THE MOBILE HORNET … for those who get turned on by mobile devices

Watch this video clip and see how the UMPC future is like.

The Dell Mini Inspiron  will be the challenger to the Asus Eee mini notebook.   Check out some of the specs below:

DELL MINI INSPIRON:

• Atom 1.6 GHz
• Windows XP Home or Ubuntu Linux OS
• 3 USB ports, Ethernet
• 8-in-1 Card reader
• Kensington lock
• Adapter socket
• Mic/line-out
• VGA port
• Screen size of 8.9 inches
• Screen resolution at 1280×800
• It costs less than US$500 (maybe at US$399 - RM1,300)
• Integrated webcam
• Scheduled to be released before the end of June 2008.

As the University entry is underway, I will recommend students to opt for the Dell Mini Inspiron.  I cannot see myself lugging over 3kg of a standard notebook (not including the books) all over campus and all over town ( if you cannot trust leaving it in your Uni room.

The size and weight of the Dell Mini Inspiron is more user-friendly.  This is even good for business people who have their desktop in their office for some heavy work.  Anyway, when we move, we seldom do any heavy work that the Mini Inspiron cannot perform.  My U1000 / HTC Advantage has been a very complete desktop alternative wherever I go and is small enough to carry on my belt pouch.

WINDOWS XP IS STILL ALIVE !

Chris Keroack, Release Manager, Windows XP Service Pack 3
Windows Serviceability, has this to say about the new XP SP3:

“Today we are happy to announce that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has released to manufacturing (RTM). Windows XP SP3 bits are now working their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and Enterprise customers.

We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home will begin in early summer. 

Thanks to everyone here who installed the public betas – you not only gave us detailed feedback but also helped each other out with timely troubleshooting. Through the beta program we found several important issues and were able to confirm some essential fixes. We couldn’t have done this without you.

We will still be monitoring this forum during the next few weeks in case you have more feedback about the release of Windows XP SP3.

On behalf of myself, Shashank Bansal and Windows Serviceability, many thanks.”

So those under-powered UMPCs with Windows Vista should be able to switch back to Windows XP and enjoy better processing speed.

(Click image to view video clip)

The Sharp WS016SH Willcom D4 from Sharp Japan is the world’s first Mobile Internet Device to incorporate Intel’s latest Atom processor along with Windows Vista and also it is the world’s smallest UMPC.

What does this world’s smallest UMPC has? Check out the specifications below:

• 1.3Ghz Atom processor
• 1 Gig of RAM
• 5 inch 262k color touchscreen of resolution of 1,024 x 600
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth EDR
• 1.8-inch 40GB disk
• 2 Megapixel camera
• Micro SD card slot
• Touch sensor
• Mono speaker with HD audio codec
• 64-key QWERTY keyboard
• GSM Capable
• Opera browser riding atop Japanese PHS (W-SIM) or 802.11b/g WiFi

Looks like this is indeed a very poweful looking little dynamo and the design is indeed quite stylish.  The glossy cover may be stained due to the fingerprint marks. 

The Sharp WS016SH Willcom D4 UMPC is available in Japan (as usual) on June 2008.at a price of USD$1,300 (RM4,290.00).

I wonder whether this little wonder will ever make it to our shores.

WHAT IS THE CELIO REDFLY?
For those who do not know, the Redfly enables users to use specific Windows Mobile devices giving it a Laptop type form factor experience. 

Lets say you own the HTC TyTN II but the screen is too small and so is the keyboard.  What should you do?  Get an extended keyboard… but the screen is still too small.  Then the Redfly is your answer to make your TyTN II behave like a laptop.   Treat the Redfly as an external big display with full-size keyboard.

Not only will it extend your visual experience it also will give you the capability of up to 8 hours of battery life! Users will also be extremely pleased to note that the Redfly will also charge your device while it is being used!!!

If you have the Dopod U1000 or the new HTC Advantage x7510 do you really need the Redfly?  Redfly is more suitable to owners of devices with smaller form factor, like the HTC TyTN II, Cruise etc. 

Now you know why I say the Dopod U1000 or the new HTC Advantage x7510 is still the best form factor.

INTRODUCING THE BIG BROTHER OF THE ASUS R50 … THE  R70A

Here’s the specs for the R70A:

• 7 inch touch screen
• 1.6Ghz Intel
• 120GB HD
• Vista
• 2 x USB2
• SD
• Webcam
• FP reader

It is a slate type UMPC… so you wouldn’t be seeing any keyboard.

HP must be very optimistic to place such a big order for their new UMPC, the HP 2133.  According to DigiTimes, the OEMs in Taiwan are predicting that up to 13 million units of sub-notebooks or UMPC will be produced this year.  This is staggering!  Only the price will stop HP from reaching their goals. 

Market insider has revealed that it will be sold at US$630 (RM2,016) which to me is too high for mass market acceptance. 

I hope I can be at CEBIT 2008.  It was always my dream to be at Cebit and be fascinated at all the new tech that unfolds before your eyes.  Somehow or other, it was either the cost of the air ticket or the timing.  I am a businessman but I am not into any tech business so it doesn’t justify the high cost to fly over to Hannover from Malaysia.

Who knows, with the popularity of The Mobile Hornet growing so fast, there may be a need to go there in the future either at my own expense or sponsored by some manufacturers(?).

There is going to be some surprises coming up in this coming event which is on from 4 March to 9 March. Cebit is big and I understand many Malaysian tech companies are taking part too.  But what interest me and you are all the latest news on the mobile device segment.  And there is going to be a lot of them coming.  So get your Cebit news here at The Mobile Hornet.

WATCH OUT FOR THE LATEST AT CEBIT 2008

THE WOW STUFF:
Intel. Mid News.
Gigabyte. New MID.
ASUS. R70, R50, Eee PC
Samsung. Q1 U Premium. MID-based
LG. Xnote UMPC
Acer 7″ notebook.
Benq. UMPC

THE EXPECTATION
Nokia. Tablet news?
Maxdata / Belinea S.Book
Sony. UX models, Xperia
HTC. Shift. Advantage 7510.
Fujistsu P1620
Amtek. U560. Mid plans?
Microsoft. WinMobile, OE2.0

THE SUPRISES
Viliv
KIDC
Digifriends
HP
Averatec
All EU-3G carriers
VIA
DELL
 

Wow! OQO is lowering their price for the Model O2.  You can now get the base model for only US$999 (RM3,200) at OQO online outlet stores.  I must inform you that the price is only for the refurbished sets, but it is still worth it:

INTRODUCING THE HP COMPAQ 2133

HP is coming into the UMPC arena with their HP COMPAQ 2133. 

DIGITIMES reported today: 

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has recently outsourced a business use UMPC (ultra-mobile PC) order to Inventec with the device expected to be launched around April, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.

The UMPC features the high-end Intel 45nm Penryn processor, Windows XP operating system and an 8.9-inch panel, and will be targeting the second notebook market for business users. The device will cost more than NT$20,000 (US$630 or RM2,016) and will be considered a high-end model, added the paper.

Check out the specs below:

Don’t you think it kind of look like the Asus Eee PC.