Tatung to Release a Windows Mobile UMPC as Well?

[Paul Martin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3514' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3514</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Not too much information are available yet but speculations are circulating through the net, that Tatung also plans to release a Windows Mobile-based UMPC look-alike Pocket PC. That's even more interesting, after the HTC Athena appeared first time and was confirmed a little bit later, since the original UMPC design was based on Windows XP but now, UMPC is used as synonym for high-end Pocket PCs."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/tatung_umpc_computex1.jpg" /><br /><br />It's interesting that Arne at the::unwired mentions the broadening of the definition of an "UltraMobile PC". The <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20061225PD200.html">news story on the Athena</a> did the same. Most UMPC sites, including Intel <a href="http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/platform/umpc.htm">define the category</a> as containing "<i>small, ultra-mobile devices with full PC capabilities</i>". So, I guess it comes down to the question of what defines a PC and its capabilities? It is ironic that UMPC.com <a href="http://umpc.com/FAQs.aspx">mentions</a> that it will not be a replacement for a laptop or desktop computer, but rather a "PC Companion". Where have we <a href="http://www.pocketpcfaq.com/wce/featcomp.htm">heard those words before</a>? :lol: It will be interesting to see what UMPC devices show up at CES.

[alese]

There is a bit of a problem with this device.
If it is, "UMPC" type Windows Mobile device then why is it using Smartphone OS?

Or is this how Crossbow will look like? I doubt that, since the pictures of Crossbow interface were completely different.

[SteveHoward999]

oh goody. More confusion for the technically uninitiated!

[Paul Martin]

There is a bit of a problem with this device. If it is, "UMPC" type Windows Mobile device then why is it using Smartphone OS?

Someone brought that up to Arne as well. He said it was just a mock-up and he wasn't concerned. So, is this some sort of SmartUMPCphone? 8O

[alese]

There is a bit of a problem with this device. If it is, "UMPC" type Windows Mobile device then why is it using Smartphone OS?

Someone brought that up to Arne as well. He said it was just a mock-up and he wasn't concerned. So, is this some sort of SmartUMPCphone? 8O

Maybe this is third category of UMPC.
1. XP UMPC
2. PPC UMPC
3. Smartphone UMPC

[Jason Dunn]

I find it FASCINATING that the old "HPC" form factor is coming back in different ways, but the idea of a larger screened device with a keyboard of some sort is becoming popular again.

[JesterMania]

It would be so hilarious if it was indeed based on WM5 Smartphone Edition. Here some of us were talking about how gimped a WM5-based "UMPC" device would be in comparison to an XP-based one and they go and introduce a Smartphone version :lol: . For the product's sake, I certainly hope this is only a mock-up. Anyhow, I guess it seems that the plain vanilla PDA is destined for somewhat of a revival in a larger form factor. Let's see how long this trend will last :wink: ...

[laner]

The larger format devices are not that uncommon in the industrial computer realm, mainly for truck/forklift mount computers. Take a look at the Intermec cv30, Symbol vc5090, Teklogix 8530.

[Darius Wey]

Wa-hey, no soft keys. :|

[netboy]

It is ironic that UMPC.com mentions (http://umpc.com/FAQs.aspx) that it will not be a replacement for a laptop or desktop computer, but rather a "PC Companion".

what' so ironic about that?? give me a mobile web browser that can do everythng like on desktop, then it will be a laptop replacement. otherwise i agree, it' a PC Companion. Lots of websites can not be display properly or accessiable on windows mobile. example. ameritrade.com, citibank.com, toyota.com, play utube, and etc..

[Paul Martin]

what' so ironic about that??

It's ironic because that's what they were calling the first unit's running Windows CE 1.0 when it was still a clamshell design. My first handheld was the Compaq C140 "PC Companion". Over time the units changed to the Palm PC then Pocket PC, but still run Windows CE under the hood. So, it's ironic to those of us who have used these for years. What goes around comes around. :)

[IpaqMan2]

I find it FASCINATING that the old "HPC" form factor is coming back in different ways, but the idea of a larger screened device with a keyboard of some sort is becoming popular again.

I have always thought a larger screen was always the better way to go than a smaller screen. Some of the Windows Mobile phone devices have such small screens that it actually has caused those devices to be less functional.

I also believe that HPC devices had the form factor of many of the new WM devices with their slide out keybaord they would of survived way longer than they did. But what killed the HPC devices were the different processors and the lack of universal compatable software in their early days.

As for these new umpc Windows Mobile device - I love the idea, but doubt it will make much more than a slight splash. Windows Mobile is great for a phone and an organizer but if that's all it's going to do, than all of it has already been done. WM applications have not gone mainstream, and forcing non-geek people who are already used to a Windows PC to use the WM interface I believe will do more harm than good for a UMPC device - put native CE with it's desktop - or at least the ability to switch from the WM interface to the desktop, than perhaps it might just get somewhere.