I’ll check that out, thanks.

While the D4 might not be my ideal UMPC, I do think it is the first one that I would settle for that is more functional and truly jacket pocket in size.

To me the ideal for factor would be the Psion 5mx but maybe that is not achievable for a full windows UMPC? in the Psion’s size of 6.9″ x 3.6″ x .90″ inches? I would think the HP Jornada at 7.3″ x 3.6″ x 1.3″ would be a great size and definately achievable given current UMPC technology.

I can not wait to read Pocketables full review when the extended battery arrives!

I think for a full windows UMPC the technology might not enable them to be as thin as a Psion yet? So I am being more willing to deal with a UMPC about the same or even thicker than my HP 728 in order to have one computer that can be my primary mobile computer without the need of a laptop at all. I think UMPC technology has come a long way and maybe later we might see a UMPC just like the Psion running full windows? but remember the Psion was NOT full windows it ran the proprietary Symbian OS.

I do believe it is possible to design one if hardware companies finally got a clue and focused their design on function of a touch type keyboard and making it for that jacket pocket space. To me the OQO is a great computer technology wise as it is a full PC yet a lot smaller than a Psion & HP Jornada. To me that is the problem it is too small and thus has a thumb keyboard which has never created much demand in the product. But if you think about say the HP Jornada at 7.3″ x 1.3″ x 3.6″; that would provide a company like OQO to have about 32% percent more volume and with that increased space I would think it feasable to make it the same size as an HP Jornada if not even thinner with the same great keyboard of a HP or Psion. It might still be a tad thicker than a Psion say 1″ to 1.25″ but I would think that is very doable with today’s technology. Making it much thinner might need more improvements in technology?

I think the Sharp D4 is one of a couple of shapes that UMPC companies can use in order to provide a more usable computer for full windows. I have personally never liked Sharp keyboard designs but I think this is usable. The keyboard designs I have used that would fit in the same space as the D4 would be the Psion Revo & 5mx, and the HP Jornada 720/728.If they or someone were to improve on the D4 with one of the above mentioned keyboard type designs it would be a clear dominant device.

The other shape that would be a very good design is what I saw only sold in Korea by Samsung, their sph p9200. That one did trifold to allow a keyboard almost full size!

Either way I do think the D4 is a great UMPC maybe not perfect but about the only one I’d consider. If more companies copied and improved on their design I can see UMPC’s finally getting the attention everyone hoped for.

I think it’s the depth that’s the issue. I’ve spent many years carrying chunky electronics in my jacket pocket. My Psion 5 was 25mm thick. I had a old Archos AV140 that was 28mm thick. I considered buying an Archos AV340 that was 30mm, and to test how this would feel in my pocket, I stuck some plastic onto the back of my AV140 and carried it around! (Obsessive or what?) That felt pretty uncomfortable to me.

The Sharp, with the extended battery, is around 35-36mm thick. That’s a lot thicker than any of my gadgets. It’s a whole centimetre thicker than a Psion. You may have a higher tolerance for big things in your pockets, of course - in which case this is indeed your perfect UMPC.

(Or are we talking about different pockets? I’m talking about an inside breast pocket, where long and thin (and not too thick!) is the shape of gadget you want. Maybe you’re talking about an outside hip pocket, where you have a bit more space? You can go wider and probably thicker without noticing too much, although something as long as the Sharp would stick out of the top!)

it seems like some of you think that the keyboard of this device allows comfortable touch typing…i don’t want to make a hasty judgment, but i think in the end this is gonna be still a thumb machine…

as micke wrote: UMPC (pocketable) + touch typing = difficult. –> the only UMPC i know that actually solves this problem is that Samsung UMPC with the folding keyboard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cMhanC5y_g&feature=related

OQO as the worst keyboard. Even at that price I would pass. To me it is not the price but more how usable it can be. I do like the D4 being a clamshell and can see why many like it compared to the other UMPC’s.

OQO had a huge sale on April 1. 1.2GHz/512MB/40GB/EVDO was only $999 (free shipping). You can easily replace the miniPCI EVDO module with any 3G module, as the antenna and SIM slot are equipped. I replaced the EVDO 1X module with a Rev. A module taken from a $50 USB 720 modem.

I tried the OQO and yes I would definately not buy one. For me full windows is not suitable for thumb input so I welcome a longer yet still narrow computer like the D4 as then the form factor provides more space for a traditional keyboard.

I think the D4 is the first UMPC with the right form factor and hopefully more companies will build upon this design. All of the other UMPC’s including ones I’ve seen comming out that are smaller still seem to be more thumb based devices that are too short to ever have anything but a thumb keyboard.

These are full computers so any phone or pda is just not in the same category. While I loved the Psion too for the hardware design I still had to use a laptop as it was a proprietary OS and the HP Jornada 728 being CE was a bit more open but I still needed the laptop. he same goes for MID’s and Linux devices they are not adequate for business as you can not load business softwares as most are only available in full windows.

I think these UMPC’s will take a long time to get battery life like the 14+ hours of a 728 but if you compare them to full laptops they are not that bad. As long as this D4 gets about 4 hours that to me is enough to be functional. If more companies copy this form factor I can easily see ways to improve it a lot. If you look at Psion for example, all you would need to do is increase the depth to 3.6″ then you would have more than the space needed to use either the Psion or HP Jornada keyboard layout; plus that would enable a larger battery!

But the other major factor for me is battery life (ex-Psion 5 owner!!). It’s not really portable if you always have to be on the lookout for your next power outlet. And of course on the Sharp it’s just rubbish. I realise there’s the extended battery, but that makes it too big to fit in a pocket. My pocket, anyway.

My criteria are pocketable/battery life/”proper” keyboard/(price), and there’s nothing at the moment that meets all these. The Everun is still the only thing that does the first two, in my opinion. The strange, elusive and horribly named Digifriends might; the new Wibrain i1 might. But I’m getting fed up of waiting!

I’ve got an OQO and the processor speed, keyboard and annoying fan are really starting to grind on me. Oh, and the unreliability.

OQO may be smaller but Sharp looks more practical for me.

I’ll add I’m one of those who cannot styand the 800×600 screen resolution on the OQO. Fewer websites or apps use this resolution these days