Ultra-Mobile Computing Buyers Guide 2008. Part 1

Posted on 04 November 2008, Last updated on 12 March 2019 by

Welcome to part 1 of the 4 part Ultra Mobile Computing Buyers Guide – What is an Ultra Mobile Computer, a UMPC?

buyersguide2008

This complete series is available a the original PDF. (Subsequent updates will be missing so we advise reading this updated web version.

Introduction

Part One: What is Ultra Mobile Computing?‘ We give you a history of Ultra Mobile computing, show you how the devices break down into segments and show you what each segment is capable of.

Part Two: ‘Details and Choices.‘  It covers the form factors, the keyboard, storage, the screen and connectivity elements of an Ultra Mobile PC. You’ll find a good overview and a lot of tips that will help you refine your choice.

Part ThreeDetails and Choices (contd.)‘ continues the details about the components and covers CPU (including a detailed overview of the currently available solutions) GPU, memory, battery, weight and cost.

Part Four: ‘Additional Information and further reading.‘ In this section we cover some of the less commonly found features on Ultra Mobile computers and give you information and links to further reading resources.

Also available as a single document in PDF format.

Part 1 – What is Ultra Mobile Computing?

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A Short History of Ultra Mobile Computing

Mobile computing is not new. For many years there have been small and portable personal computers. Early portable computers in the late 70’s and early 80’s were big, clumsy and expensive but during the 90’s, as technology advanced, the notebook or ‘laptop’ computer became a very successful mobile form factor. During the time that notebooks were becoming successful though, there were many attempts to make computers truly portable by shrinking them to handheld and pocketable sizes. Early attempts were nothing much more than programmable calculators but by the early 90’s these had evolved into personal organisers with loadable software, touch screens and pocketable sizes. The Apple Newton and Psion Organisers were early, popular examples. During this period, Microsoft also started one of its first handheld computing projects, the ‘Winpad’ project. Various iterations of similar project during the mid 90’s resulted in what is now known as the PocketPC platform which is now the basis of most Windows-Mobile smartphones.

While these projects and products were successful handheld computing devices and platforms, the branch of computing we are concerned with here, UMPCs,  is a sub category of the PC; the x86-based platform that nearly all desk, office and notebook PCs are built on. Simply put, Ultra Mobile PC’s are notebook computers in extremely small, handheld proportions while still offering elements of productivity, connectivity and entertainment. Its all about computing on-the-move rather than between home and office desks. Toshiba were the first to make a successful product in this category in 1996 when they released the Libretto. Since then, the genre has been developing.

origami In 2006, the available technology allowed for the first time, ultra-mobile computers to be built running off-the-shelf PC components with desktop operating system and a flexible applications suite at a consumer level cost. Microsoft had been running a project called ‘Origami’ which had been looking again into alternative form factors, input methods and marketing to consumers. When the team announced the project, and the results of the project, at CeBIT in March 2006, the market received a healthy boost as OEMs started to produce devices in line with the Microsoft Origami concept. Either because of bad marketing, bad design, or bad timing, the Origami devices never reached mass market acceptance and remained, as had previous mobile PC’s, in the geek, pro-mobile and business markets. The lack of battery technology advances, poor transfer of the desktop interface to touch and keyboard-driven interfaces and the introduction of a new, much more heavyweight operating system in Windows Vista have also prevented OEMs from producing successful, low-cost alternatives

The concept, however, of a mobile computer has not gone away. During 2006 and 2007 Intel were developing high-efficiency processors capable of meeting design and user requirements head-on. At the same time VIA had been marketing their existing low-cost, low-power computing platforms that could enable OEM’s to make small computing devices and eventually, in 2007, Intel and Asustek managed to create a mini storm in the mobile computer market. First, Intel announced their dedicated silicon developments. Menlow was the platform name and it was targeted squarely at the mobile consumer and slated for launch in 2008. Later in the year (2007) Asustek took a risk and decided to launch a simple, small notebook using the same components as the Origami devices that came before it. For the first time a mobile version of a familiar mobile device came with an extremely low price. The success has surprised many and today, there are many tens of similar devices all within the 900gm to 1500gm range, all with consumer-focused pricing.

Today, in 2008, we are left with 3 main categories of ultra mobile computer.

Today’s Mobile Computing Categories

1 – The Pro-Mobile focused device based loosely on Microsoft’s original Origami specifications and often called a ‘UMPC.’ has business-targeted builds, full operating systems, 6-7″ screens, pro-mobile features and pro level pricing. Mostly modular, slate or slider devices in the 300-800gm range using leading-edge technology.

2 – The mobile notebook. Notebook-style devices targeted at 1) the low-cost consumer, education and developing countries. Known as Netbooks.  2) The mobile productivity market.

3 – The Mobile Internet Device (MID). The device category defined by Intel as consumer focused, handheld, low cost and capable of full Internet, navigation and entertainment usage models. These devices are largely Linux-based. Other OEMs including Microsoft, ARM and Qualcomm are also starting to use this term but it appears to be converging on the consumer usage model with some targeting at the high-end smartphone market.

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7 Comments For This Post

  1. Pixel Qi fan in waiting... says:

    Good idea to publish this. Might be good to link your article series to a Wikipedia entry for the same.

    Of course, by next spring we shall see all the segments hitting full stride with each company with better offerings. Battery life is still not what we all want in the netbook category, and we shall see if any new technologies come along to help that? The Nokia, Intel Moblin and Ubuntu 9.04 OS offering’s by next spring will be interesting to watch as well. The low end of the net book market will be evolving at the low end using non-intel “other than x68” CPUs and the next CES will be interesting to see what is about at the sub-$98 price range?

    Today, with all that are out there, it is very confusing for the average consumer to survey the market place and make a selection. Articles like this one will be a great help.

    PS- Regarding Netbooks, I was interested in seeing if anyone knows anything about RAID 1 and scatter gather technology (that improves read times when used with Disk based RAID), and if this CF/SATA RAID capable 2.5 inch drive replaement Flash Device could make quicker access and boot times:
    http://www.addonics.com/products/flash_memory_reader/ad2sahdcf.asp ???

  2. JP says:

    Chippy, I think I found an error in your report.

    “First, Intel announced their dedicated silicon developments. Menlow was the platform name and it was targeted squarely at the mobile consumer and slated for launch in 2008. Later in the year Asustek took a risk and decided to launch a simple, small notebook using the same components as the Origami devices that came before it.”

    I guess you’re speaking about the famous Eee PC 701. But the 701 was first release in late 2007 and did not use the Intel Atom processor that was to come in 2008.

    Or am I just misunderstanding your sentence?

  3. Chippy says:

    Hi JP
    This does refer to 2007
    “In 2007, Intel and Asustek managed to create a mini storm in the mobile computer market…”
    and the asustek ref talks about the Origami platform not Menlow, Happy to mod the sentence if its not clear though.
    Steve

  4. JP says:

    Well after re-reading it I understood the sentence the way it’s meant, but it was unclear. Now that I read it again, I understand that 2008 was just Intel’s previsions, but this prevision was given in 2007. Everything is in 2007 actually :-)

    Yes this is not really clear but I don’t know how you could make it better, so do as you wish.

    By the way, you added “(2007}”, you mistyped a curly brace instead of a parenthesis…

  5. Chippy says:

    Thanks JP.

  6. tino says:

    Such an important topic I would like to see an honorable mention of the Toshiba Libretto series and the Transmeta crusoe chip after that.

    I loved my Libretto. I wish I didn’t over clocked and killed it.

  7. scuntespenset says:

    I failed my driver’s test. The guy asked me “what do you do at a red light?” I said, I don’t know… look around, listen to the radio… (Bill Braudis). :P

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