CarryPad Full Review of Raon Digital UMPC

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

http://www.carrypad.com/content/view/35/9/

"The Raon Digital Vega can best be described as an ultra-small PC. Its smaller than a paperback book, weighs less than half a bag of sugar, and runs Windows XP home operating system. Yes. It's really is an ultra small PC, with screen included! Carrypad has had the device for nearly two weeks and put it through a heavy real-life test schedule."



You guys may recall a preview article from CarryPad that we posted on regarding this Raon Digital UMPC. Well, CarryPad has just published their full review, so if you're interested in a more detailed assessment, check it out.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

http://www.carrypad.com/content/view/35/9/

"The Raon Digital Vega can best be described as an ultra-small PC. Its smaller than a paperback book, weighs less than half a bag of sugar, and runs Windows XP home operating system. Yes. It's really is an ultra small PC, with screen included! Carrypad has had the device for nearly two weeks and put it through a heavy real-life test schedule."



You guys may recall a preview article from CarryPad that we posted on regarding this Raon Digital UMPC. Well, CarryPad has just published their full review, so if you're interested in a more detailed assessment, check it out.

[unxmully]

But the current generation of UMPC devices have absolutely nothing going for them do they?

Small screens and slow processors combined with poor batteries and XP that's not really sure what it's trying to be in the form factor. I can remember looking at the original Origami ads and thinking that the devices looked quite interesting.

Unfortunately the reality is a complete disaster, IMHO, and I can't see anyone who either uses WM devices or laptops switching to a middle-ground device with all of the drawbacks and none of the benefits of either.

[zx6guy]

"But the current generation of UMPC devices have absolutely nothing going for them do they? "

Maybe not this device because it lacks any type of internal wireless connectivity but the Q1 for example isn't bad. People complain about the price point but IMHO $500 might be a little too low. We can easily pay that for a PPC right? Why should we expect a more powerful/capable device to go for the same?

"Small screens and slow processors combined with poor batteries and XP..."

Small screens and slow processors are what UMPCs are all about. You can't have a portable device if it has 15.4 inch screen and what little battery life they already have would be chewed up by a bigger processor. You do have a point about their current battery life and XP. I haven't seen a review yet of a UMPC that has lasted longer then 3 hours on its standard battery. And why was XP chosen over Tablet for a touch screen device? Sony did the same thing with its UX series. For some reason the smaller screen devices are going with XP.

[Gerard]

Originally Posted by zx6guy

I haven't seen a review yet of a UMPC that has lasted longer then 3 hours on its standard battery.

I don't have any quibble with the rest of your comments, but do wonder about this one. In the review, the author makes it very clear that he obtained over 4 hours of use on a charge (4:17 if I remember correctly), and that was with the screen at full brightness and a movie playing. Not too shabby! A lot of WM devices would fail to match such a test result. He projects over 5 hours with the screen brightness slightly dimmed and not using video all the time... and over 10 hours with screen off, as a music device. Seems that with the supplied extended battery (only 1/4 inch thicker than the standard battery) this device could easily serve for average work-day usage.

Of course, I'll hold off getting too excited until these things develop better features in a number of respects, including battery life. With my Mugen 5800mAh battery (exactly 1/4 inch thicker than the stock Toshiba e800 battery) I get over 15 hours of use, with a CF Wi-Fi card running the whole time and the screen at a satisfactory brightness - full bright is rarely used as it's just uncomfortably bright, like staring at a light bulb. I don't expect a comparably sized XP machine to run quite that long, but 8 hours or so with mixed use (and a built-in Wi-Fi radio!) would be liveable. I'd like to see at least 4 hours of use when combined with 24 hour standby time as well, though this might be dreaming. Too spoiled on 'instant on' with PPCs over the years, though it's never really been instant, more like a few seconds.

[aNiMeMaN14]

Originally Posted by Ekkie Tepsupornchai

...so if your interested in a more detailed assessment, check it out.

:cry:


Haha, just busting your chops. UMPCs certainly seem like a lot of fun. I am definitely going to buy one the day they release one with bundled phone software. I just can't give my PDA phone up yet. And wtf, no Wifi? That's a bit absurd.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Originally Posted by aNiMeMaN14

Haha, just busting your chops.

No no no... that's called efficiency. I got my message across with two less keystrokes!

*sigh*

Okay never mind... you got me! :|