Lol, while I am a big fan of Engadget, I wouldn’t let their snarky comments get to me. They tend to fan the flames on certain issues like the UMPC, Sony hate, etc. Unbiased reporting blogging is not.

I returned a Sony UX a couple days after I bought it. Way too frustrating. Touch screens are a joke, battery life is not practical for an “always with you” PC, and the slide out keyboard stunk. Since you asked about a UMPC, I mentioned that.

I haven’t owned an Origami device, but I imagine it would be marginally better but ultimately not for me. I think the Fujitsu P1610D is more for me.

Josh, and what you were expecting from a 5 inches display machine running XP?

You are a power user get yourself a i7210.

But even with that experience you can’t say that the whole UMPC concept is a Fiasco.

I am quite happy with my Sony UX280, the only thing that hurts is the price and the price of add-ons (ie bluetooth keyboards.)

I have unlocked my UX to allow for T-Mobile EDGE instead of Cingular(a relatively simple process) and I really wish that they had gone with a native EVDO WWAN, but hey, I am happy with what I got or I wouldn’t had bought it to begin with.

My lifestyle calls for a desktop replacement when I am in the office and a highly portable machine when I am traveling or at home…the UX meets that need and then some.

I cannot live with a 5 inches, but that does not mean that other can not, or that Sony’s design is wrong.

I think that they delivered what was promised, except at a double price point. If the Q1 or other first-gen UMPC devices had been shipped at the ~$500 price point I think the idea would have caught on. But for what they are, except for a few specialized cases, I think they missed the mark. I work with what I think are average computer users, individuals and small businesses, and none of them have even considered a UMPC device. I have a few that are using convertible tablets but in a role that would have been filled by a laptop. For most people a UMPC isnt going to fill the laptop role and they just wont go for it.

I dont think the UMPC design is flawed, just that its not a mass market device and is most likely going to find acceptance in vertical markets. Unfortunately its not being marketed toward that segment, but as a “lifestyle” device. Smartphones and other cell devices are going to own that market for the foreseeable future.

Frustrated with my UMPC? um….NO!

I’ll let these snarky comments pass but keep in mind the following:
Engadget is the 6th most favorited blog according to technorati. If we were to put Carrypad, or Ultra Mobile PC Tips up near that rank on technorati I think the UMPC would be seen in a much more positive light. I let the flack that random reporters give the UMPC go in one ear and out the other.

I know I’m getting frustrated here, as I’ll have to wait for two more weeks to get my brand new double-capacity-battery-768-MB-fingerprint-reader-webcam-bluetooth beauty of R2H

You just asked if I was frustrated and I described my experience. The origami devices are too big for me to carry everywhere. I’m optimistic about the Fujitsu 1610D though. It’s not small enough to carry everywhere but because it’s a convertible it’s more versatile for my needs.