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The 1K Challenge. Mobile computing Put To Test.


IMG_5325 It’s rare that a new father gets 3 days alone but next week I’m in that position and I want to make the most of it which means I’m going on tour to test some 1KG mobile computing solutions the cost under 1000 Euro. I’ll write 1000 words on each and do my best to travel 1000km. It will be fun and productive at the same time and that’s what I really really love about mobile computing.

I’ve got a device shortlist but it’s not finalized and as yet, the tour route is unknown. I’ll be planning that this week and taking into account mobile blogger meet-ups and company drop-ins.

You can read more about the details over at UMPCPortal and stay tuned here, or there, as we countdown to the start on either Saturday or Sunday and if you’re in Germany and want to meet (business or pleasure) please let me know. Sponsors are also welcome.

The 1K Challenge: Working my E-book in Grams, Euros, Words and Kilometers.

The 1K Challenge: Working my E-book in Grams, Euros, Words and Kilometers.


How easy is it to work for a day on a PC. Easy! How about writing 1,000 words and carrying less than 1KG of equipment that costs under €1000? How about doing it while traveling and not carrying any mains adapters?

Next week I have three days on my own and I plan to get away from the home office. I’m not sure where I’m going but I do know that I will be setting myself a challenge to finish my e-book which is now nearly a year past my planned schedule. I’m also going to throw in some other targets too and it should be interesting for you to watch. Can I work for a full day carrying less than1KG of equipment worth less than €1K.

This isn’t going to be easy because what I’m talking about here is a full mobile office with the following features:

  • ‘PC’ with email, web browser, document editing capabilities, storage, screen, keyboard and Wifi
  • 3G internet connectivity
  • Navigation system
  • Camera (minimum 2MP)
  • Video camera (MIN VGA)
  • MP3 player and headphones

IMG_5325

The PC alone is quite the challenge as you’ll see from an article I wrote in the summer. Finding a netbook under 1KG is impossible so you’re left with specialist devices or ARM-based tablets and ‘smart books’ and even then, adding the additional capabilities (obviously via a smartphone) and ensuring you’ve got enough battery power is something i’ve never been able to do in 1KG before. My reporting kits of the past have rarely got close to 1KG. This one was an exception.

I’ve set a few ground rules which also narrow down the choice.

  • Screen: 7 inch or more. In my experience, trying to work efficiently on anything less is going to result in stress, aches and embarrassment as you crouch over the device to read the screen or enlarge the text so much that you haven’t got enough working space. For most people 9 or 10 inch is entry level.
  • Battery life: 5 hours. A full day would be regarded as 8hrs or more by most but there are only a few devices around that could deliver more than that in an always-connected, screen-on scenario. The iPad springs to mind as the #1 choice in terms of battery life but I need to consider other, more business-oriented options.
  • Document editing capabilities includes offline text input and formatting capabilities with embedded images and links. In summary: offline rich text.
  • Connectivity does not have to be on-board and can be provided via BT tethering, 3G dongle , MiFi or free wifi connectivity.
  • Charging: No re-charging. Spare batteries allowed if they fit in the 1K allowance
  • Multiple test rigs per day. I know that some of the solutions won’t last for more than 5hrs. In order to get the most out of my 3 days, i’ll be taking multiple ‘rigs’ so that I can switch to a new setup if needed.
  • 4 Setups will be tested. If I can’t get a rig working in under 1KG, I will make it as near as possible using the resources I’ve got.

The Shortlist.

As I mentioned, there isn’t a netbook out there that can do this so we’re looking at UMPCs. The Viliv S7 (830gm), Sony Vaio P11 (632gm) and Viliv X70 EX (660gm) head up the list of PCs that I could choose from although there’s a good chance that the Tega V2 will turn up here in time for the test. That would be an interesting one at 800gm and with a nice 10 inch screen. Adding a keyboard and the phone would probably take it to 1.2KG though. We’ll have to see. There are some other non-windows devices too. The Toshiba AC100 runs for 7hrs and weighs only 800gm. I would only need to add a smartphone to complete that setup in under 1KG. The Viewsonic ViewPad 7 would be a very very interesting option. It would only need a keyboard to complete the set-up as it already has GPS, 3.2MP cam, navigation, voice, SMS and 3G built-in. I will try my best to get hold of one of these for the test. There’s the iPad to consider too but getting a stand and keyboard in under 1KG could be a challenge. I’ll see what I can do about getting an iPad setup for the test.

Current shortlist:

More K’s?

The 1K challenge starts on Saturday and I’m thinking of adding one more ‘k’. Can I travel 1000 kilometers while I do this?

Sponsorship.

Naturally this project is open to sponsorship. If you’re a reseller of mobile computing solutions and want to put your name or products forward, please contact me. German resellers, I’d especially like to meet you! Lass uns zusammen ein bier trinken! Get in contact with me via the contact form available through the link on the site header

Help / Meet-and-greet.

If you live in Germany/UK/Netherlands and have a Vaio P11, an iPad 3G or another solution you want me to consider, (UK or German OS please) get in contact with me via the contact form available through the link on the site header. If you live in Duesseldorf, Hannover, Stuttgart or some other major city and you fancy a mobile blogging meet-up, let me know and I’ll try to plan it in.

Stay tuned to UMPCPortal for more information on the 1K challenge later this week.

Mobile Computing Europe-wide Demo Tour Idea


My main job is to promote ultra mobile computing solutions. High-end smartphones, MIDs, UMPCs, Netbooks and the like. My websites work extremely well as a platform for information and discussion but there’s a big problem – hands-on. We’ve done live videos and chat sessions which have worked well but I want to do more.

Here’s an idea…

How about I rent a big mobile home / RV, load it up with devices from resellers in Europe and come to you instead? I recon I could join up with a few mobile internet, barcamp, web conferences, mobile monday events too and make sure as many people as possible get the chance to see the devices. Hamburg, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, London seem like good, central cities to aim for but first I need to get a big list of events together, work out the best time to do this and find a sponsor. I can probably link up with a few other mobile device bloggers in Europe too.

If anyone has any thoughts on this, both from the customer, blogger or sponsor side of things, please let me know.

I’m off to upcoming.com!

Information In The Middle Of Fire


My first post on the road, from the keyboard of the Compal MID device. I’m currently at the top of Carlton Calton Hill in Edinburgh, a site that holds a lot of Scottish history; from the cairn to remind us of the recent fight for a Scottish Parliament, to the old Royal Observatory and the old prison.

Atop Carlton Hill

It’s also the site for Beltane Fire Festival and the Torchlight Procession. If you think of fire in Edinburgh, then this is one of the locations to come to.

The Compal was used today in two areas. The first was navigation on a bicycle. even though I have no mounting bracket on the handlebars, the Compal sat happily in my inside pocket, within easy reach for me to stop and check directions on Google Maps. I did have to use the HTML only web version though to get an acceptable speed, but it got me here – although not on the route I would have went – it seemed to delight in taking me up the steepest hills.

Today's transport (not including my legs)

I could also have used it to pull in information, primarily from Wikipedia, about the buildings, monuments and history of the hill – and while that’s like asking an American to look up the Oath of Office so they don’t get it wrong (ahem), if I was somewhere else (say a Florida Theme Park or The Alamo) having an independent tour guide online, on a large and easy to read screen would probably be just as good as a guide book; if not better as I could explore information and links myself.

Browsing for Information

Solar UMPC Tour photo set.


The 102 (good) photos that I took on the Solar UMPC tour have now been posted in the UMPCPortal Gallery.

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