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

05/15/08 + snowviper

The most comment that I got from my UMPC (i have few starting with Libretto 70ct to my current one FS). People always said what is that a PDA?
When I said that it was full blown OS, they was leering it for a while and after than, these always their comment:

1. Screen very small, can't see anything.
2. Keyboard to small can't type.

So... how about folding computer. if they could make a computer than can be fold (normal 12" fold in half) but still can fit on jacket pocket. Now they might light that.

05/16/08 + primaz

For me I still get many people saying that is a cool computer and what they are talking about is my old HP Jornada 728. I also get many comments from laptop business people whom say if they only made a full windows computer like that HP thing of yours I'd buy one right now and leave the heavy laptop at home.

The handhelds like the Psion 5mx had the best keyboard and I could easily type 80% of my desktop speeds. To me the key that had was the keyboard expanded when opened and not one milimeter was wasted it was all keyboards no wasted boarders around the keys, etc. For creative look at the Samsung sph p9200 it tri-folds and provides a keyboard almost desktop size and a 5" screen. OEM's should use that as a model and create a true pocket touch type laptop as all of these othere UMPC's thus far are toys that very few are buying and would want to buy.

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

05/17/08 + pierro78

@primaz : would you say that this "handheld computer" (linux handheld called pandora from nobody99 post) is touch-typable : link ?

05/19/08 + primaz

Pierro78, I think that is a cool device for gaming but as a functional business computer the length appears to be 133 millimeters which is only about 5.3" long and that is too short for the keyboard to be touch type; it is a thumb input keyboard. It might be hard to combine a game computer with a business computer as the smallest touch type keyboard I have used was the Psion 5mx which was 6.9" and easy to type. Anything smaller is going to be a thumb keyboard as there is just not enough room to rest both hands on the keyboard.

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

05/19/08 + itslifejim

For me the Psion 5mx was a great computer for it’s time, just about pockatable in a jacket pocket, but it got surpassed by the Compaq Ipaq, which had a great screen and could fit into a shirt pocket and the PDA had another great feature, it knew it was an ancillary device and acted as one syncing up with the main PC, this can’t be said for the Flipstart which acts as a normal PC, there is no USB or wifi sync built into the OS so we seem to have stepped backwards...

The PDA format has largely been subsumed by the smart phone, and although I wouldn’t go back to a PDA the size of a Psion 5mx I could be persuaded to buy a UMPC with this form factor.

A pockatable PC also needs to be instant on otherwise it looses it’s convenience.

‘round the corner we have some interesting technology that could help bring about reduction in UMPC size for those that want a pockatable PC…

1. OLED displays – very thin – more space for silicon
2. SSD – low power consumption, potential for high capacity and small form factor.
3. Instant on OSs being built into Motherboards AKA Splashtop
4. Fuel cells – more space for silicon
5. tiny projectors – alternative to small displays

The Psion 5mx had external dimensions of 170x90, this compares to the Flipstart screen of 125x73 so arguments about half VGA really don’t stand, we should be talking about super wide screen instead or using the extra real estate to cram in extra buttons a mouse, web cam etc. and with ever smaller technology than was available in the 90s it should be possible to cram in the silicon needed.

UMPC needs a rethink, it shouldn’t be ‘replacement for a PC’ it should be the partner of an existing PC (as the PDA was) allowing for hot sync. Etc. but above all it should be pocketable.

When all is said and done I still love the Flipstart – just wish it was smaller…

05/20/08 + wodin

itslifejim said: " UMPC needs a rethink, it shouldn’t be ‘replacement for a PC’ it should be the partner of an existing PC (as the PDA was) allowing for hot sync. Etc. but above all it should be pocketable"

Hear Hear! If I remember right, one of the early versions of Windows used to have a thing called the "Briefcase" that could be used like the file sync option in ActiveSync. Something like that could be useful, but a full sync (PIM, mail, files, etc.) application over WIFI, Bluetooth and internet would be even better.

05/20/08 + primaz

The 90's had the limitations of not being able to make a full PC pocket size but now the technology is here to make it pocket size. The problem of any computer being a companion is that it is always limited and your not fully independant to do everything on the road when mobile. If you want a companion pc you already have pocket pc's that provide that.

What people want whom are very mobile is not to be teathered to anything; they want a full pc in their pocket that can be used as full laptop in their pocket. I do see that UMPC's can and should be designed to be a fully independant PC for those whom are very mobile. If you look at more innovative designs like the Samsung SPH p9200 that demonstrates creative ways where a computer can fold in three sections to provide a easy to type keyboard yet be small enough to carry in a large jacket pocket. UMPC's have sold extremely poorly as they have not focused on providing a small enough size to fit in a jacket nor provide the keyboard that people want to be productive. The flipstart technically was great but form factor would never sell to mainstream as it was just too bulky to fit in coat pocket, but it does continue to show that a full pc can be built very tiny. In the flipstart's case too tiny. If they made it a touch type keyboard design that would fold and fit into a jacket they would have a market.

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

05/29/08 + johnnyboy

If you need a bigger keyboard buy a laptop. I, personally, like chicklet keyboards and touchtype just fine on them.

edited: Jun 22 2008 + pierro78

pierro78 said: "
- better passive cooling system (less fan activation)
- a little lighter"

- and better speakers (my Nokia phone, an E90, has a better bass sound)
(I think nobody has added this one)

06/22/08 + wodin

How about a "Do what I'm thinking" machine-human interface device? Perhaps based on nerve impulses present during "sub-vocalization"

Oh yea, and a totally audio output (no need for screen) with a subcutaneous implantable Bluetooth speaker system.

Of course you'd need a 16 hour battery so you could be interfaced every waking moment!

You did say "don't think about what limitations there are on current technologies."