Unlike the Sharp Em-One that I always craved, the Sharp Willcom D4 will be available through a grey importer. Albeit for a price! Pocketables reports that GeekStuff4U.com will have the device in stock from the end of June.
Willcom D4 preorders priced above $1500
$1500 is, of course, a crazy price for most of us but I’m sure it will be ‘in scope’ for some.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
The pre-order page doesn’t say whether that includes the base station. If it does, I might try to pick one up.
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April 24th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I hope umpcportal can post some reviews on the performance as soon as they are available; also yes I am interested if the base unit is part of that price along with the matching small phone? The Willcom web page seems to show it as a combination package with all three components made to work as a team?
I think the functionality of having Vista, form factor, and ability to be jacket pocket size are still appealing even at that price since the rest of the UMPC’s offered in the US are so off target from mainstream users to want to buy them.
I’ll still wait a bit, maybe before June/July some similar product might be sold and made for our market; maybe made for our cell phone networks?
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April 24th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
According to http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080415/150504/ it does not make sense to purchase Willcom D4 without extended battery. But according to GeekStuff4U.com extended battery in not included in $1500 charge (and we do not know if it will be supplied at all), making the purchase a little mistake.
Probably it makes sense to wait a bit more before pre-ordering.
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April 24th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
If only it was slightly smaller. And had a better OS.
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April 25th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Smaller? The smallest would be 6.9″ but only if it exactly had the same keyboard as the Psion. The problem with computers too small is then the keyboard is a lame thumb input design like an OQO. Full Windows is what most want, most would not want Linux,and definately I would NOT want a thumb keyboard. I do think Sharp has never designed the best keyboards but I think a pocket full windows computer needs to be 6.9 to 7.4 inches in length otherwise it would be a useless geek toy nobody will buy.
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April 25th, 2008 at 6:25 am
FWIW, I’m pretty sure that Conics will have a better price than what GeekStuff4U are quoting….
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April 25th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Since this device only works on Japanese mobile network and not GSM the small headset addon is pretty much useless anywhere but Japan.
It’s really nice and all, but I guess for the moment the OQO E2 is still a better option - and a bit cheaper too.
Now if they make a UMTS/HSDPA version then it’s a whole different story…
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April 25th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Can it run ubuntu?
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April 25th, 2008 at 11:02 am
imgeL.
Yes, it will run ubuntu. It should actually run Ubuntu Mobile or any Moblin-standard distributions (of which there are only two public ones available now. The other is Midinux.)
Chippy
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April 25th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
The prices are because it comes with a 2 year telecoms contract I believe. As far as I’m aware it isn’t possible to buy a standalone unit
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April 26th, 2008 at 3:33 am
@scoobie,
Actually, it’s the opposite situation, the price quoted is high if you don’t get it with a 2 year contract and buy as a standalone product.
If you buy it through a cellular service contract, the price is much lower as cellular company subsidizes device cost.
Anyway, Conics told me that they expect to get it and expected to have it at lower cost than has been quoted around here and other places….so, we’ll see how that turns out….
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April 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Let me explain myself more clearly. I’ve read on an Australian site that it isnt possible to buy a standalone D4 unit without a subscription. So I believe the prices being quoted for import are the cost of a subsidised unit plus 2 years cellular service (which if you’re outside Japan you wont be able to make use of)
Suopporting this theory previous Windows Mobile devices branded Willcomm havent been available to purchase without a subscription in Japan.
I just hope I’m wrong on this
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April 27th, 2008 at 12:22 am
I read one review that I believe quoted a number about $399 for the two year subscription. So I believe the $1599 is the non subsidized price.
ok for us non techies, what is “ubuntu”?
I think this is a great device as it is jacket pocket size and has a keyboard that looks a lot better than the cramped thumb ones. I think more UMPC’s should make devices this basic size and shape and start realizing that most want something more like a real pocket laptop. Please no more thumb keyboards. I want a UMPC with a Jornada or Psion keyboard.
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April 27th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Unfortunately, I’ve seen no confirmation yet that sharp or willcom will sell these without the telecoms subscription.
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April 27th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Al: ubuntu is a linux flavor.
And, if non-techies wont ever buy non-Window boxen, then why do so many non-techies buy Macs? And who will be buying MIDs (which run Linux by definition)?
Yes, I want smaller. Maybe not as small as an iPhone… maybe not as small as a Nokia N810 … but closer to the N810 size than this device is. Maybe slightly larger than pocket size.
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