Comments on: OMG it’s HUGE !!!

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 14:24:37 +0000

What is the point?

Too small for a PC, too big for a laptop; no keyboard; what is it supposed to be used for?

To take notes in class or at a sales meeting? This is the first I have heard of it, and cannot see any use for it (with the singular exception of making Bill even richer). Is it an over-glorified cell phone? A tablet? Or simply some sort of status symbol?

Someone tell mw what I would be getting for my $600. Thank you.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 06:19:57 +0000

Even the marketing sux with this device. If I were the marketing firm stuck with promoting such a bulky trincket, I certainly wouldn’t of put it in the hands of a flimsy asian girl. Which reminds me of another feat of Apple genius

http://www.basketball365.co.uk/images/apple_yao.jpg

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 05:30:59 +0000

Now look, if MS really wanted to WOW the industry “Ã la Apple”, they would of crammed the hardware in a more compact fashion and added a retractable screen “Ã la Star Trek”. See below:

http://www.polymervision.com/Technology/futurepossibilities/Index.html

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 22:04:03 +0000

agreed… As a Computer Science student in college, laptops are just too big and bulky to take to class on the cheaper end of the laptop maket and i’m not about go go blow 2500 on a laptop when I hate having to use a laptop….

I would consider buying one of these once they get battery life up…

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:23:09 +0000

Everyone is missing the point of UMPCs. Sources from Microsoft clearly stated that the UMPC is not supposed to replace laptops, PDAs, cell phones, iPods or PSPs.

Who is it targeting? People like me that feel there is a gap between laptops and PDAs. I would love a UMPC to take to class with me. I’ve often contemplated buying a laptop or a slate tablet pc but they are either too bulky or too pricy. I can see myself shelling out ~$800.00 for a decent UMPC. I could care less about the lack of a keyboard (the devices have digitizer pens, touch screens and microphones), however they do have USB ports so nothing is stopping you from plugging a keyboard in when necessary.

MS has clearly stated that the first gen of UMPCs will only appeal to early adopters and tech geeks. It will take a gen or two more to get to their original vision as battery life is lacking and they want to shrink the devices just a tad bit more.

They absolutely cannot shrink them to pocket size even if its feasible. UMPCs run the full version of Windows XP, not some lightweight PIM OS. I cannot see how you could comfortably use XP in a screen that is as small as a PDA’s. Heck, even at the current UMPC resolution (800, 480) it might be difficult to use apps that need a lot of screen real estate.

If you dont “get” UMPCs, then you are not part of the targeted market. I “got” it right away as I felt I needed a device like this one looooong before the viral marketing campaign started.