1 KG Computer - take it anywhere you go

Saquib Moosa looks forward to the ultra mobile portable computer expected to be available by year-end.

The Ultra Mobile Portable Computer

Late last year, Microsoft, Samsung and Intel announced a joint project titled Origami. The name — as with most other tech innovations — has little to do with the Japanese art of paper folding. The project was intended to bridge the gap between the PDA and portable entertainment devices and to create a better tablet PC.

Basic criteria
The basic criteria to fit the description of a UMPC are:

- Should have all the features of a PDA;
- Plus a small computer — a hard disk with a reasonable amount of space, a wide LCD touch screen with a stylus, upwards of 512MB memory;
- Batteries that run for at least 4-5 hours;
- Above all wireless connectivity.

In short, everything for the mobile office, and to fit in a case not heavier than 1kg.

They could have additional facilities such as fingerprint readers, memory card slots etc.

These devices, in addition to performing basic computer tasks, also double as entertainment systems and can play movies, songs and be used as an image-viewing device.

I'm optimistic for the time being about this must-have gizmo, but how well it functions is yet to be seen. Coming as they do in such small shapes and sizes, they are expected to perform less than the average laptop. But, at least, if your battery holds out and if the communication modes work fine then it should be worth it.

Although small, you can still not really carry them in your pocket. And that probably will deter you from buying them.

In any case, let's hang on a bit before splurging; the initial prices are going to be more than what the average laptop costs today.

These microcomputers should be available by the end of the year. One question to the manufacturers though: if it's a micro computer where are the optical drives?

The writer is a twenty-something techno-nut

Samsung Q1

Among the first versions of the micro-computer to be launched was the Q1 — Samsung's version of the Ultra Mobile PC.

The Q1 has a 900MHz Celeron processor with a 7-inch widescreen, 40GB disk space and 512MB RAM.

It doesn't have a keyboard, but the bottom corners of the LCD do have a touch screen replacement.

But I'm not too sure how easy that's going to be to use because it's not like your usual keyboard.

Plus you'll have to use your thumbs if you're holding it at the same time.

Sony UX series

Ooh, the future is here.

I can't wait to get my hands on one of these, but if and when I do, let's hope it doesn't come with Sony's faulty, exploding batteries. That we could do without!

Sony's version comes with a 1.2 GHz Solo processor, a 4.5 inch wide SVGA screen (1024 x 600 pixel resolution), a 40GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM. The website describes that it runs on the Windows XP OS and models will also be Vista compatible.

Slide open to reveal a fully integrated keyboard. But you also have the option of using a stylus instead.