Just fished the following mail out of my gmail spam folder from a company called Blazepoint:

Subject: FlipStart - Now available outside USA!

We have been made aware that you have previously shown interest in the FlipStart ultra mobile PC. We are delighted to announce that this exciting new product is now available to customers outside the USA through Blazepoint in the UK.

Please find our recent press release attached along with the European datasheet for your perusal.

The European version of the product (CE marked) was launched at the DSEi show in London last week and we received a significant level of interest. Please let us know if you have any queries or require any further information.

With best regards,

Ian Douglas
Business Development Manager - Commercial Division

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The contents of the attachments can be found online in Blazepoint's Press Release ([url=http://www.blazepoint.co.uk/pdfs/FlipS (Click here to read the rest)

If you haven't heard the news, the Vulcan FlipStart is now shipping. For $1,999 you get:

• FlipStart 1.0
• WiFi (802.11b/g), Bluetooth and Sprint Mobile Broadband (EV-DO REV A)
• Port replicator
• High-capacity battery
• Stereo earbuds
• Screen cloth
• Soft case
• AC adapter

If you have $300 to burn, FlipStart offers a 15 day return policy with the standard 15% restocking fee.

My personal experiences with the device have been great. The device is an absolute treat. It performs powerfully with games, apps and the multiple controls (trackstick, trackpad and scrollwheel) will have you doing work or playing games in no time. If you're still not convinced, check out our five part FlipStart series.

FlipStart E-1001S first impressions
FlipStart E-1001S Pics and details
[url=http://www.h (Click here to read the rest)

There's an interesting, but short, article in this morning's "Tech Section" of the San Jose Mercury News. The article is about UMPC's and mentions the FlipStart, Samsung Q2, Sony & OQO. Not a very enlightening article for those of us that are regular forum readers/upmc owners. But, at least it's putting out some info for the general public.

One of the persons interviewed stated that the small keyboards can actually cause "injuries!" Umm, you FlipStart owners be careful now. Don't close your clamshell on your fingertip, might break a nail. Or, us OQO owners should likely wear hearing protection to circumvent the obvious hearing loss caused by the high-decibel noise of the fan!

The hard-copy article in the paper this morning featured a picture of the FlipStart being held by someone in both hands, the clamshell open and the screen on. It was kind of a cool picture. The online version did not have this picture.

link (Click here to read the rest)

Numerical benchmarking is really only useful when you can compare against other devices that are in the same class. With handtops being as new as they are, there's really only the OQO to compare to. However, comparing numbers with the OQO wouldn't be fair since the two are a few years apart, and we don't have a OQO model 02 to benchmark. Add to this the fact that the focus of handtops isn't about performance so much as form factor and the purpose of benchmarking the FlipStart becomes somewhat more diminished. Regardless, it may be somewhat beneficial to have a point of comparison for those who are familiar with the benchmark numbers of laptops and computers they've worked with, if only to get a sense of how powerful (or not) you might find the FlipStart for whatever task you need.

I did the traditional benchmarks such as HD Tune, PCMark, 3DMark, [url=http://en.wikipedia. (Click here to read the rest)

Many people bemoan the fact that the FlipStart E-1001S has been delayed numerous times. With the recently announced specs people are further upset by the seemingly low-powered specs and bulky size. While a few of these opinions are based on actual reviews, many are simply based on a list of numbers and pics, so I thought it important to post a series of in-depth reviews on various parts of the FS to see whether the complaints stand up and the concerns are valid. This initial blog will go over my first impressions and in upcoming segments I'll cover other parts of the device in detail.


If you have even the smallest geek bone in you, and you probably wouldn't be here if you didn't, you'll immediately be tickled pink at the size of the FlipStart when you first take it out. It does look somewhat bulky, entirely to do with the extended battery that locks into the base of the unit. There isn't much you can s (Click here to read the rest)