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Blurring the UMPC/Handtop lines...
StoreTags: Vega, UMPC, UREN
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People who enjoyed reading this: fil, GenM
Hi all,
As per usual, I come with news. The Raon Digital Vega is shipping and has actually had an unboxing video done. I'm impressed, but before I could make up my mind, there is another new entry into our handtop world, that is sorta not quite a UMPC and sorta not quite a handtop, based solely on its size. Welcome the UREN V1. This little wonder has the 7-inch WVGA screen of a UMPC but is a mere 192x120x25 mm as reported here. So while being much larger than the UX, or OQO, it is still smaller than the first crop of UMPCs and has integrated Wifi, Bluetooth, USB ports, 3MP camera, GPS receiver, CF and SD card readers... So, UMPC/Handtop debate reopened?
As per the Vega, here is a manual for those who want to see that and now I officially don't know what I want, but for those who do, Dynamism has the usual stock and I'll be going there for my (whatever I finally decide on) when ready to buy.
diJenerate
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09/11/06
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fil
What operating systems are these all running?
09/11/06
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Supp0rtLinux
Looks like XP MCE, but I could be wrong... it could just be XP (Pro/TabletPC) but with a custom, full screen nav window to integrate audio/video/GPS. I like that it comes stock with the car mount, auto charger, remote, etc. I'm tempted to find out what my UX or OQO would do with Win MCE installed. TabletPC is one thing, but as I understand MCE, it has a decent full-screen window to quickly manage certain things... obviously at home that might be TV, DVR, etc, but in a car it might be MP3's (via WMPlayer), GPS, etc.
09/11/06
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GenM
Vega runs XP Home.
09/11/06
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Hite
the UREN certainly looks alot closer to Microsoft's "vision" of a 7", buttonless, razor thin, able to fit in a suit jacket pocket. but the bezel would still have to be trimmed down some & the body made alot thinner, although that wont ever happen until HD's & LCD's are completely replaced by SSD's & OLED's.
edited: Sep 12 2006
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diJenerate
Yes they are x86 systems and I just managed to get some data out of the company website on the UREN v1. It appears that there are four models available each in two colours. According to the (google translated) product page two models carry the same AMD processor as the Raon Vega and the other two carry a Via 1GHz processor I assume to be the C7-M. They all have 256MB RAM and unfortunately do not appear to have integrated Wifi or Bluetooth as reported by myself in this blog and by my source websites. Additionally the battery life looks to be 2 hours at best... making it look more and more like a 'Vega with 512MB RAM' day.
Bummer...
diJenerate
09/12/06
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Supp0rtLinux
Besides... everytime I read about the Uren, I have to go to the bathroom... 
Aside from the Uren's size, its CPU offerings, dismal RAM, and apparent lack of wireless options, they've done two things right:
1) Their app overlay seems nice. Its very WinMCE/MythTV oriented. One screenshot clearly shows either XP Pro/Home/Tablet. I think Sony *tried* to do something like this with their launcher, only Sony's is more of a shortcut bar than anything else... at least on the UX. The Uren appears to have a nice overlay/launcher that lays things out by task (ie: Movies, Music, GPS, etc) that makes it easy to use in a car, etc. The UX could *almost* do this if A) the screen was bigger or they offered the ability to have a larger screen res natively (ie: 800x480 on the 4.5'' LCD) and B) if the launcher didn't drop you back into XP with the app open, but rather launched it full screen thus keeping it readable in a car, etc.
2) The way they're marketing it seems nice too. OQO (especially their video) seems to be marketing to business users who need a PC/XP in their hand. I haven't seen much advertising out of Sony for the UX. The Uren, though, seems to be advertising the ability to easily use it as a UMPC (ie: surfing on the couch, etc) as well as a GPS type unit in a car, etc. Sure, we've seen people do this with their Q1 or OQO, etc... but so far only Uren seems to be advertising it this way. When I look at all the cars coming with built-in computers and the third party options to put these in and integrate them, I think Uren is hitting a good spot here. Imagine not paying out the nose for your *upgraded* Denali or Escalade with the DVD/CD/GPS/Satellite system, but instead having your Denali just have a docking station that connects to the in-dash LCD, the head-rest LCDs and your speaker system... then leaving work, taking your device out of its docking station and dropping it into your vehicle so you have all your same movies, music, and GPS system with you. No... we're not there yet, but we could be...
The inclusion of a vehicle mount and remote seems spot-on and makes me definitely think its running WinMCE. Perhaps OQO and Sony could offer remotes and vehicle mounts. Related, anyone found a good vehicle mount for their UX? I've seen one for a Q1, but not a UX...
I think they mis-stepped by not including a slide up keyboard, though...
09/13/06
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ArchiMark
That's a good one, Supp0rtLinux.... ;-)
Supp0rtLinux said: "Besides... everytime I read about the Uren, I have to go to the bathroom... ..."
09/13/06
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Supp0rtLinux
Yeah, I'm thinking it would go something like this...
"Hey man, wanna see my new Uren"?
"Dude, that's gross. When are you gonna grow up? The bathroom's over there"...
edited: Sep 14 2006
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diJenerate
Bad news gyus, it looks like the Vega has quite disappointing performance as Steve showes us here. It can't even handle Skype or iTunes. BUMMER....
I'll hold out for (the) UREN...
diJenerate
edited: Sep 18 2006
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diJenerate
Update...
The UREN comes out in Korea officially at the end of this month. Keep checking Dynamism for updates. It seems that there is actually Wi-fi support on the V1 and possibly BT. Another battery is under development to give up to 6 hrs of life, but we'll have to see when that will actually come out. The Camera is actually NOT integrated, that's official word from Korea.
Looks good to me otherwise, just have to see what the pricepoint is when Dynamism gets them in.
diJenerate
10/25/06
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primaz
The issue with this and all of the umpc's thus far is the lack of design of their form factor around functionality. All of the devices are not pocket size and thus compete against tablets and others with more power. What is needed is a handheld version the size of a HP Jornada or old Psion with a real touch type keyboard running the umpc OS. Util the devices offer something like that, they will continue to sell poorly as there is just not enough to warrant a price even if you cut their price in half.
07/21/07
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ranjandish
hey guys,i dont know how i can buy this product?it produces in korea.how can we buy this?
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