It is kind of funny that I can’t find the handheld device I want given all the diversity in the mobile PC world right now.  We have UMPCs of all shapes and sizes, from the standard 7-inch screen models down to the diminitive OQO.  The bigger devices are too big for the kind of mobility I am referring to.  I really want a device that will fit in one hand for ease of mobility and use.  Standard sized UMPCs just aren’t mobile enough for me.  After a lot of thinking about this I decided to list what I want in such a device:

• fit in one hand for usage
• screen size around 5 inches
• resolution of at least 800×600 (depends on screen size)
• full Tablet OS (XP or Vista)
• good buttons and controls on the front of the device optimized for hand usage
• rotatable screen
• at least 1 GB of RAM
• at least 60 GB hard drive
• good processor power
• decent touch screen that works well with inking
• integrated 3G (EVDO preferable)
• Bluetooth for use with peripherals (keyboards, etc.)
• WiFi of course
• dockable for use on a desktop

I look at this list and it seems to me that this shouldn’t be so hard to find but my investigation proves otherwise.  Every handheld device I’ve examined falls short, sometimes woefully so, in one or more key areas.  Let’s look at the current choices:

Sony UX- I used one of these for a while and I found the integrated keyboard to be near useless.  I also had trouble using the screen with the extended resolution (1024×600) as I found prolonged use to be tiring.  Too bad because it fits nearly all other criteria with the exception of the Tablet bits.

OQO Model 02- the OQO has a nice keyboard but I think the lack of a touch screen would make this handheld less convenient to use.  It’s pretty pricey too, although that’s not on my list.  I have been playing in the handheld realm long enough to realize that you have to pay to play.

Digital Raon Everun- this innovative device comes as close as any to meeting my criteria.  Unfortunately, until a Vista version ships there is no Tablet functionality which is important to me.

Nokia N800- I include the N800 even though it’s not really a PC because it delivers a lot of the functionality on the list.  I do feel I need a real PC so I can do anything that I might need to do on the fly and the N800 just doesn’t deliver.

Fujitsu U1010- this mini-UMPC looks really interesting and might be a good fit.  I think that the keyboard will be too small to be truly useful for someone like me who writes a lot and if that’s the case I’d rather it not be adding weight and bulk to the device.

FlipStart- too heavy and bulky plus the lack of a digitizer screen renders it useless to me.

Sadly, this is pretty much the entire list of available gadgets that I have to choose from, and as you see none of them really hit the mark.  Of all of these devices the OQO comes closest to fulfilling my needs, but I’m not sure it’s close enough.  Having a screen that rotates to portrait orientation is very important to me and I can’t recall anyone mentioning the OQO can do that.

Anybody got any suggestions for me?

Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us, happy 3rd birthday jkOnTheRunnnnnnn, happy birthday to us.

Can you believe it?  Three years ago today jkOnTheRun was born, with us never anticipating how far it would come in such a short time.  What began as a simple place to talk about mobile technology has grown into a site that hundreds of thousands of people come to visit each month.  I get seriously humbled when I think about that.  You folks are the best readers on the web bar none.  It’s only fitting that our next contest in the Geekapalooza series should be starting on this our Blogiversary so we’re throwing out all the stops!

This special contest has you playing for not one prize, not two but a whole mobile kit.  First up is the smooth leather Vaja Messenger Bag that you saw in this jkOnTheRun review.  This is one of the nicest gear bags you’ll ever see, much less touch.  MSRP $380.

Next up is something that we know you’re going to love putting in that Vaja bag and hitting the road.  This prize is a device I consider to be the original ultra-mobile PC and one I used as my only computer for over a year.  Yes, the winner of this contest is going to walk away with my beloved Sony U71!  This device has been lovingly used by yours truly and is in perfect condition and even though it’s almost 3 years old the specs still rival those of some UMPCs today:

• Intel Pentium M 1.1 GHz
• 512 MB memory
• 30 GB hard drive
• Docking cradle (USB ports, Firewire ports, VGA out)
• Headphones with remote control
• CF slot
• WiFi
• Bluetooth (with included Billionton CF card)
• Touch screen (5") 800 x 600
• Note that the Sony USB folding keyboard is not included

Heck, rather than list everything it’s got just go through all of the articles I’ve written about (often using) the Sony U and see for yourself.  MSRP- Priceless 

This prize package is already one of the best you’ll see anywhere but we can’t stop there, no siree.  We can’t give out a Sony U71 without throwing in some cool accessories to fit in that Vaja bag.  First up is the Sony carrying case with integrated stand which makes using the U with a keyboard very nice.  MSRP- who knows?

One case for the Sony U is not enough so we’re throwing in the PDAir leather case for stylin’ with the Sony.  MSRP- originally a lot.

Last but not least you may have seen my articles about the Sony U as part of one of the smallest desktop PCs when used with a Bluetooth keyboard so we just have to throw in that keyboard.  This is the original Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard that complements the Sony U perfectly.  There’s something special about this keyboard though, it’s been autographed by Kevin and I making it the official jkOnTheRun Bluetooth keyboard and hopefully adding the personal touch to this prize package.  MSRP- can’t be bought at any price (mouse and phone not included).

Last but not least the lucky winner is going to snag an external Sony slimline DVD burner (DDR3) that connects to the Sony U dock.  The burner will boot the U and draws all needed power from the dock connection and originally retailed for $400.  Sorry I forgot to take a photo of the drive, it’s the smallest external drive I’ve ever seen though.

So there you have the total prize package and I think you’ll have to agree it’s a doozy!  The winner is going to be one lucky person and since it’s such a good package you’re going to really have to work for this.  Read on after the jump to see what you have to do for this prize.

Looking back through all of the posts on jkOnTheRun for this contest has driven home to us how you can often track our personal lives by what you read here.  We decided to make the scavenger hunt for Geekapalooza #5 a little more personal than the others so here’s what you need to answer to be eligible for this super prize package.  The contest will run until midnight 19 May CDT (Saturday night) and we’ll randomly select the winner from all correct entries submitted as a comment to this post at that point.  Ok, here’s what you need to answer:

1. Kevin and James first worked together on what defunct web site?
2. JK had what emergency surgery 6 years ago?
3. What famous heart surgeon performed that surgery?
4. For how long after the surgery was JK unable to speak?
5. What hastened JK’s release from the hospital?
6. Kevin first announced his engagement where on the web?
7. What is the name of JK’s dog that aided in his recovery from the surgery?
8. Name JK’s grandson (first and middle names).
9. Name JK’s dog that had to be put to sleep.
10. How many fires have been experienced in the JK household?

Finally, in addition to providing the correct answers to the above questions, for #11 tell us in a few words how long you’ve been following jkOnTheRun and what you like best about the site.

That’s it, not too big a task for all the loot up for grabs.  Good luck to everyone and thanks for making this all worthwhile for Kevin and I.

-jk

The TabletKiosk eo has the typical UMPC/ Origami screen- 7 inches diagonally running at a resolution of 800 x 480 natively.  Everything at this resolution is nice and large and can be read from some distance, even though it is to be used in the hands by design and thus closer to the eyes than say a laptop screen.  The problem I have with this screen is the resolution is too large for extended use.  I don’t find enough is displayed on the screen at one time so a lot of scrolling is needed to view everything in most applications.  Sure you can zoom the screen and increase the resolution up to 1024 x 600 which works pretty well but clarity is lost and you really notice that after extended use, especially when text is involved.  One thing I can state for certain, I feel that 1024 x 600 is the perfect resolution for the 7 inch screen.  I hope that some OEM will produce an Origami running this resolution.  I’d pay extra for that.

The Sony U71P sports a 5 inch screen running at 800 x 600 and while a higher resolution would display more information on the screen at a time things would end up being too small.  The native resolution of the U71P is the perfect balance of resolution and screen size and I can use it for hours at a time, either as a handheld or on a desk with an external keyboard.  Even at that distance from the eyes, say 1.5 to 2 feet, the screen can be viewed with no problems and for long periods of time.  That to me is the hallmark of a well designed screen.  I have used a Sony U heavily for two years and I don’t even think about the screen nor the resolution.

The Sony UX50 (and brothers- UX90, UX180) created a stir among gadget freaks when it was announced that the 4.5 inch screen would run at a resolution of 1024 x 600 natively.  That resolution is nice in that you can display a lot of information on the screen at one time, the problem is seeing that information, because everything is really small on the screen.  I find that prolonged sessions as a handheld device can leave my eyes feeling really tired, especially if a lot of small text is involved.  Using the UX on a desktop with external keyboard can be really frustrating at times as the device is just too far from the eyes to read everything on the display.  Sure you can increase the DPI of the screen and Windows XP makes it easy to increase the fonts system-wide.  You can also increase the font size in most applications making the document easier on the eyes but if you have to do those things then I believe the wrong resolution is being used for the screen size.  I think Sony would have done well to produce this screen at the same resolution as the Sony U, as 800 x 600 would be just about perfect.  Items on the screen would still be slightly smaller than on the Sony U71 but not by much and would still be very easy to work with, especially since the UX screen is brighter and more vivid than the U.

I hope OEMs are paying attention and listening to user accounts like this one.  Higher resolution is not always better when it comes to ultra-portable devices designed to be used in the hands.  You have to be able to effortlessly read the screen when lots of text is displayed or the extra resolution quickly becomes a negative.  Now lets see a 1024 x 600 Origami.  That would be just perfect.

Sony is also shipping the UX with an interesting carry pack for the AC adapter and accessories:

It’s clever touches like this that make Sony so good at producing small devices.

-jk

So there you have the inside scoop– you cannot do the following things with a Sony UX Micro PC even at that expensive price:

1. Use it as a TV stand
2. Smother it with a pillow
3. Touch it with a screwdriver and make threatening hand gestures at it (or you die)
4. Have tea with the Sony (coffee’s OK)
5. Use an electric towel anywhere near the Sony
6. Pour water onto the UX, even if you are wearing protective gear.

-jk

Get your order in now, that price will only go up as shipping dates near. 

(via reader Paul Phillips)

-jk

If you’re in the UK and you want a Sony UX so badly I suggest you drop by the Dynamism site as I believe they ship outside the US.  And I’ve got a feeling they’re a bit cheaper than this price.

While the device is very portable and usable, the small keyboard and screen limited the reviewers usage time as a standalone device. There’s no question in my mind that this device is an engineering masterpiece, but it’s clearly not for everyone. Then again, I don’t know of a single device that is, ‘cept maybe for an iPod.

-kct

According to what Massimo measured, the Sony UX screen is approximately:

• 2.35-inches high by 3.9-inches wide, with the 4.5-inches diagonal measurement that we already knew
• In centimeters, this is much cleaner: 6 cm high by 10 cm wide, meaning that the aspect ratio is not exactly a 16 x 9 ratio.

Just for kicks, I measured the QVGA screen on my XV6700 Windows Mobile 5 phone. Wouldn’t you know that the height of the screen is 2.3-inches, or roughly the same height as the Sony UX screen? The width of the XV6700 screen is 1.75-inches, so "two" XV6700 screens would be a tad skinnier than the UX screen, but pretty close in size comparison. XP on two of my smartphone screens? It isn’t something I personally relish, and for those who want the UX, you might find yourself in a pickle, save for the killer clear 1,024 x 600 screen resolution.

Something else that will help in a big way: Massimo indicated that the zoom screens are "not as previous zoom functions I’ve seen where the screen goes blank and the displays the ‘new’ resolution, but it zooms in rather like in photoshop… as in seamless." Massimo: thanks for checking out the device firsthand for jkOnTheRun. Still no luck on "borrowing" one from the showroom, huh?

-kct

It’s difficult to hold the UX50 in your hands and not be impressed with the amount of technology crammed into it. It compares favorably with Samsung’s Q1 ultra mobile PC, which is based on the recently launched Origami platform, and will definitely draw looks when you use it in public.

At Tuesday’s launch Sony said there’s also a second version on the way. This will use flash memory in place of a hard-disk drive so it’s likely to be a little lighter and more expensive. That should launch in the middle of this year.

A flash memory version of this device would be a killer feature, and should make for faster performance with less battery drain than the hard drive version.  Does anybody know what the largest capacity flash drive is currently available?  The only down side I can see to this is if the drive is smaller than the 30 GB drive in the current version.

-jk

UX90S– 1.2 GHz Intel Core Solo, 512 MB RAM, 30 GB HDD, Intel Graphics 128 MB shared memory, 4.5” screen @ 1024×600, external resolution up to 1600 x 1200, Memorystick Duo slot, CF slot, 1 USB port, dock, 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, integrated keyboard, battery life 4.5 hours, AC Adapter, dock, soft carrying case, stylus, VGA/LAN adapter, strap, Windows XP Pro Home

UX50– same as above except with a 1.06 GHz Intel Core Solo

UX180P– same as above except native English with 1.2 GHz Intel Core Solo, integrated EDGE via Cingular SIM, no CF slot.

The two Japanese models (UX50, UX90S) have a Sony release date of May 27th and the American model (UX180P) has a Sony US release date of mid July.  Dynamism has a number of packages some of which include a DVD+RW portable drive.  If you just can’t wait until mid July to grab a Sony UX in the US you don’t have to wait, just get one from Dynamism.  I have dealt with them for years and their customer service and support is top notch.

-jk

The Sony UX Micro PC is not an Origami/ UMPC as defined by Microsoft and the OEMs.  It does not come with the Tablet Edition nor the Touch Pack software.  I intend to call the UX what I have always called the Sony U devices– ultra-portable PCs (UPCs).  This may confuse some but I didn’t name the Origami the UMPC, which is not really a name to begin with but a genre of computer.

OK, I feel better now. 

-jk

The video is interactive and allows you manipulate the device via moving the hand with the stylus. Some of the takeaways I got from playing with the video demo:

• The device supports screen rotation, which will make it great for reading digital eBook and magazine content.
• The device does NOT have any HDMI ports as some folks are claiming. There’s no mention of HDMI in the official specs from Sony and why would you want HDMI anyway? You won’t be pumping any 1080p video or 7.1 digital audio out of this.
• There is a single USB port as well as a CF slot. These appear for non-U.S. models; the Sony specs indicate 3 USB ports and do not mention a CF slot. – Thanks Jeff!
• It appears that this device is well vented; there are grille slots on the top, bottom, back and one side.
• Some stylus or pen-gestures are included: swiping the pen from right to left activates a "back" command in the browser; likewise, a right to left swipe is a "forward". Up and down swipes control the device volume.
• The Sony UX works with an optional GPS receiver (shown); in the video demo, you can see a web browser open to a map that is tracking the device in what looks to be real time.
• The camera on the back of the device will capture full motion video. (You have to see this in the demo as a person in a bear costume walks behind the camera and waves. Quite funny!)

You probably won’t make out most of the text in the video, (unless your Japanese reading skills are up to par), however, the interactive video is intuitive enough to easily navigate around.

- kct

The second thing that is clear to me is that the UX Micro PC (UXMPC?) is a total OQO killer.  If I worked at OQO I would be shaking in my boots right about now.  Why do I say that?  Genuine Intel Core Solo processor.  Backlit keyboard.  Dual camera, one for web camming and the other for taking photos.  Integrated stand on the back of the Sony for easier use with an external keyboard.  WiFi, Bluetooth and EDGE.  While EDGE is not as fast as EVDO having it integrated right into the device will make up for the speed difference.  Totally connected anywhere.  Vaio launcher, Sony’s answer to the UMPC Touch Pack.  Fingerprint reader to make corporate security types happy.  Real dock with ports and everything.  Joystick and mouse buttons on the front of the device.  Super scroll button.  $1800.  Almost the same size as the OQO.  SVGA.  See ya, OQO.  We hardly knew ya.

-jk

-jk