Comments on: The UMPC is dead; long live the netbook! http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/ ...smart gadgets for a smarter world Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:07:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: gknight http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-1496 gknight Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:52:53 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-1496 I'm posting this from a x9500. Very poor article. There is no difference between a umpc and "netbook" except for price. Infact my x9500 which you have listed as a umpc actually fills all the characteristics of a "netbook" and misses one for umpc(it runs at 800mhz and not 1ghz). What was the main reason for buying the x9500 over the asus netbooks. Netbooks don't have toch screens. It was that simple. I can use the umpc with out even revealing the keyboard I’m posting this from a x9500. Very poor article. There is no difference between a umpc and “netbook” except for price. Infact my x9500 which you have listed as a umpc actually fills all the characteristics of a “netbook” and misses one for umpc(it runs at 800mhz and not 1ghz).
What was the main reason for buying the x9500 over the asus netbooks. Netbooks don’t have toch screens. It was that simple. I can use the umpc with out even revealing the keyboard

]]> By: scape http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-1448 scape Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:36:09 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-1448 I agree with realtor on some points. It is already converging, no wonder the formfactor names are dissappearing/reinvented so quickly. In a matter of time both the iphone and netbook will converge into the happy medium we all want. The key, I think, is to dump the keyboard and finally find an alternate interface that works well; but for the meantime what would be real nice is a flexible screen (oled) that can be folded up/rolled up and stashed in my pocket-- enough with these solid cases! I agree with realtor on some points. It is already converging, no wonder the formfactor names are dissappearing/reinvented so quickly. In a matter of time both the iphone and netbook will converge into the happy medium we all want. The key, I think, is to dump the keyboard and finally find an alternate interface that works well; but for the meantime what would be real nice is a flexible screen (oled) that can be folded up/rolled up and stashed in my pocket– enough with these solid cases!

]]> By: Electric Vagabond http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-1444 Electric Vagabond Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:22:39 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-1444 Wow very informative and great post. I used to hang onto the term UMPC but now am coming to accept Netbook as a more suitable (and less syllabic) alternative. I like Gizmodo's definition of Netbook being a fully featured computer with a small footprint of an 11" screen or less. The only downside I can see to the Netbook term is it does not stress the portability that is the main striking appeal of these PCs. I run a nice Netbook blog at www.electricvagabond.com if you are interested. I have started migrating to the Netbook terminology. Wow very informative and great post. I used to hang onto the term UMPC but now am coming to accept Netbook as a more suitable (and less syllabic) alternative. I like Gizmodo’s definition of Netbook being a fully featured computer with a small footprint of an 11″ screen or less. The only downside I can see to the Netbook term is it does not stress the portability that is the main striking appeal of these PCs.

I run a nice Netbook blog at http://www.electricvagabond.com if you are interested. I have started migrating to the Netbook terminology.

]]> By: Realtor http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-1432 Realtor Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:57:16 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-1432 I think you are being short sighted. The technology that allows a netbook to be made and sold for $300 to $500 dollars will be ported to the UMPC world too. (And upward into the full size notebook world also.) I see no reason that early next year you should not see UMPCs in the same price range. The deciding factor for success will be form factor. Keyboard or no keyboard, netbook or slider, stylus or finger. Eventually the guts will all be the same. Just my opinion. I think you are being short sighted. The technology that allows a netbook to be made and sold for $300 to $500 dollars will be ported to the UMPC world too. (And upward into the full size notebook world also.) I see no reason that early next year you should not see UMPCs in the same price range. The deciding factor for success will be form factor. Keyboard or no keyboard, netbook or slider, stylus or finger. Eventually the guts will all be the same. Just my opinion.

]]> By: mirmit http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-1393 mirmit Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:05:54 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-1393 @tom61: see Adobe 'OpenScreen' initiative (http://www.adobe.com/openscreenproject/). This will more likely open flash player toward exotic environment. Flash has already been ported to non x86 environment, including cellphone. @tom61: see Adobe ‘OpenScreen’ initiative (http://www.adobe.com/openscreenproject/). This will more likely open flash player toward exotic environment. Flash has already been ported to non x86 environment, including cellphone.

]]> By: Devon Mounthell http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-1365 Devon Mounthell Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:52:40 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-1365 Regarding the MID, you've made the all-too-common mistake of spuriously extrapolating from a too-small sample or -brief snapshot in time. Obviously, the "killer application" for mobile devices doesn't exist yet. Moreover, the relatively larger screen sizes you tout for the "netbooks" provide lower utility because they suck more milliwatt-hours. Your commentary is therefore intemperate/premature. Regarding the MID, you’ve made the all-too-common mistake of spuriously extrapolating from a too-small sample or -brief snapshot in time. Obviously, the “killer application” for mobile devices doesn’t exist yet.

Moreover, the relatively larger screen sizes you tout for the “netbooks” provide lower utility because they suck more milliwatt-hours.

Your commentary is therefore intemperate/premature.

]]> By: tom61 http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-1097 tom61 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:30:20 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-1097 Yet another reason for the 'netpad' concept: Just like the term 'netbook' ( http://www.psionplace.com/hardware/Psion-Netbook-2000-09-05-psion-psion-spec.html ) 'Netpad' was also coined by PSION as well ( http://www.bioeddie.co.uk/models/NetPad.html ), and is pretty close to your concept. Yet another reason for the ‘netpad’ concept: Just like the term ‘netbook’ ( http://www.psionplace.com/hardware/Psion-Netbook-2000-09-05-psion-psion-spec.html ) ‘Netpad’ was also coined by PSION as well ( http://www.bioeddie.co.uk/models/NetPad.html ), and is pretty close to your concept.

]]> By: tom61 http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-1013 tom61 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:46:13 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-1013 The "netpad" idea seems to have a fair bit of merit. There are already those that have modded netbooks into tablets, and at least one company planning to sell conversion kits for the 700 series EEE PCs, and perhaps more models of the EEE PC line. Personally, though, until flexible screens are consumer ready, 7" is too big for carry around 100% of the time. I'm not fond of the Nokia ITs, at least the old 770. Having x86 compatibility helps more than Nokia or even NVidia seems to think. Until all web plugins are open sourced, the flexibility of x86 is of great usage even to web surfing. Good luck convincing Adobe to actually release the source, not just the specifications, to Flash. MIDs come pretty close, if they can just get them cheap enough to own along side a netbook. The “netpad” idea seems to have a fair bit of merit. There are already those that have modded netbooks into tablets, and at least one company planning to sell conversion kits for the 700 series EEE PCs, and perhaps more models of the EEE PC line.

Personally, though, until flexible screens are consumer ready, 7″ is too big for carry around 100% of the time. I’m not fond of the Nokia ITs, at least the old 770. Having x86 compatibility helps more than Nokia or even NVidia seems to think. Until all web plugins are open sourced, the flexibility of x86 is of great usage even to web surfing. Good luck convincing Adobe to actually release the source, not just the specifications, to Flash. MIDs come pretty close, if they can just get them cheap enough to own along side a netbook.

]]> By: deviceguru http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-995 deviceguru Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:28:35 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-995 @james: Ok, so how about a "netpad" for stand-up use? Same basic, Internet-centric functionality as today's netbooks but with 7- to 9-inch touchscreens and perhaps a few small navigation buttons instead of a netbook-style QWERTY keyboard. Priced similarly to the Eee PCs, i.e. from under $300. @james: Ok, so how about a “netpad” for stand-up use? Same basic, Internet-centric functionality as today’s netbooks but with 7- to 9-inch touchscreens and perhaps a few small navigation buttons instead of a netbook-style QWERTY keyboard. Priced similarly to the Eee PCs, i.e. from under $300.

]]> By: james http://deviceguru.com/the-umpc-is-dead-long-live-the-netbook/#comment-993 james Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:30:15 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=865#comment-993 Too simplistic. Touchscreen technology will propel MIDs. You can't use a Netbook standing up. On the other side, the iPhone is too small & slow for a decent MID. I should know, I'm using one to type this comment & it's taking FOREVER! Too simplistic. Touchscreen technology will propel MIDs.
You can’t use a Netbook standing up. On the other side, the iPhone
is too small & slow for a decent MID. I should know, I’m using one
to type this comment & it’s taking FOREVER!

]]>