Further Impressions of the Viliv X70EX UMPC
I am getting blasted with questions about the Viliv X70EX UMPC that arrived yesterday, so I felt I had better offer up some further impressions after having used it for a day. I have taken some additional photos to show the size in the hand a little better and one super-short video that shows screen rotation. I am getting good use out of the X70 already — even better use than the smaller S5.
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- X70 in case with keyboard and mouse
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- X70 back; case connector middle; heat vents L & R; battery bottom
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- X70 in case
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- X70 front
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- X70 e-book reading
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- X70 in hand landscape
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- X70 in hand portrait
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- X70 left side, mini USB; USB; SD slot
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- X70 lower left; FN button; VILIV keyboard button
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- X70 lower right; B button; C button (not configurable)
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- X70 right side; power jack; video out
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- S5 left, X70 right
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- X70 top left; LED indicators; headphone jack
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- X70 top right; power LED; power slider
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- X70 uBoard keyboard
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- X70 upper left; d-pad; MENU button
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- X70 upper right; 1.3MP webcam; A button
I find the X70 very nice to use with an external keyboard and mouse in “desktop” mode. I get the size benefit of the little 7-inch EEE PC but retain the utility of a full-sized keyboard when needed. I used it this way almost all day today and didn’t feel like I lost any functionality at all. The screen is the perfect size for the 1024×600 resolution and I can easily see everything with the UMPC sitting on the table in front of me.
I do a lot of web surfing and have adopted a method that works well for me. I rotate the screen to portrait orientation using the Intel Graphics utility. It has hot-keys configured for rotation (CTRL-ALT-ARROWS) and can rotate in all four orientations. The x70 is comfortable to hold in the hand this way, even for long periods, and web browsing using Firefox with the Grab and Drag add-on is a joy.
The touchscreen is not as soft to the touch as that of the S5 but still works well. I do find the larger screen makes operating the interface by finger much easier than on the S5 and I don’t reach for the stylus often at all. The uBoard keyboard is working nicely on the big screen; I can use it like a thumb board easily in either orientation. That’s how I’m rotating the screen back and forth as well.
The 1.3 MP webcam does a decent job with Skype, though that’s the only thing I’ve done with it so far. It’s a stretch to keep moving the X70 until the camera field of vision is in the correct place as it is on the far right of the device. Sound quality is pretty good for this. I enjoy listening to music through the stereo speakers; the volume is loud enough and it sounds pretty good for a small device. Listening through headphones is very nice and the included audio utility makes it easy to tailor the sound to the music playing.
Reading e-books with eReader Pro in portrait is awesome. I can display a very full page and read to my heart’s content and turn the page either by tapping on the lower part of the screen or even with the D-pad controller. I’m enjoying it so much that when I go back to the iPhone I’m not liking that device as much as I did before.
The speed of the X70 is very fast, as I would expect from the SSD. Opening programs and folders is nearly instantaneous and it’s a great computer on which to do even serious work. Rebooting the system is quick (I haven’t timed it) and sleep/resume is just a few seconds. It’s a very full computing environment with the keyboard and mouse, as evidenced by writing this right now. I don’t feel I’m sacrificing anything — the mark of a very good device.
The X70 has integrated 3G but I haven’t been able to test that yet. I have the AT&T SIM in my iPhone and a T-Mobile SIM but I can’t use either one to test it. Using the iPhone SIM would violate my TOS and could get my account canceled. The same is true of the T-Mobile, but I’m going to cancel it anyway so I don’t really care. The problem is that T-Mobile U.S. 3G isn’t compatible with the 3G bands of the rest of the world so even if I can get it to work, it will be EDGE only. I’ll have to think about that for a bit and if anyone has any thoughts, please share them.
I’m going to continue to use it and report on how that goes. I have taken some photos, as mentioned, so have a look. You can compare the thickness to the S5; the X70 is even thinner than that and as a result feels good in the hand. Take a look at the video, which I knocked off really fast using my still camera. I couldn’t edit it, so excuse the few seconds in the middle as AVG decided to update the AV definitions after I started shooting.
done
Will you be selling the S5 and buying the X70? Any good reason to have both models?
Excellent video even with out editing!
Do you still have a Q1 hanging around? I’d love to see a side by side shot of them. Also do you think the S70 is too heavy/ big for a car mount? I was thinking of mounting the S5 to my ram mount on my dash but this looks more useful with the larger screen… so I may hold off on the S5 purchase depending on the price difference between the s5 and s70.
No Q1. Viliv sent a car mount so I intend to try that. I’ll take photos.
JK,
Care to speculate on price for the configuration you received (ie 32GB SSD with 3G). If the difference from the s5 $599 is 3G and screen only, then I’m guessing they might be brave and sell it at USD799 or USD899
Do you agree ?
I’ve asked for pricing information. My thoughts on pricing don’t count.
Preliminary pricing information (subject to change):
16 GB SDD- $599
32 GB SSD- $729
32GB/ 3G- $879
These prices might drop with promotions likely to be run at launch.
This looks like a great replacement for my TC1100. The price could be the clincher if $600-800
Does it run HD Youtube/ Hulu videos smoothly? or does it like studder
It stutters like every other Atom PC I’ve tried.
1. Focusing on grip instead of weight, and understanding hand sizes differ, can you grip the X70 in landscape or portrait (say in an e-reading scenario) about as securely as a S5?
2. “The touch screen is not as soft to the touch as that of the S5 but still works well.” Perhaps you can help me have a better mental picture of the experience since unlike you I can’t interact with the device. Using a continuum with the rather “hard” screen of an HTC Advantage (or P1620) on one end, and the S5 on the other, where does the X70 fit in?
3. Another S5 vs. X70 question. I understand the X70 isn’t pocketable. You mentioned the S5 is pocketable theoretically but not comfortably. Is the lack of comfort due to weight, or size, or both?
Thanks. Genghis.
1. They both fit comfortably in my hand.
2. In the middle.
3. Both.
My computers update AVG in the middle of the night.
My mobile computers are turned off at night.
James, thanks for your posts on the S5 and X70, and helpful answer to the many questions, including mine.
“I find the X70 very nice to use with an external keyboard and mouse in “desktop” mode.”
Just curious, but which keyboard (BT?) and mouse (BT?) do you use?
Also, the $64 question: Which device would you choose, and why? I realize the issue is subjective, but you’re usually very good at disclosing your preferences that influence your decision. Of course, if the answer will be the subject of a further post, just say so and I’ll (not so) patiently wait
Stowaway BT keyboard and I just got (today) a MS Arc mouse. Previously I used a Stowaway BT mouse.
Preference: Only had the X70 for a day but if price is close it would win.
Re the issue of the 3G modem working with AT&T: If you can tell us which modem Windows reports, we could try to research which bands it supports.
Hi JK,
Please let me know your point of view about handwriting recognition on X70? does it work nice in this view like tablets?
Windows XP provides no good handwriting recognition nor inking support. Without the Tablet Edition, and it’s not currently available, there is no way to get good results. I can state that there is no palm rejection integrated so it’s not intended for inking and wouldn’t give good results anyway.
Please, let me know, can you find out about the release date in US? Where can we buy this? Thanks.
I’m told it is getting ready for release shortly.
JK, do you know if they will release a non-SSD model? All the models listed on their site have SSD. It’s nice but It will just increase the price by a lot.
This model can be hugely popular (especially with students) and break into the mainstream US market if they just keep the price down.
Do you know if they will release the 1.8ghz or 2.0Ghz models anytime soon? I realize it will consume more power but people want options!
They can always set it to Max Battery for longer life.
The viliv site (JK gives the link early in the article) lists the X70 as coming with a 8 or 16GB SSD and a 30 or 60GB HDD.
Dave, yes I saw that, but it’s an old post, X70 Atom, from CES 2009, the new one, X70 EX, only lists the SSD, unfortunately.
Jake,
Doh! Sorry, didn’t see that difference in models!
JK, do you have any idea when it will be in U.S, or the market ?
*sigh* It looks like their haptic keyboard still does not work properly in portrait mode. Do you know if they’re planning on fixing this?
It is a physical size of the keys issue so I doubt it. I am not concerned as I prefer uBoard anyway.
Do you care to muse on all the benefits/shortcommings between having the S5 or X70?
Can you play back 720p videos without dropping any frames? Also how is the performance of Hulu hi-res movies?
Thank you. I’ve been waiting for Apple to launch the stupid “iTablet” forever. not anymore. I might be the first one to get one of this when it becomes available.
Is Dynamism going to be the chosen retailer once again? If so, have you heard word of a release time frame and whether or not Dynamism plans another pre-order package deal?
Which would you say is the better device out of the Viliv X70EX and the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium? Or are they about the same?
I’m asking because I currently have a Q1 Ultra and, whilst I’m very happy with it, I’ve had my eye on replacing it with the Premium to get a little more horsepower, so I could run Media Center comfortably.
hello,
I have to use some pictures for my article, your work is great! Thank you;)
http://www.midpc.fr/2009/06/05/viliv-x70-en-photos/
how do you rotate the screen of viliv?
carefully by pivoting your wrist.. lol
aw common, i had to
How accurate does the cursor track the stylus? I want to use X70 as a sketch pad. (like a Wacom Cintiq). On other tablets I’ve tried, there was a lot of parallax and the cursor lagged the stylus badly. How would you rate X70 in this regard?
Thanks
Jeff
I read somewhere that there is a built in GPS? does that mean I can trash my TOM TOM and use this?
Exactly right! More to say, Viliv utilize SiRFIII chipset, so it should perform very well as Navi-machine.
My 0,02$. Seems like on the video the device has returned to landscape mode in wrong way, that is an explanation of the few seconds in the middle of the video, when you had to correct this issue behind the still camera. It’s sure not because of the AVG. Telling us lie isn’t good.
AVG did start the auto-update which is what interfered with the screen rotation. Why would I lie about something like that?
It’s obviously a pinko commie plot among Viliv, AVG and and JK
Seriously, obviously another program like AVG doing its thing would interfere with rotation. Happens all the time on my tablets, which is why I’ve turned off auto update. But moving away from conspiracy theories, James,
1. Does the X70 (and S5 for that matter) do a 4 way or only 2 way screen rotation?
2. How snappy is the rotation?
4-way (both). check out latest video for speed:
http://jkontherun.com/2009/06/09/comparing-the-viliv-x70-and-s5-umpc-on-video/
I’m loving the look and sound of the X70 the more I look into it, but one thing that I’d really be interested in knowing is whether the claimed battery life of 5.5-6 hours of movie playback is accurate. I mean I assume that if it were, normal usage would be at least the same (internet browsing occasionally and typing things here and there)? Another big thing for me would be the battery life if I were to play some snes or genesis games – playing them at home is great but being able to play them on the train each day (with a bluetooth gamepad!) would be amazing if it lasted a few hours even.
Have you been able to test the battery life in any way yet James?
I’m seeing about 5 hours of normal use.
I work at a university and I am looking for a device to replace our Dell Axims (windows mobile) which we use extensively the field. The advantage of a device such as the X70 is that in running a full-blown version of windows it allows us to load the all of the programs we need to communicate with our various field instruments. Sometimes it is quite a hike to get to them. Size and weight are important considerations. We also will take advantage of the built in GPS as we use ArcPad to do mapping. One of my collogues purchased an S5 to try out. The S5 fits the bill except for one of the most important features. Which is the screen brightness in full sun. You really have to strain to see the S5 in full sunlight. Also in our application flash memory has it all over a hard drive. If the X70 can be seen in full sun, and the price is reasonable, we are likely to purchase up to sixteen! Also I’ve read that it isn’t pocketable. How about in a cargo pants pocket? So can you please tell me what the visibility of the screen is like in full sun?
Thanks
I did development for a Nursing school in PA a few yrs ago using Axims. Development went ok, but what we were able to show was limited due to screen size. It was a mobile data collection app. If I had something like S5 back then, it would have been great considering that the price was approximately the same as the Dell. Now with the X70, I can really develop portable apps at a decent price point. Get the S5 if you want to be like Jack Bauer or maybe a mil type doing data collection in the field or desert. The X70 advantage as I see it is the 3G network, 32GB SSD, and the SDHC card slot. Put my database on a 32GB SDHC, app in the 32GB SSD and away one goes. The X70 ’should’ fit in a mil types BDUs, but for civies, some of the 10″ messager bags would do the trick. I’m going to consider it for my Home Healthcare Nursing application. The 4.8″ screen is ‘just’ 1″ to small. The 7″ screen is just right for nurses and other med types.
Any thoughts on using x70 as a sketch pad?
On other tablets I’ve tried, there was a lot of parallax between the tip of the stylus and the cursor position. Also, the cursor lagged the stylus badly. How would you rate X70 in this regard?
Thanks
Jeff
Hi,
I realize that this is a bit late, but I was wondering if you could post the model of the SSD drive as shown in Device Manager? I’m curious to find out what the rated specs are for it.
Thanx.
John
I received my X70 yesterday. I must say that it does not even come close to living up to your review. Pixels on the screen fluctuate making it very difficult to read, the wireless antenna is unable to maintain a connection to my home network. My Nokia 810 can, by the way. I am also unable to get the Streetdeck demo to connect to the GPS. I will be returning this device for a refund!!
Will there be a 2GB RAM version coming out that will support Windows 7 in 4Q….??? Also, what about the additon of a Waco digitizer to allow handwriting and multi-touch…???
Well, 2GB of RAM would be spot on at least. Any word?
I’ve been looking into eReaders for a lengthy trip to Asia in a few weeks, and had settled on the new Sony eReader, but this, even at twice the price, is very interesting. Some specific questions: does the unit charge at all when the transfer USB is connected? How much of the SSD is used up by Windows, etc.? (in other words, how much of the 16 Gb is left over?). Also, how hard is it to switch from landscape to portrait mode?