New clamshell MID on video

We have seen those slate and slider designs but this looks to be the first clamshell form MID

Click to see the video

More info coming soon..

Belinea SBook 1 at CeBIT 2008

Hands-on with S.Book 1...

Click to see the video

Details, Links and News about Belinea SBook 1

Asus Eee PC 900 dissected

Wide open and with user manual..

Click here to see more




Bluetooth..

..as you can see from the pictures, that is not the Atom processor.

But there is multitouch pad!

Thanks FCC

Copy of the internal pix

Via Engadget

Touchscreen version of Asus Eee PC 900 getting more possible

These news are inline with my conversation with Jerry Shen.

Continue reading..

He told that they have been testing touch on Eee and but they have not decided if there is going to be a touch screen version in future. They have been testing and developing a touch optimized version of the current Linux build too, but again, they may not release it.


He tested my touchscreen Eee PC and we talked about the possibility of making one version with touch.

Now Digitimes is reporting that Kevin Lin, vice president of Asustek's sales department, said that there will be a touch version and "GPS support"



It might be that this GPS dongle on this picture is the "GPS support"

Via Digitimes

Asus Eee PC 3rd party batteries starting to appear

Popular products get piles of accessories and Eee PC is very popular..

Continue reading..

One of the most important feature on mobile computer is battery life, so these 3rd party 6 cell batteries are coming to rescue users in need... as Asus is not yet shipping the original ones.


This one is from Mugen and it should be available in April.
It is 7,800 mAh 6 cell so it should give 5.5 to 6 hours of good use.
It looks very nice as it doesn't extend much.
Size: 45 x 138 x 38mm


This one is from Cameron Sino [ available from Ebay ] but that design is not that nice..
It is 6600 mAh 6 cell giving some 5 hours of mobility.
Size: 55 x 35 x 138mm


And last but not least, the original Asus 6 cell with 7800 mAh capacity. No confirmed info about shipping time..
Size: 55 x 40 x 138mm

There is also 4 cell batteries from these companies, but I wouldn't buy the 4400 mAh versions as they give only about 2.5 to 3 hours of use..

We should see more 3rd party batteries soon as there is a clear demand for them.

One thing to know: all these batteries will work on coming Eee PC 900 too ( I tested )

I just got the Cameron Sino one, so I will make a video review of it now..

UPDATE: there is also 8 cell 10400mAh battery but i think that's overkill! Thanks JDTucson

MIU HDPC " The Ugly Sofa " gets more real

Click to see the video and pictures

4-inch 800 x 480 touch screen
1GHz VIA C7M
Windows XP / Linux Qplus or CE 5

MIU product page [ translated ]

Aving.net Via Engadget

HTC Shift in stock at MobilX

I just got word from MobilX that they are shipping HTC Shift now..

MobilX Webshop [ affiliate ]

Abit MID at Cebit 2008

3G HSDPA, SSD, and good battery life! All my favorites..

Click to see the video

Details, News and Links about Abit MID soon at Database

HTC doesn't want to compete with Asus Eee PC

Which i truly believe and understand.. but..

Continue reading..

Laptop Magazine spoke with HTC CEO Peter Chou about handsets and platforms. One of the topics was about HTC's first UMPC, HTC Shift and Asus Eee PC.

When asked if HTC sees Eee PC as their competitor, Peter Chou said:

"I don’t consider them as a competitor. We don’t want to compete with them as we are in a different segment. We are primarily looking at the prosumer or mobile professionals. Our strategy is to align more with the mobile operators."



If we look at HTC's and Asus's marketing on these two devices, they really look different. But if we put them side by side and to actual use, there is not that much difference after all.

Yes, there are huge differences on the hw and sw side, Shift has all the bells and whistles and Eee runs Linux... but new Eee's will have Windows .. and we might not need bells on mobile computers.

What most prosumers or mobile professionals need is a robust system to access information. Storing company data on a mobile device is very dangerous. More and more companies are just accessing their data and applications tru Internet.


Cloud computing, server based mobility and central management are the methods in use. For that kind of use, Eee PC is actually better as it has robust flash drive, good user friendly and common design and far better battery life. Yes, Eee lacks internal HSDPA, but you can get free modem from your operator or use it with your mobile phone.

So what about operators? "Our strategy is to align more with the mobile operators"

That is exactly what Asus is doing. There are all ready many operator deals with Eee PC and HSDPA modems. Subsidising 1300 euro device or 400 euro device can make a big difference on operators decisions.

So.. HTC doesn't want to compete with Asus Eee PC... I don't think Asus is asking if they want or not.


I waited for the Shift for a long time. I thought about buying it many times. But the bottom line on professional mobile computing is that you need to have minimum weaknesses with maximum usability. For me, the Asus Eee PC was just the right amount of those features, with the added bonus of a very good price.

So.. HTC.. Asus Eee PC competes with Shift. Like it or not.

Laptop Magazine with Peter Chou

HTC Shift EVDO UMPC is everywhere!

It's at Amazon and in hands of all US bloggers..

Continue reading..


Matt has one and he is giving his first impressions and huge gallery out.

James has one and he is promising a review soon..

..and Laptop Magazine has just released a review of it.

Details, News and Links at UMPCPortal.com

Redfly mobile companion in action

Matthew Miller has posted a good overview of Redfly..

Click to see the video

I got a change to test it at CeBIT and I must say it could be really good device for some users.

Remember to read his thoughts about it at The Mobile Gadgeteer

HTC Shift with full Windows Mobile

This is one to check if you are thinking of buying HTC Shift.

Click to see the video

It will be so much more useful with all the normal apps and settings.

Jump to MoDaCo to read more

UMPC Podcast no. 12. Samsung Q1 Ultra vs Asus Eee PC

Welcome to listen UMPC and Mobile Internet Podcast no. 12. Join me and Steve talking about Samsung Q1 Ultra vs Asus Eee PC

Click here download it [ mp3, 50:56 ]

Asus R50A UMPC, hands-on video from CeBIT 2008

A medium sized slate UMPC.. High specs but poor battery life..

Click here to see more

32GB SDD, HSDPA and GPS.. all super features for mobile computer.
But if it's only 2.5 hour device...
I really hope this was just a bad proto..

Details, News and Links for Asus R50A

Intel & MIDs at CeBIT 2008

We got some good insights on Intel's mobile Internet plans. Here Steve is interviewing Pankaj Kedia. Topic is MIDs and Atom.

Click to see the video

If you want to get detailed info on Intel's plans with Atom, Jump to UMPCPortal:

Intel Atom. Facts and Analysis. Part 1 of 2

Intel Atom. Facts and Analysis. Part 2 of 2

LG XNOTE B831 UMPC hands-on at CeBIT 2008

This is one to watch. LG XNOTE B831 slider UMPCs..

Click to see the video

As I used Gigabyte M528 and OQO 02 same day as LG XNOTE B831, I can easily say this felt the best..

Slider was working smooth and there was now "wobbling" at all. Keyboard felt super too. Even the touch pad looks small, i think it will be easy to adopt.

Details, News and Links about LG XNOTE B831

HTC Shift UMPC hacking has started

Boys at xda-developers.com are making some good progress on getting HTC Shift SnapVUE side more useful...

Continue reading..

Like Steve and I did, they can now install apps on it.
Quickmenu to access apps, Opera Mobile for surfing and other small apps to make it better for hacking...

Remember to think before altering the SnapVUE side! You may brake stuff there easily, ask Steve about it ;)

Jump to xda-developers.com

Gigabyte M528 MID, Ubuntu Mobile UI

Playing with the user interface..

Click to see the video

I think it was pretty good. I was first a bit worried about so many Linux distributions on these MIDs but Intel's focus on Moblin is looking good..

More M528 videos

Details, Links and News about M528

Inventec miniUMPC 5-D, iPod dock with remote screen

Not a typical UMPC.. 5.6 inch XP PMP...

Click here to see more

Asus R70A slate UMPC hands-on at CeBIT

This might be the one for inkers..

Click to see the video

More features, smaller package and better battery life than on previous generation R2 family..

Details, Links and News about Asus R70A

Asus Eee PC "Easy Mode for XP" is here

EeePCNews.de has just released a unofficial version of Asus Eee PC Easy Mode. For XP..

Download it from here

UMPC Podcast no. 11. CeBIT 2008

Welcome to listen UMPC and Mobile Internet Podcast no. 11. Join me and Steve talking about new UMPCs coming from CeBIT 2008.

Click here download it [ mp3, 42:26 ]

Follow up on Asus Eee PC 900

I got to speak with Asus about specs and availability of the Eee PC 900..

Continue reading



I talked with Rick Tung, Senior Manager at MB Business unit, and he confirmed some details:

- Eee PC 900 will have the same hw ( cpu/chipset/etc ) as current versions.
so the cpu is 900Mhz Celeron.

- As it uses same batteries as 7 inch models, it's battery life will be little bit less than 3.5 hours, due to bigger screen consuming more power.

- Bluetooth is not planned for this version.

- the 8GB SSD version will be sold with XP.

- the 12GB SSD version will be sold with Linux.

- even they said April at the conference, the more likely release date will be May - June.

- it will be available in black too.

- it will be 399 euros with Linux, "XP version will cost just a little bit more"
( remember that if something is sold in Europe for 399 e, you should not compare the price to US dollar as it is, I would guess it will be less in USA. )


I also talked with Asus CEO, Jerry Shen, and he told that they have been testing touch on Eee and but they have not decided if there is going to be a touch screen version in future. They have been testing and developing a touch optimized version of the current Linux build too, but again, they may not release it.
There will be "Easy Mode" for XP too.

Here are the specs again:

Xandros Linux version:
8.9 inch 1024 x 600 screen
900 Mhz Intel Celeron
Intel GMA 900
1 GB RAM
12 GB SSD
1.3M Pixel webcam

Windows XP version:
8.9 inch 1024 x 600 screen
900 Mhz Intel Celeron
Intel GMA 900
1 GB RAM
8 GB SSD
1.3M Pixel webcam



Here are some of my own observations:
- my 7 inch Eee battery worked on it so current batteries can be used with it
- touch pad was now much bigger, making it easier to use.
- ram is upgradable easily, as there is similar removable cover as in older versions
- keyboard is the same
- it felt as light and small as the 7 inch version
- i changed the resolution to 1280 x 800 and it worked but panning.. with sw interpolation we could still use it at 1280 x 800!
- me want!

If you haven't seen my video of it, go watch it now!

BenQ MID hands-on

Click to see the video

More Details, News and Links of BenQ MID

Clevo TN70M Convertible UMPC at CeBIT 2008

This small convertible has 2 unique features: loooong battery life and pci express slot..

Click to see the video

Remember to check what Steve thinks about it

Details, Links and News about Clevo TN70M