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In this bizarre, yet strangely compelling marketing montage, Micorsoft seems to equate UMPC ownership with having lots and lots of friends. This is, of course, completely unrealistic. Besides, everyone knows that if you want more friends you have to buy a video iPod.

Microsoft is definitely playing up the softer side of the platform, showing off its music, gaming and messaging functionality. Are the lifestyle aspects of the UMPC really the lowest hanging marketing fruit? Or are the potential productivity aspects of the device more important (or at least as important)? We’re kinda 50/50 on it right now, but Microsoft seems to have placed its initial bet.

Interesting.

FranklinCovey has announced that their flagship PlanPlus software is UMPC bound.

“FranklinCovey’s PlanPlus software allows people to have all of the functionality of a paper-based planning system as well as the capability and convenience of a computer-based planning system. Microsoft’s Ultra Mobile PC platform takes this increased functionality to a new level with enhanced mobility and connectivity. We are excited to continue to work with Microsoft to create applications that increase our customers’; productivity wherever they are.”

As usual, the PR is horribly bland, but this early news bodes well for the young platform. This is exactly the kind of application that needs to be at the core of the UMPC (and would have been great to have seen as part of the standard load). While many folks carry a PDA and utilize its PIM functionality, I know very few people who still don’t also carry a day planner or at least a notebook. While a PDA doesn’t seem “big” enough or feature-rich enough and a laptop seem like overkill, a leather-bound UMPC may be that unique device to give the leather-bound day planner a run for its money.

While not mentioned expressly in the PR, you can expect FranklinCovey to offer some high-dollar cases and accessories for the UMPC platform too.

{Thanks to ajhwalker over at MobileTechReview for the heads up}

How’s this for a second post to the brand new Ultranauts.com? The UMPC is dead. At least that’s what uber-analyst firm Gartner is predicting in a research note released earlier this week (you’ll be forced to type ‘UMPC’ into the search box due to Gartner’s prohibiting of direct links to documents).

“Today, we believe it isn’t possible to produce compelling UMPC products — just ‘proofs of concept.’ The low battery life, high price and non-Vista operating system will likely hurt the UMPC’s market acceptance in this first go-round,and the negative backlash could damage its future chances. For these reasons, we question the timing of this launch: Why rush this to market before it is ready to succeed?”

Gartner may have one point here: The UMPC was rushed to market. But, it’s not a rush to market for any of of the reasons that Gartner mentions. Where the rush seems to have occured is in defining a clear value proposition in the marketplace. Why do we need this thing? The rush was not, as Gartner contends, in the limitations or cost of the technology. The technology is there, but compelling reasons for why the UMPC is a “clear alternative” or a “clear companion” to a traditional PC or a tablet PC have been few and far between… at least from the marketing teams at Microsoft, Intel and their manufacturing partners.

The community seems to be rushing in to fill the value prop gap. And, in fact, there are plenty of compelling reasons for the existence of the UMPC. But those are perhaps better left to another post. So, back to Gartner’s main arguments: cost, low-power and no-Vista will doom the UMPC. Maybe. But we’re pretty sure that high-cost, low-power and no-Vista didn’t kill off the laptop market.

Greetings, Ultranaut! And welcome to ultranauts.com — a site that we hope will become a regular part of your Interverse travels.

It’s certainly no secret that a number of new sites dedicated to the Ultra Mobile PC have made their debut over the past couple of weeks. It’s a testament to the potential of the UMPC platform and we’re proud to be a part of a growing community of dedicated enthusiasits.

We plan to bring something a bit different to the table… a bit of info, a bit of analysis and a bit of fun too. But we need your help to make this the best UMPC community possible. So drop us a line! Tell us what you want and expect to see from this site. Participate in each post with your comments and dive into the forums. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Oh, and if you want to contact us directly at anytime, just shoot an email to john@ultranauts.com. We’ll get back to you ASAP.