UMPC Explorers! | Ultranauts.com » 2006

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If your in the market for something a bit off the beaten path, the ~~worst named device in the history of devices~~ PepperPad 3 might just be your cup of tea. Boasting a small display, a lackluster processor and an industrial design that would embarass Mattel’s Barbie branded “My First PDA” line of toys, the device is expected to arrive on shelves next month.

According to LinuxDevices.com:

Pepper Computer will begin shipping its third-generation mini-tablet “on or before September 30th,” the company confirmed on Aug. 31. Compared to its predecessors, the Pepper Pad 3 boasts speedier web browsing, faster and more comprehensive multimedia support, smaller size, less weight, and numerous hardware enhancements, according to the company.

Right. And it also promises to lower gas prices and slow the onset of global warming

Just got word that the Asus R2H is on the way…

“The r2h has entered manufacturing and packaging and will ’ship’ in November.”

This doesn’t come from a usual source, but this sounds sorta right.

Watch in amazement as a UMPC attempts to boot Windows Vista. Dig that Super Mario music!

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That’s the question that Bob Russel attempts to answer in a manifesto-like post over at mobileread.com. Bob feels that to succeed the UMPC will need to hone in on what it does best, it will have to define and reinforce it’s core competencies so that people will see past the price tag (even if that price tag were to drop to $500).

“So for UMPC, and the general computer-competent public, there is still a big open question that needs to be answered — “What’s the point of a UMPC?” As I have showed above, Microsoft has already done much of the thinking about the reasons for a UMPC. But it hasn’t been communicated effectively to the press and the public. That’s why I think the media has such a problem reviewing it. There’s some truth in what they say based on their perspective.”

If you are a long-time reader of Ultranauts, you’ll know that we’ve been saying this for a long, long, long time. So, why the hell would someone want a UMPC? That’s a question best answered by Microsoft marketing. So far, they’ve been silent.

[Via Geekzone]

What do the folks down-under think of the mighty UMPC? Welll, they’re not showing it much love. In a brand new review, the Sydney Morning Herald has awarded the Dreambook an uninspiring number of stars.

Sometimes a good concept fails in the execution. Sometimes it’s the idea that is flawed. Microsoft’s attempt at the “ultra mobile” computer, as delivered by Pioneer Computers, somehow manages to tick both boxes.

The bottom-line?

As for the DreamBook UMPC, we can rate it as only two out of five, and it gets one of those points just for showing up.

Ouch. Read the whole review here.

I just don’t get the UMPC’s distribution model. The only places we can easily get a UMPC are at Frys (and there are only a handful of them in the world) or at Best Buy (and only in Texas). And if you are lucky enough to be near one of those stores today, you’re only going to be able to pick up a Samsung.

This seems a bit insane. Why isn’t the UMPC in other brick-and-mortar outlets? BUT, even more importantly, why isn’t the UMPC - any UMPC - available via the mother of online retailing, Amazon.com? This is a big miss if you aske me (yes, I know you didn’t). What’s more is that you can pick up an OQO or a Sony UX180P at Amazon. Hell, you can get a Nokia 770 Internet Tablet from them? I’m pretty sure that the only thing you can’t buy via Amazon these days are UMPCs and illegal narcotics.

That just seem right.

Drum-roll please…

* Intel® Celeron® M ULV Processor (900MHz)
* Genuine Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition
* Onboard 256MB, DDRII 533, 1x SoDimm socket for expansion up to 768MB DDRII 667 DRAM support
* 7″ WXGA touch screen LCD, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligent Engine
* PATA 1.8″ HDD 4200PRM 20/30/40/60 GB
* Bluetooth® V2.0 + EDR, 3x USB, 1x SD Card-Reader, 1x GPS, 1x Finger Print Reader
* 23.4 x 13.3 x 2.8cm, 830kg

Those are pretty lack-luster specs. But thank God they got that finger-print reader in there! That’s exactly what the soccer moms are asking for. Oh well, we still have another round of new UMPCs that are supposedly just around the corner.