Handtops, UMPC - New qwerty UMPC from Sharp

04/14/08 + jkkmobile

Atom Centrino Z520 (1.33GHz)
1GB RAM, 40GB HDD
5” touch screen (1024x600)
Wifi and Bluetooth
2Mpix video camera
Dock
188mm x 84mm x 25.9mm 470g

link

04/14/08 + ronaldheld

Does it have cellular capabilities?

Recent Blog: FS fan question

04/14/08 + eFromDC

It's configured to use Japan's PHS system for phone calling...

edited: Apr 14 2008 + scoobie

Keyboard looks rubberised, I suspect not that responsive, but size and form factor look very good.
Reports are it has same power peformance as UX 72

Anyone remember the names of the Japanese importers - Dynamism, there are others I think who are cheaper...?

Update : I've seen a close up, keybord isnt rubberised.

04/14/08 + ecsk2

Nice!

SHARP is one of the few makers who make FIVE rows of keys on the keyboard!

04/14/08 + diJenerate

Nice... except for the Processor...

According to Akihabaranews:

"...this new Atom powered device is impressive! Stunning design, stunning size (84x188x25.9mm), stunning weight (470g), stunning screen (5” with a 1024x600 resolution and LED backlight), but average performance."

"...the D4's performance with Windows Vista is quite… unimpressive… We're pretty sure that it would be much faster with XP. "

I don't think running XP will make it as fast as systems we are used to such as the Vaio UX380 or UX490 but what I do know is that the centrino Atom (The Centrino there just a marketing gimmick) is like a Celeron in its performance so I expected nothing less as I have said all along.

What Sharp has done right here is make a system with that Bluetooth Handset for voice and the 1024x600 res screen like I talked about here.

For the EU and US markets, they however need to make this with the U2200 Core Solo as a minimum, or a 1.2GHz Core2Duo like the Fujitsu P1620 (if they can still get decent battery life with that), HSDPA/HSUPA and 2GB of RAM like the Q1U Premium (after RAM upgrade).

So again, another 'almost' moment.

diJenerate

Recent Blog: Raon Digital Gets Serious w/First 64-bit Dual Core Handtop

04/14/08 + scoobie

Being picky here ok, but its not perfect I think:
- Should have a 1.6 processor but I bet they've done this for battery life
- 40gb drive is just plain stupid, when 15gb will go with vista. That means loads of folks will have to modify them
- Lots of wasted space around the screen - should be 6 inches really. That resolution on 5 inches is going to be hard on the eyes. again, I wonder if this is battery life driven
- Should have an SSD option for that sort of price scale
- Where's the track stick or mouse buttons?

But on the positive side, its the best new UMPC form factor I've seen this year

04/15/08 + primaz

It is the first true clamshell jacket pocket UMPC so while I agree not perfect I can see myself buying one. The form factor alone even without all the wireless is worth it. Having a full windows computer in my jacket with wifi, bluetooth is worth it for me. If Sharp is smart they will make a general version to the world and also offer something very similar tailored for AT & T in the US. If there was an AT& T D4 that would just kill the Blackberry and Windows Mobile phone sales.

Recent Blog: New Handheld Sharp has just released the D4 -UMPC handheld!

04/15/08 + ArchiMark

scoobie said: "Keyboard looks rubberised, I suspect not that responsive, but size and form factor look very good.
Reports are it has same power peformance as UX 72

Anyone remember the names of the Japanese importers - Dynamism, there are others I think who are cheaper...?

Update : I've seen a close up, keybord isnt rubberised."

Yes, Scoobie, try Conics.net.....

I already contacted Conics, they should be selling it when it's available....

04/16/08 + jkkmobile

diJenerate,

Atom is not performing nearly as fast as celerons or pentiums.
I tested many umpcs at CeBIT and they all felt slower than celeron 900...

edited: Apr 18 2008 + diJenerate

jkkmobile said: "diJenerate,

Atom is not performing nearly as fast as celerons or pentiums.
I tested many umpcs at CeBIT and they all felt slower than celeron 900..."

So in a nutshell Intel has taken the Pentium III, released almost 10 years ago, added SSE3 and a few other instructions increased its FSB speed and made the whole thing at a smaller micron process, all the while charging top dollar and branding it under their most successful mobile product line in an attempt to confuse consumers and make a financial killing.

Y'know between Centrino Atom and WiMaX Intel should be brought before the global ethics council for fraud!

diJenerate

P.S. I should correct myself at this point, The Centrino Atom is a Pentium III with HyperTransport!

Recent Blog: Raon Digital Gets Serious w/First 64-bit Dual Core Handtop

04/16/08 + scoobie

On the video its very slow loading IE, but it could be because there is no wireless connection present

04/16/08 + diJenerate

I just thought I'd bring this news article to everyone's attention. It's from The Daily Handtop of Wednesday August 20th 2008:

"Intel's decision to perform an act of regression in the mobile processor sphere has resulted in their desertion in droves by manufacturers of UMPCs who have become frustrated with plummeting sales of the new PC type in the wake of the release of Intel's latest mobile processor, the Centrino Atom.

Consumers started to boycott Intel based UMPCs after this new processor showed up sometime in May this year when they realized it's mediocre performance was on par with the Pentium 3 of nearly a decade ago. "I think it is just insulting that they (the manufacturers) would want us to plunk down good hard earned cash for a machine that is potentially so great but marred by the poor pentium III like performance of the Centrino Atom" one UMPC adopter said to a Daily Handtop reporter.

A young technician was spotted burning her Intel clean-room doll collection outside of a local Best Buy store in protest of the new wave of regression in the Intel mobile processor development sector. She told the Daily Handtop "It takes 6 Centrino Atom processors on a single board (known by hardware hackers as a Centrino Molecule) just to open my Power point presentations in email attachments".

On the other side of the market, Taiwan's Via has stepped up in the time of Intel's fall from mobile processor grace with the release of it's Via Isaiah processor. The first product to sport the new silicon was the OQO Model 02+ with its 1.6GHz Iasiah, 2GB DDR2 Ram, up to 128GB SSD options, the nvidia embedded graphics and chipset (as a result of nvidia's new alliance with Via) and that beautiful 5-inch 1024x600 resolution indoor/outdoor active digitizer display. The first customer for this new OQO was the Daily Handtop's very own diJenerate as you probably recall from his two page 'Handtop on Sunday' spread where he reviewed the new device and loved it."

The future of Intel's ultramobile platform looks bleak indeed!

diJenerate

Recent Blog: Raon Digital Gets Serious w/First 64-bit Dual Core Handtop

04/18/08 + diJenerate

Official numbers...

Like I said... the future of the Intel ultramobile platform looks bleak!

diJenerate

Recent Blog: Raon Digital Gets Serious w/First 64-bit Dual Core Handtop