Asus R2H Ultra Mobile PC Hardware Inkshow
Gotta Be Mobile
This week I received a new UMPC! The new unit is an Asus R2H Ultra Mobile PC with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. I've been busy playing, I mean working, with if for the last couple of days, and let me tell you it's been fun. This is my first chance to use this form factor, and so far it has been a great experience. For me, the integrated GPS unit was the standout for buying this unit. In fact, the first day I came home from work with it, I fired up Streets and Trips 2006 and had my own in car navigation system! In this first InkShow, I go over the features and buttons on the outside of the unit and a quick look at the launcher that loads up at startup. Expect more InkShows in the next couple of weeks on some of the included utilities and software installed on the R2H.
Quick first thoughts:
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The unit is nice and performs well in my eyes - Office performs well, I have even tested a 3meg OneNote section of all images and it did really well compared to my M4 (and Warner's M200).
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GPS unit has good accuracy
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The launcher is really cool!
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Kind of thick with the extended battery (but I did go about 4:30 mins with it)
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The array and configuration of the buttons on the front work well, but some are repetitive
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More details coming soon on another InkShow
The links for the InkShow:
tech gift guide
theglobeandmail.com
eo UMPC i7210 from $1,399 (U.S.)
There's notebooks, ultralights and then there's the eo.
Its name is Latin for "go, advance or progress" says the company and this tablet PC is designed as a portable device for those on the move.
With its size — the screen is just seven inches - there aren't a lot of features above the barebones. There's a 60 GB hard drive and 4-in-1 memory card reader in addition to 1GHz processor. That doesn't seem like much but the usage is really designed for quick communication on the go, email, web browsing and rudimentary entertainment.
Its prime use has been for physicians to replace charts and other mobile field workers to process work order and capture signatures.
There is, however, a growing community dedicated to these Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) which are based on Windows XP Tablet edition. The screen is touch-sensitive and the unit comes with built in camera and microphone.
Fancypants UMPCs by Crispin Jones for PBJ
Popgadget
PBJ is a company that specializes in all types of tablet computers. Designer Crispin Jones was commisioned to reinvent the most boring part of all technology... the plastic box that holds the sexy electronic components. With a goal of bringing classic craft designs to the technology scene Mr. Jones has created a pleasing case modeled after the Japanese suzuribako boxes used to store writings implements. Beyond the stylistic reasons for the deep decorative lines; the texture carved into the surface provides a no slip hold for fingers.
Selling ‘grab and go’ appeal
VNUNet.com
Microsoft specifies that the UMPC is a flat, hand-held device halfway between a smartphone or PDA and a notebook PC in size. It also has a touch-sensitive screen, rather than a keyboard. Other features include an internal hard drive, wireless internet connectivity, Bluetooth and a version of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. With hard drives varying between 30GB and 60GB, battery life for the early models is estimated at two-and-a-half hours.
Glyn Evans, TabletKiosk UK Agent at PocketPC Solutions, says the company has received a number of enquiries for its TabletKiosk range from businesses in the hospitality industry, a couple of major car manufacturers, schools, software developers currently using tablet PCs and manufacturing firms. However, Evans believes that most seem to be evaluating these devices and as yet have not committed to the technology in the UK, although this will only be a matter of time. Meanwhile, in the US, major companies are already integrating these devices into their solutions.
“We have had a number of companies buy the UMPC to integrate into portable x-ray machines and engineering companies looking to replace aging tablet PCs with large numbers of UMPCs,” Evans says. “Most appear to be evaluating them to run bespoke software, or to replace large numbers of tablet PCs cost effectively.”
“Their size and price make them more attractive than the traditional tablet PC and as these devices run the full tablet operating system, the handwriting recognition and usability are the same, with only the reduced screen size causing a problem for some users and applications,” he says.
“Battery life is an issue for some at present, although there are extended batteries available for some models that give up to five hours of continuous usage.”
Chang says the battery life of a tablet PC or an average notebook that a sales person carries is about three to three-and-a-half hours if used continuously.
“R2H [the Asus UMPC offering] comes with two batteries, which if users charge them fully, will give them the same battery life for a whole day’s use,” he says.
“Normally people who look for mobility do not switch on the notebook or UMPC for a whole day; normally it is only at meetings with customers, or for other business purposes.”
November Product of the Month - Franklin Wireless USB EDVO MODEM
An excellent solution for anyone using Tablet PCs or Ultra Mobile Pcs that do not have a PC slot and want the ability to have an Internet Connection Anywhere, Anytime.
Fujitsu Boosts Performance on LifeBook Convertible Notebooks Maximizing Mobile Workforce Productivity
Market Wire
Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation today announced the LifeBook® P1610 
convertible notebook, a 2.2-pound powerhouse packed with full PC functionality and enhanced with an 8.9-inch indoor/outdoor touch screen display for on-your-feet, on-the-go computing. Fujitsu also announced the LifeBook T4215 Tablet PC, a new edition of its highly popular ultra-light 4.3 pound full-size convertible notebook featuring the high-performance, power-efficient Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor.
The Microsoft Windows Vista-capable LifeBook P1610 and LifeBook T4215 convertible notebooks, which deliver renowned Fujitsu reliability, are designed to meet the needs of mobile and field professionals in healthcare, field and sales force automation, and supply chain management who require the flexibility of a tablet for note-taking or navigating through forms-based applications, along with the traditional keyboard input of a notebook computer.
Click for Spec's and Comparisons of new Fujitsu Tablet PC's
SA1F00A, a Japanese UMPC-like
akihabaranews
We don’t have much information at that time regarding the specs, except that this small Yokohama based Kohjinsha company will offer starting tomorrow a UMPC-like at an unbeatable price. Anyway, this little convertible seem quite promising.
New UMPCs to be announced in January 2007
gottabemobile.com
One of the good pieces of information to come out of the Mobile Connections conference was from Todd Lanstad, who works on the UMPC team at Microsoft. According to Todd, Microsoft is anticipating 6 - 10 additional Ultra-Mobile PC manufacturers to announce their UMPCs during the CES timeframe, which is held from January 8 - 11 in Las Vegas.
Todd shared this information during a talk on building Lifestyle applications, encouraging developers that the market is out there. I'll have a InkShow video posted shortly that shows the kind of Lifestyle applications Microsoft is encouraging developers to build.
Market opportunity for UMPCs and Developers
Gotta Be Mobile
During Intel's talk at Mobile Connections, they posted some very interesting slides that showed the market opportunity for UMPCs and the desired uses for UMPCs. The killer value proposition for folks buying a UMPC type of device is the need for pervasive connectivity to the real internet: webpages that display properly and appear like they should in a normal browser, instant messaging, email, getting necessary data through specialized apps while connected to the internet. That means UMPCs with WiMax, integrated WWAN, pc card access, or mass development of USB EVDO solutions are a must. It also means that software companies must begin coding their applications to take adjust for offline and online usage. People are desiring to move from offline to online to offline with as much transparency as possible.
When I was emailed a photo of the Elektek Fabric Keyboard by a friend in England I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Shortly after posting a picture the manufacturer sent me an email and said, “hey, I’ve got one with me and I’m in Sydney.” I just love being Australia's Tablet Guy!!!
So a few coffees later and here we are; I must admit I am a fan. Not only does it function but it also looks funky. Be warned though…don’t tear or pierce the fabric as the circuitry will die! Stay tuned to hear more about these sort of devices; and ask me anything you may want to know as I too am interested.
In regards to Bluetooth regrettably this in an interface that we will not see in this device.
See it on MyYouTube.com
I've just completed a neat little Tablet PC utility that I have wanted for a long time. The tool lets you write search terms on a small form, and instantly send the terms to a Google search inside your default browser with one tap (or a gesture). No more awkward use of the Tablet Input Panel (TIP) inside a WebPage!!
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