Could it be that the term UMPC is catching on as a positive tag? It was different just three months ago!
The Register seem to think so and I guess it’s all good for UMPCs that people keep hearing the term. However, even by my relaxed definition of a UMPC these ‘new’ HP Ipaq devices are still a step-change away from being UMPCs.
320×240 and WM5 does not a UMPC make. The browsing experience is, i’m convinced, the most important factor for an ultra mobile PC. If you cant get an 800 pixel wide page on the screen and utilise rich features like flash and AJAX then you’re going to get locked out of some of the most exciting and useful developments in applications.
While I’m prepared to accept that a 640×480 screen might be good enough with the right browser software or for specific websites, (I use a 320×240 screen to access bloglines mobile almost every day and I’m really looking forward to seeing the 5″ 640×480 HTC Athena) I have to say that potential UMPC customers should not be led into thinking that adding a dod of memory and a GPS receiver to a PocketPC platform means you’ve got a UMPC.
Steve.
