Yes David Carnoy’s missed the point… and on so many levels.

1. More “useful” full-sized laptops don’t have longer battery life… because when used for video editing, or gaming or any of the apps that don’t make sense on a small device are being used, they suck up more juice. I don’t know any laptop no matter how long the batter life is advertised as that lasts more than 3 hours when playing Quake 4.

2. Usage patterns… Ok, he’s a journalist and wants to write articles. But what about consumers who want to update their facebook account, twitter some ridiculous thoughts , check the football scores, and listen to music… basically all at the same time??? There is a whole new type of user growing up out there who could really use a UMPC when they are moving about and can’t get that functionality from an itty bitty underpowered mobile phone.

dudes! save some good points for me to use! I agree with pretty much what evryone’s said, especially with the parallels drawn between laptops and umpcs – I believe that as soon as umpc’s hit the prices of cheap laptops, the market will come alive. Having said that, I think that umpcs (as evident in the next gen versions) will have to have a keyboard, thumbboard or larger, in order to become mainstream. It seems like we just can’t shake it as a preferred input device, no matter how cramped and tiny the keys are (btw, I’m typing this all on my ipaq’s cramped and tiny thumboard). I guess its why treos and blackberries do so well vs ’slate’ style versions, even though some cost more than laptops! On a final note, I think that part of the reason why umpcs have yet to hit the mainstream, is because they are focusing on the wrong aspects. They focus on having a full desktop operating system, and therefore drawing inevitable comparisons to more capable, albeit larger, laptops. Instead, they should be touting its strengths: ie full, uncompromised web-surfing, as a truly unrestricted pmp (even plays itunes video and music!), an ebook reader, a portable gaming machine, AND in a pinch, a handy laptop replacement, all in one handy package…now, doesn’t that sound better than a laptop without a keyboard and a slow processor? I mean really, us geeks already know the possibilities, so it shouldn’t need to be marketed to us – they should be marketed to everyone else. Personally, when I get my tax return, I’ll be saving it for the raon digital vega mkII when it comes out Umpcs ARE the right tool for most people, they just lack the imagination to see all the stuff they can do with it

I use it at work to take notes in meetings (I really like ritePen – great app), as a data transfer tool between work and home and with a pair of good headphones and Winamp as the best MP3 player I have ever used.

Its also great for watching videos. I often “tape” Speed Channel AMC PBS or TMC programs using a Hauppage PVR ($100!) to a desktop then transfer wirelessly to the Q1 for viewing later anywhere.

I also use its bluetooth capability, a GPS and some data acquisition software in my race car to wirelessly capture runs for later analysis.

Finally I have used it along with a bluetooth keyboard to be the center of an autocross timing suite.

While I could have used other types of devices for any of these activities, the fact is that I would either
1) Have to carry a whole gadget bag full of little devices
or
2) Used something far less portable.

I find that the <2 lbs. weight of the Q1 is about all I really would be comfortable holding and using for any period of time. A laptop won't cut it for any handheld browsing or viewing.

There are certainly other devices that can do all of the things my Q1 can. But I have found my life with it more enjoyable and I have not tired of it in 3 months.

Like so many people, David misses the point. The UMPC is not for work. It won’t replace the Latitude D600 that he so faithfully dragged around for the past three years.

That’s funny, Steve. I had a Kaypro “portable” computer too. I loved that machine. Hooked it up to my dot matrix printer and carton of track fed paper and I was set. If I recall correctly, I used PerfectWriter, which was a great (for the time) word processor. I think I eventually replaced that machine with a Zenith. Those were the days…..

It seems everyones looking for the “killer app” of new hardware. Why must UMPCs replace Laptops or Desktops. I’m likely going to invest in a Q1P percisely because its not a laptop replacement. I have a laptop to replace my Desktop so why would I want something that is my desktop too?

In my opinion, UMPCs serve the same function that laptops did 10 years ago, niche solutions. However, Moore hasn’t failed yet so we’ll likely see an increase in power and performance per dollar spent as the UMPC begins to match the laptop market. However, UMPCs will also eventually compete with Blackberry/RIM as the devices get more sophisticated.

I thought this was the best summary so far. It clearly and very fairly displays where the UMPC belongs, not the niche it is forced into by mainstream media. Like you said, there is a time and place for laptops, as there is for UMPC’s. It will take a while for cranky so-called technology experts to find the true value of Ultra Mobile devices, or at least for general consumers know better than to rely on every single opinionated statement by them. Big thumbs-up, Kevin, very fair and very accurate, I think this is what really belongs in Professional Tech Magazines for the technology world to get anywhere.

Fabian

I have the Q1P with Vista and use the 6 cell battery and get a good 4 to 4.5 hrs of battery life. The UMPC is a great device if you know how to use it, or need it for mobilty. Yes you can’t compare to a regular laptop that’s a CD2 but if you compare it to a Celeron its able to keep up with those and its a mobile machine. Many complain about not having a keyboard; what can be done is get a bluetooth keyboard which I use a ThinkOutside BT and the USB keyboard from samsung. I do agree for real power I just use my MacBook Pro for that but normally for work related and even more I can still use the Q1P. At my home office I have a 19″ monitor that I connect to the samsung and use a MS BT mouse, with Logitech BT keyboard and set the Q1P to one coner behind the monitor and works just like a computer. The advantage is that I’m able to unplug quickly and take notes and go on the road with no problem. Everyone can go on about how bad a UMPC is but, if they don’t have a use for it they will always say its bad. Also I posted this using my Q1P on the road with no problems and what’s really great using Vista with the Q1 is that I put it in standby and when I flip the switch to power up it’s on within 10 seconds.

Another point I’d like to address; Carno’s condescending use of “PursePC”. To which my only reply can be “pthbtbtbt” and a thumbing of the nose.

I use a CaseLogic portable DVD-player carrier as a mini-laptop case for my Origami and ALL its accessories, right down to spare batteries for the bluetooth keyboard and headset. (Well, except for the chargers… I don’t carry those around daily anyway.) Beats carrying around a leather laptop bag all hollow in terms of weight and bulk, plus it doesn’t suck up all my carry-on allowance.

If that’s too bulky and/or insufficently masculine, try putting it in your attache case along with the dead-tree stuff. The neoprene sleeve will protect the UMPC against Bad Things(tm) if it’s slotted into one of the file folder keepers or if the case has a holder for a daybook. That’s how I carried mine around before caging that (not-so-wee) surplus laptop case at work for a while.

— Steve

Funny Story –

I’m at the Compusa going out of business sale with my 9 year old (I’m 51) and we were looking at the Sony UX, I could not for the life of me read what was on the screen (I have not trouble with my Fujitsu P1200 though).

However my son said he could see everything just fine. The price wasn’t low enough to get him a toy but maybe some of the UMPCs are just too small for folks my age..

That said, the new Fujitsu UMPC looks really nice and they tend to be pretty price competitive.

I get 5-6 hours a day on my Q1 w/6-cell battery pack. Target met, in my opinion.

My Q1 also came with a sticker price about 25% lower than the bottom-end Sony’s, and about half the top-end, if price is an issue. Heck, the eo line can even beat that. So those comparisons just don’t match out, especially with the “nerfed” Pavilion not offering the same functionality.

I agree, the UMPC will not replace Notebooks in the marketplace. I, however, have found it fulfills all the roles I require of a portable computer with half the weight and bulk, so the price premium was worth it for me. Plus I can use it in places and circumstances I’d never be able to use a traditional Notebook. (I’ve edited digital photos on-the-spot while knee-deep in snow. Good luck doing that on a Clie.)

In my experience, even though it won’t make laptops obsolete, UMPCs do hold a worthwhile place in the market.

— Steve

Hi everyone,

I think for UMPC (= x86 shrinking) to be successful is ONE key argument => They need to be POCKETABLE.

If you need a Bag to carry, you will always find a good keyboard+screen+price to larger laptops.

But if you are POCKETABLE, you need to :
Compete with mobile phones.
Attach seamlessly to big screen+keyboard when availabled.
Get rid of the Desktop metaphor.

That’s why I think the new MID concept from Intel is quite interesting.

I’ve been using “portable” computers since buying one of first Kaypros made. I’ve had Toshiba Librettos, LG Phenoms, NEC MobilePros, Sony Picturebooks, Apple Newtons, Palms and IPAQs…and on and on and on…

Until some one figures out that these devices need a full-powered OS without code-bloat — all is lost in the wait for technology to build a chip capable of running bad code as fast as my old Kaypro could run CPM machine code.

The UMPC isn’t a dead parrot…it’s a Norwegian Blue

I don’t agree with a lot of what David has to say, but UMPCs really do need to improve on is battery life. The on-the-go mobile user needs all-day juice.

No shock here. Carnoy is a young tech editor (as opposed to an old school editor who appreciates the power of the pen), which means he sits at a desk using a keyboard and mouse/pointer interface. Obviously, he has little need for a mobile PC with a touchscreen and, in typical fashion, he assumes no one else needs one either.