, the Nanobook weighs in at a paltry 1.85 pounds, and its specs boast a mighty 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and up to 60GB of storage. The battery last five hours and it comes XP or Linux-ready, starting at just $5,000.
Samsung Q1 Ultra – Samsung’s 1.5-pound device is inspired by the versatile design of multimedia players. At 1.5-pounds, it has a split keyboard, a 600MHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 60GB storage, a memory card reader and nearly five hours of battery life, all for just $6,500.
Asus Eee PC – What do you really use your computer for? Be honest: word processing and web surfing. Despite the worst name imaginable, the Eee PC is perfect for your needs – only two pounds and featuring an Intel Mobile CPU, 512MB RAM, a 7-inch screen and up to 16GB of flash drive storage, with a rumored price of around $4,000.