I recently received the Vye S41 for review courtesy of Dynamism. I’ll be testing it over the next week or so but I wanted to share my unboxing photos and first impressions. The full gallery of unboxing pictures can be seen in a slideshow over at flickr.
The box that the unit came packed in was solid, just like the unit itself. There was a surprisingly useful plastic handle at the top, and while the packaging might not be formal, it served it purpose well enough. Opening the box revealed two modules, one housing the S41, and the other containing documentation, power cables, external GPS antenna, and a soft slip case. As I mentioned the unit feels very solid, when closed it feels like a single piece. There is not even the slightest wiggle from the battery which is nice. Pulling the S41 out for the first time, I was surprising to see how small it was knowing full well that this tiny computer managed to fit a full sized DVD burner inside. The hinge that holds the screen closed is firm and consistent, adding to the solid feeling of the device. The vertical hinge that spins the screen around into tablet mode feels firm as well.
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[This pre-prepared and auto-posted as I’m on holiday – Back soon. Chippy.]
The Gigabyte M704 has really surprised me. I wasn’t really expecting anything too exciting due to having tested the older version of the hardware last year but the vastly improved screen, the better mouse layout and the 1.2Ghz processor have made an impressive difference. So much so that I consider it to be up there with the great all-rounder, the Q1 Ultra. But cheaper! It should definitely be on your shortlist if you’re looking at the Q1 Ultra.
The video below goes through most of the differences with the device and the only thing I can really add is that both devices perform as well as each other. The Q1 Ultra has the edge on video playback and on battery life but the M704 is a much nice machine to input text into. Where might only write a very brief ‘i’ll get back to you later’ email on the Q1 Ultra you’ll find that you can make a detailed response in comfort on the M704.
Anyway, take a look at the video and let me know if you have any questions. The M704 has gone back to Mobilx now but I’ll still be able to answer questions when I get back from holiday on Monday.
The guys over at Gottabemobile.com have found a video showcasing some of the intended applications of the new Panasonic CF-U1. The video is surprisingly high quality when it comes to scene and prop setups, but the acting is, dare I say, pathetic. Still, the video gives a pretty good idea of how the U1 is designed to be used; shown in the video is a wide range of industry applications. It’s a shame that Panasonic hasn’t spent time making a consumer oriented UMPC; the U1 is packed full of features but it has a premium price and is definitely on the bulky side. The video didn’t show any good keyboard use so we’ll have to wait and see how well that turns out. Something interesting to note in the video is the 4-bay battery charger, and confirmation that the batteries in the U1’s dual-battery bay are hot-swapable, meaning you will be able to swap out batteries without ever turning off the unit.
Edit: My apologies, video has been updated to the English version.
I dropped a quick line about the upcoming Panasonic Toughbook UMPC the other day, and now that more details are available it looks as though the device is actually shaping up to be a very well rounded piece of hardware. Before I start listing specs, lets keep in mind that this is a rugged ultra mobile PC that Panasonic says surpasses military specifications for hardware of this class, meaning that it can withstand a decent amount of punishment in the areas of shock, temperature, moisture, and others. Now to the good stuff.
The device is called the Toughbook U1, and is running a 1.33GHz Atom CPU. The only storage options are SSD flavored with your choice of 16GB or 32GB. The SSD only option makes sense enough; no moving parts in your storage medium means less components that could potentially break. The unit can also be equipped with 3G, either EV-DO or HSDPA. GPS is an option and of course there is the obligatory Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well. Now for some of the more interesting features. Apparently the U1 is fan-less and will rely entirely on passive cooling to vent heat. Having an SSD surely cuts down on thermal output so this may be another reason that there is no HDD option. The efficient Atom CPU also contributes (or depending on how you look at it, doesn’t contribute) to the levels of heat that enable the U1 to forgo the fan all together. Probably the most interesting feature of the U1 is its dual batteries. Two battery slots which each hold a 2-cell battery enable the device to stay running while you swap out the battery that isn’t being utilized. This mean you could keep the machine running while swapping in as many batteries as you have. Panasonic says 3-4 hours of use for each battery which makes for a very nice 6-8 hours of use across both batteries. Expect to pay a premium price of around $2500 USD for this rugged UMPC.
Kohjinsha will launch the S130WG, a slightly modified SC3 (DMB receiver instead of 1-Seg) in Korea.
Local price for the GPS version will be just under $1000. For more information check out our Kohjinsha SC3 coverage and the SC3 datasheet. We should have one of these a few days after they are launched in Asia (expected 2nd week July) so check back for hands-on news.
It looks like there are definately a few options for getting Windows XP after June 2008. All OEMs can take the ‘system builder’ route to provide XP until Jan 2009 as we mentioned on Podcast #15.
JKK has the summary of options and highlights that OEMs should be shipping XP restore CDs with editions of Vista that include downgrade rights.
It looks like Panasonic will be releasing that rugged Atom-based ultra mobile PC in the near future. Engadget is reporting that the unit will have a 5.6″ touch-screen, QWERTY thumb keyboard split with a numerical number pad, and unfortunately will be running Vista. I hope they managed to reinforce the touch screen, otherwise it will easily be the most vulnerable part of the UMPC. The device, which was previewed at CeBIT and IDF this year, is said to be getting pricing information and detailed specs on Wednesday of this week. We’ll keep you updated as more info becomes available.
There are two choices open to you when you are confronted with a slate style UMPC. You can scratch your head and say, “there don’t be no keyboard here.” Or you can ask yourself, “how well can I use this despite the absence of a keyboard?” I asked myself the latter question when first confronted with the R2. This wasn’t the review unit, the R2E, I had for two weeks recently but the original R2H that was shown as one of the very first ultra mobile PC devices nearly three years ago. Not having a keyboard seems like a big compromise for any computer because it is the second most used part of any computer, after the mouse. Not having a keyboard bars you from doing most things you would normally do with your computer. And what use is a ultra mobile PC that does not even allow you to complete you daily computer routine? If all you want from your ultra mobile PC purchase is that it allows you to do what you already do on computers in a conveniently portable package than you probably won’t be excited by the prospect of a slate style UMPC. I however want a ultra mobile PC to go beyond my normal needs and perform different tasks. I therefore was excited by the R2H. [Read on…]
as though the device is actually shaping up to be a very well rounded piece of hardware. Before I start listing specs, lets keep in mind that this is a rugged ultra mobile PC that Panasonic says surpasses military specifications for hardware of this class, meaning that it can withstand a decent amount of punishment in the areas of shock, temperature, moisture, and others. Now to the good stuff.
