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iirc, it can act as a display, as the UI shown on it is basically a windows program.

but yes, it may have been more useful if it was a strip across the top, like say the logitech G15:
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/gaming/mice_keyboard_combos/devices/3498

to bad samsung never exported this:
http://www.umpcportal.com/products/Samsung/SPH-P9200

The iPad has a lot going for it, especially that you can get one for about 1/3 the price of that thing (if you convert the 1998 dollars, see eldavojon's post) and that you have wireless networking (a major plus).

The thing is, you can't do the math that way. Tech gets cheaper as it gets older, and new tech gets more powerful but remains roughly the same price, whereas inflation just goes up. If you look on Amazon, someone is selling it for $375, used.

Never mind any number of other UMPC devices...

Your N70 is not 10 inch and had a lot worse battery life, the question is how much lower in weight you can go, the SmartQ 5" weights 160grams and the 7" 480g, but everything that has a screen around 10" weights between 700g to 1 Kg. I think it's going to take awhile before people manage to design really light weight platforms. There is something missing at the moment to get light devices..

One of the 'hangups' that is easily fixed is that of desiring a bay-based extra battery. Instead of having limit your laptop choices to find what you want, just get an external battery pack, like the the U20, which will plug into almost any laptop AND also has a 5V USB output. If you were already going to hawk around a spare battery (or the DVD drive when the battery is inserted) then this is a win-win PLUS you have a generic power source rather than one that just fits your laptop.

http://www.umpcportal.com/2009/05/umpc-accessory-test-ultimate-netbook-u2o-universal-power-pack-and-umpc-holder-10-off/

The UMID mBook m1 has a lot of what you're looking for. It's clamshell, not tablet; there's no DVD/CD burner, but there's USB ports to connect one; and it's smaller than you asked for. Last I looked they were running a bit over $600, which is still kind of steep for something I'm likely to accidentally step on or leave somewhere.

Tablet PCs have been here for a long time, but 2 things have changed since earlier. First is the introduction of low cost tablet netbooks like Gigabyte T1028 and Asus T91. Next is really Windows 7 - with its much improved support for handwriting and brand new support for touchscreens. You no longer need to buy a 2000 USD Dell tablet.

So units are being sold, and most manufacturers plan to improve their models after Win 7 comes out in October. For example, Gigabyte is planning to upgrade T1028 to handle multitouch, and Asus will release T101 with Win 7. So the market is definitely being ignited, but whether it will cath fire or not remains to be seen.

http://www.umpcportal.com/ = slashdotted right?

I thought the Gigabyte T1028 was being sold in the UK already. Or so they said

There are excellent reviews of the device at UMPC Portal here http://www.umpcportal.com/2009/05/smart-devices-q7-7-pad-for-189, and at Mobileread forums here http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48934. You can find one online for under $200. It comes with a version of Ubuntu Linux, FBReader and Evince are in the standard install. The Mer Project over at Maemo.org is currently porting Maemo to the device, they have a thread here http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=27433, discussing ports for the Smart Q5 and Q7.

I've been considering getting a netbook, and noticed that while most are based around Intel's integrated GMA graphics, there was another unusual exception -- the Raon Everrun Note. Almost every netbook out there is based around Intel's Atom CPU, with occasional Core/Celeron ones.

This one was unusual in that it is equipped with an AMD Turion64 x2 CPU paired with ATI RS690E graphics. The RS690SE is integrated, but supposedly much faster than Intel's, and comes with dedicated graphics memory (what they call "sideport"). It looks like it should be a pretty good performer for a netbook -- so right now for me it is a tossup between this and the N10.

Andy

I think the CPU/video of the Geode works fine, but a lot of the other hardware in the Everun is bizarre. For example, even in XP the battery status shows up as "AC Power"...it requires the Expwin program (which also controls the tilting of the display, etc) to show up properly. It seems like most of the hardware can be run with a few hacks, but the wifi is still a problem.

Linux on Everun: battery gauge and audio working Linux on Everun progress report

Unfortunately, I'm not experienced enough to be any help, so I'm just using XP for now.

I think the CPU/video of the Geode works fine, but a lot of the other hardware in the Everun is bizarre. For example, even in XP the battery status shows up as "AC Power"...it requires the Expwin program (which also controls the tilting of the display, etc) to show up properly. It seems like most of the hardware can be run with a few hacks, but the wifi is still a problem.

Linux on Everun: battery gauge and audio working Linux on Everun progress report

Unfortunately, I'm not experienced enough to be any help, so I'm just using XP for now.

Actually, most UMPCs run XP or Linux - and all of the decent ones. Many aren't that expensive... not as cheap as the eee, but comparable to a conventional budget laptop. And the Raon Everun gets 4 to 5 hours with real-life use... double the battery life of the eee. With the extended battery, it gets up to 11 hours. Unlike the eee, it's barely warm to the touch and is nearly silent. Unfortunately, the Geode processor is a bit underpowered (hopefully there'll be an Atom version) and the unique hardware is not yet supported under Linux.

I gave up trying to get it to connect to a hidden ssid. Amazing hardware, but pathetic software.

Btw, my Everun also has a Geode processor, and it runs XP better than the XO-1 runs Sugar, even in power-saving mode - in which the Everun's LX 900 processor runs only at 400mhz, slower than the 433mhz of the LX 700 in the XO-1. Unfortunately, the Everun lacks drivers for Linux, but there's no reason to believe that the XO-1 wouldn't be fast and responsive with a lean Linux distro. Make a kid-friendly menu (the XO-1's is tiny and confusing even for me), install open-source educational software (the XO-1 has a bit of junk, but lacks the few decent Linux programs), and throw on a bunch of copyright-free ebooks, and it would've been great.

The thing about dominance on the desktop is that linux is going to win it by doing an end around and using Microsoft's strategy of incompatibility work against them.

Already in this thread there are the usual Microsoft shills whining about how Ubuntu doesn't yet work with their laptop's wireless card. What they don't see is that every time they point out a piece of hardware that doesn't work in Linux it's a win for Linux now. The device manufacturer will open up the interface for development or the line of product will die because people want choice.

When the Linux in your pocket and Linux in your handbag devices just sync better with Linux on your desktop and work seamlessly with Linux on the server then the game is over. The network is the platform.

http://www.umpcportal.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1353 (Vista vs XP on UMPC's) Kinda related. :p The above link shows startup times on basically the same machine, one running Vista one running XP. (I'll give you a hint, the XP machine demolishes vista :p)

I don't have any pockets big enough to carry the eee, anyway. The Samsung Q1, while quite long, might be narrow enough to fit in a jacket pocket. There are some upcoming ones that might work, too... here is a list.

I don't have any pockets big enough to carry the eee, anyway. The Samsung Q1, while quite long, might be narrow enough to fit in a jacket pocket. There are some upcoming ones that might work, too... here is a list.

http://www.umpcportal.com/products/

The link above lists a bunch of similar products. The ones that are actually available seem to cost around >$1000. The battery life is not stellar for those whose battery life is listed.

A full sized laptop is cheaper and better performing. Most of the products listed won't fit in your pocket. Something like a Blackberry is cheaper and has better battery life. Thumb typing on the Blackberry seems to be less of a problem than the qwerty keyboards on most of these product.

I'm struggling for a reason why I would want any of them. They seem to hit just the wrong place between the Blackberry and a real laptop without giving any particular advantage over either. The word kludge comes to mind.

http://www.umpcportal.com/products/product.php?id= 99 Are you trying to be sarcastic or something? :\