Handtops, UMPC - Flipstart Rules!!!! [first impressions]

01/23/08 + rr0123

I just got mine. I've only played with it a little, but I am already impressed. It really is like a smaller U101. Performance is excellent, video playback is awesome. The screen is great. The click-type buttons will make it much more difficult than the U810 to try to touch type, but with the smaller size I can see how why they would have made that decision on the conclusion that it might work better for most situations.

I did not buy I flipstart at its opening or initially reduced price, b/c I thought it was just too expensive, esp. for a mere 30 GB. But at $699 it is a truly amazing deal. It is a better machine than the U810, not even close.

I am thinking of getting another one!! At this price, it is the BEST handtop out there, IMO.

02/19/08 + snowviper

Thanks, I am leaning to more battery power so I guest FS won.

FS + extra bat + 80GB = ~$1000 .. I think it should be good.

One lasting I know I do ask about the memory module, and I know the answer is now but New questions, Can I hack it to make it take more memory ? Because the chip set can take up to 2GB.... (drolling at 2GB)

02/19/08 + rr0123

snowviper said: "Thanks, I am leaning to more battery power so I guest FS won.

FS + extra bat + 80GB = ~$1000 .. I think it should be good. "

And you'll still have a few hundred to spare, as compared to the Sony. If you figure out how to get an 8mm HD into the Flipstart, please post. I think all the 80GB HD's are 8 mm. I can't find any 60gb that aren't 8mm either. According to the HD upgrade post, the HD holder will fit only a 5mm drive.

02/19/08 + snowviper

RR: is IPOD hard drive will work ? (because I think Ipod HDD is less than 8mm, but I might be wrong tho).

Well actually I could get a UX390n for $1000 or may be less. That what make me confuse ( SSD HDD is very tempting). But it is true I don't like the form factor, My ideal tops would be Itronix but the price is not ideal at all, cheapest one I found is $3000. =(

02/19/08 + snowviper

Ah my fault it is 8mm =) so that won't do

hm.. may be if the plating is gone like the one that on Itronix
link

it might fit even the 160gb.. (let make a cut out..)

02/19/08 + rr0123

Yeah and on the Plantronics it's not a zif connector.

Is anyone aware of porn pics of the regular consumer flipstart?

02/19/08 + snowviper

Yeah but only from the FCC info and I am looking at it but is show only the side of the HDD, no processor , no RAM, only the Chipset.

02/26/08 + wodin

It came! It came! Had to go down to FedEx to pick it up though as Dynamism required a real signature.

First impression ... it's very well built. I've seen reviews that call it "chunky", but I think I like "well built" better. I most certainly can't fit it in my trousers pocket, maybe a heavy overcoat, but I don’t have much occasion to wear one in Hawaii. The included canvas bag should do well with the shoulder strap. Or perhaps a murse!

I got mine with XP Pro; I have a couple of regular laptops with Vista on board and my opinion is that it’s just too bloated, especially for a minimal machine like the FS. It set up as expected, but I can’t connect to the internet at work, since our network is locked down tight. I’ll just have to wait until I get home to activate Windows and download Virus suite and FireFox. As equipped the HDD has a little under five GB used. After loading Office, Virus stuff, FireFox and a few other things there should still be plenty of room; even after I copy My Documents.

The screens a smidge tiny for my 64 year old eyeballs, but that was expected since I once owned a Sony UX. I returned that within the two week window and traded for one of my Vista laptops.

I don’t seem to have any trouble with the keyboard, and find it much better than the Sony UX, but the mouses (mice?) are a pain. I haven’t seen a laptop/handtop mouse that wasn’t so that also was to be expected.

03/01/08 + funtasticguy

I'm almost close on ordering a Flipstart myself (due to all the favorable impressions from this forum). However, before I bite the bullet, I'm wondering whether anyone has tested HD 720p video playback. Can it play it or is that out of the question? I would really appreciate anyone who has already tried it. Thanks!

03/05/08 + Nobody99

I can understand users concerns about the 30Gb Hard Disk drive. Don't forget a very simple thing you can do is to enable Window XP's compression. I underestimated how much difference this really makes until I enabled it on one of my Gaming only partitions. It can make a huge difference so don't forget about this. I received my Flipstart today and I love it. It is simply great and I definately made the right choice. I will be installing Office and some of those old Command and Conquer, Halo and Red Alert games. Once I have the system setup I will be doing a system backup using Drive Snapshot too.

03/06/08 + LMc

The cost of a 4 and 8 gb thumb drives solves the data storage problems. 30 gb for a core OS with typical office apps is more than enough. We are spoiled with big drives for desktop computers. If you plan to store lots of video, photos or music, there are more specialised devices. This is a computer for on the go and it does it well (but it may not matter, as we are seeing in the other postings that the stock is about over, which would imply the FS party for new users are coming to an end . . . glad I've got mine!)

03/06/08 + wodin

Amazon.com has 8GB micro SDHC cards with a tiny little micro SDHC reader for seventy bucks plus shipping. It's only a class 4 card, but I don't plan to put any applications or .dll's on it so being a little slow shouldn't be much of an issue.

03/06/08 + rr0123

Call me greedy, I like a big HD, not an unsightly thumb drive sticking out all the time. I ordered both the 60GB and the 80GB, whichever gets here first, I am going to stuff in there.

03/07/08 + funtasticguy

rro123, where in the world did you find the 80GB hard drive? I have been looking but haven't had any success. Please provide us with a link (the 60GB hard drive version would also help). Thanks!

03/07/08 + pierro78

funtasticguy :
link (cheap 60GB hard drives on ebay)
link (where to find the 80GB hdd in Europe)

03/07/08 + Nobody99

I wonder how easy it will be to upgrade the hard drives in the Flipstart. If anyone successfully does this it will be great.