Handtops, UMPC - NEW FlipStart!

04/29/08 + Orgwon

Please tell me what you would like to see in the next FlipStart. The sky is the limit, don't think about what limitations there are on current technologies. Just tell me your PERFECT UMPC... Also, what would you do away with on the 1.0 and why.

Let's get the obvious out of the way:

* More RAM
* Faster CPU and GPU
* More strorage / SDD

04/29/08 + rr0123

I've been really impressed. There's not much I would change. In addition to what you identify above, I would:

--get rid of infopane
--get rid of peripheral attachment on the front lid
--have the USB port provide enough power for an external 2.5" HD
--(optional) SDHC card slot

As far as asthetics, making it a little more squarish would make it look less ugly and fat.

04/29/08 + wodin

rr0123 said: "I've been really impressed. There's not much I would change. In addition to what you identify above, I would:

--get rid of infopane
--get rid of peripheral attachment on the front lid
--have the USB port provide enough power for an external 2.5" HD
--(optional) SDHC card slot

As far as asthetics, making it a little more squarish would make it look less ugly and fat."

What he/she said only the SDHC slot wouldn't be optional, it'd be there period!
Also:

1. An internal miniPCI or Express card slot.
2. larger HDD compartment that will fit 8mm 1.8" drives.
3. Socketed memory this making upgrades possible.

Oh; and get rid of the warranty void sticker so I can change our the HDD without busting my warranty.

edited: May 02 2008 + elsewhere

just a few thoughts..

in hardware:

- 2 USB ports
- SDHC or mini-SDHC or micro-SDHC (if the support hardware has a smaller footprint)
- ATI or some other(than intel) video. Barring that, GMA 965 at least
- Mini-PCI WiFi instead of USB (better support, more stable)
- backlight with greater range of brightness levels (don't need more steps- do need them farther apart)
- No Infopane

in design:

- camera that can swivel to back? (for non-webcam photo taking?)
- more room between DC power connector and USB slot/s
- dock that fits more securely/more flush with unit. The existing one felt pretty flimsy, and was awkward.
- clamshell should have a little "snap" when closing. Possibly also lock.
- larger keys, spaced a bit closer. (see: Fujitsu U810)
- move Arrow Keys to more standard (lower-right) position

Things not to change:

- Full/Slim Battery configuration - works really well. And they are both the same shape (different thickness)
- Clamshell design (duh

)
- Color/texture of case (purty)
- Continued support for XP! (pretty pretty please?

)
How possible??? keep using hardware that already has XP support/drivers...

!!!!!! overall size/volume. Its already pushing the ragged edge of pocketability and any increase in size
!!!!!! is overwelmingly likely to render it completely useless for my purpose

Things that hackers/geeks/nerds would appreciate

- More options, more configuration from the system BIOS
- PC status monitor software
- finer grained Fan/power/etc control
- more configuration for integrated Video
- hardware WiFi / WAN switch
- hotkeys (and funny function keys) should be user-configurable. and disableable.

04/29/08 + wodin

SDHC please, The biggest Micro SDHC I've found is 8GB. SDHCs have 16 GB and will soon have 32 GB effectively doubling storage space.

04/29/08 + Nobody99

Simple, I would have a version of the Flipstart designed purely for gaming and emulation which would make it powerful enough for pretty much everything else any way.

04/30/08 + pierro78

- better passive cooling system (less fan activation)
- a little lighter

05/01/08 + ArchiMark

FWIW, I'd as a current Fujitsu U810 owner, I'd want to add in a touchscreen/swivel hinge to allow you to use it as in slate mode as well as laptop mode......

;-)

05/01/08 + Nobody99

ArchiMark: Do you have any idea whether the Fujitsu U810 intel A110 800mhz CPU is as fast or better than the Flipstart Pentium M, 1.1Ghz?

I am always looking for a Flipstart replacement for the future but since I do a lot of gaming I have to really consider the performance of the chip, this is why I tend to stay away from Via chips.

05/01/08 + ArchiMark

Nobody99 said: "ArchiMark: Do you have any idea whether the Fujitsu U810 intel A110 800mhz CPU is as fast or better than the Flipstart Pentium M, 1.1Ghz?"

Nobody99, Don't know for sure but I'd guess that the PM1.1GHz is either about the same or somewhat faster...

edited: May 01 2008 + elsewhere

Nobody99 said: "ArchiMark: Do you have any idea whether the Fujitsu U810 intel A110 800mhz CPU is as fast or better than the Flipstart Pentium M, 1.1Ghz?

I am always looking for a Flipstart replacement for the future but since I do a lot of gaming I have to really consider the performance of the chip, this is why I tend to stay away from Via chips."

Slower, definitely.

(I can't find any good benchmarks that compare the two directly,
but the Pentium 4M ULV (733J) is an older design than Pentium A (110)
and a bit more power hungry, but with more performance per clock)

Fujitsu is all-round a newer design- faster ram (and more of it) and an updated (GMA 945) video
so, for 3D intensive games you might see overall comparable performance.

For everything else- I would expect the Fujitsu to be a bit slower.
3D games that *also* do a lot of CPU crunching.... won't hold up so well.

_____

Intel Core/Core 2 - fast but a bit greedy (power/heat)
Intel A - optimized for low power and heat
Intel P4M - the old, familiar P4 core in a smaller package (*)
VIA - optimized for sucking

Intel Atom - making a heroic effort to beat VIA on the Suckingness index
AMD - mystery...

(I believe the old P4 core was optimized/intended for kicking AMD out of the desktop market.
They failed, but put up a pretty good fight back in the day.)

05/01/08 + funtasticguy

The Intel A110 800mhz runs slower than a Celeron 900mhz, and a Pentium M 1.1Ghz runs faster than a Celeron 900mhz. It is true that the graphics chip on the Fujitsu is better and faster than the one on the Flipstart.

I believe that Atom is going to suck (just like the A110). In fact, the next chip to keep an eye on is Via's upcoming "Isaiah" chip. Some benchmarks are already indicating that it'll beat Intel's Atom chips and will be 2-4 times faster than Via's current C7 chips. Moreover, according to one report, Via's Isaiah chip was even able to run Crysis "successfully" and play HD videos without breaking a sweat. Below you will find some links:

link

link

link

05/01/08 + rr0123

I haven't done any benchmarks, but my Flipstart sure feels faster than my U810. The FS performs pretty much like I would expect a laptop to perform on basic tasks. The U810 seems to get overwhelmed more quickly.

05/02/08 + Nobody99

I was considering the Sony VAIO UX380N as a possible Flipstart replacement in the future but the screen is 4.5� Wide SVGA LCD, Touch Screen (1024x600) compared to the Flipstart 5.6 " SVGA (1024x600). At least the VAIO's processor is an Intel� Core� Solo Processor U1500 (1.33GHz, 2MB L2 Cache) which I am, assuming is as fast or faster than the Flipstarts.

It is a shame there are no confirmations of a new Flipstart being made but if it was, imagine one with some kind of dual core processor, upgradeable RAM, real GPU, powered USB ports, bigger screen, bigger real keyboard (not thumb) (Most already mentioned I know).

When trying to find a potential replacement for the future, something always falls short. They usually use a lower performance processor to save on cost but all they have done in my case is created one less sale from me. For example, If the HP2133 had at minimum, a 1.1 GHZ Pentium M Processor then I would be interested in a possible purchase.

I have just noticed that the HP2133 does have a purchase option of a 1.6Ghz VIA C7 instead of the standard 1Ghz VIA C7 but then I wonder if even this will be much better. Think gaming (San Andreas PC) and emulation (Zelda 64).

05/02/08 + elsewhere

Nobody99 said: "I was considering the Sony VAIO UX380N as a possible Flipstart replacement in the future but the screen is 4.5� Wide SVGA LCD, Touch Screen (1024x600) compared to the Flipstart 5.6 " SVGA (1024x600). At least the VAIO's processor is an Intel� Core� Solo Processor U1500 (1.33GHz, 2MB L2 Cache) which I am, assuming is as fast or faster than the Flipstarts.
"

- Slightly better video card, moderately better CPU,
- keyboard and screen are squeezed a little too far.
- *NOT A CLAMSHELL* and no screen protection.
- to use it you have to hold it in your hands, or sat in its cradle.

Lying flat on the desk/lap/surface. (like a FlipStart) screen angles away, and its not really useful.

For portable gaming? Might not matter. More RAM has got to help,
and an external storage (memory stick) slot is definitely OK.