slick little computer

"Scott C" <Scottocs15.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:3a7f0add-c3f4-439a-bb69-7ce7807b8f74@y38g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 4, 2:47 am, "Charles Tomaras" <toma....DeleteThis@tomaras.com> wrote:
>> http://www.dynamism.com/vye_s41.shtml
>>
>> This is pretty cool for a small machine. DVD Burner, CF slot, USB and
>> much
>> more.
>>
>> Don't have a clue how it performs, but it sure is a tempting little
>> computer
>> for having around a cart or audio work travel.
>
> I have been toying around and lightly thinking of getting one of those
> UMPCs myself, but haven't yet. I have checked out the OQO v2, Samsung
> Q1 ultra, HTC Shift, and some of the other "pocket" sized ones, but
> haven't found anything perfect yet. There are a few coming out soon(or
> at least are expected to) that I have my eye on as well (MIU's HDPC
> being the main one).
>
> They all will do sound reports and the other misc. tasks that I am
> interested in, but the one you mentioned Charles (VyePC S41 /
> Kohjinsha SR8) has a lot that I like about it (mainly the CF reader
> and DVD burner that none of the others seem to have-awfully handy for
> backing up audio/delivering DVD's at end of day) except it's a little
> larger and pricier than some of the others.
>
> Anyone else have any hands on experience or thoughts on the UMPC's out
> there?
>
> -Scott C.

A bunch of things annoy me about UMPCs:

1. The price premium. Pardon for asking, but I do not have a cart, so is
space on a cart so limited that a UMPC provides substantial advantage?

2. Below the 12" screen size, the weight does not go down as much as one
would expect, due to some irreducable "guts factor". The Asus M5N line,
which was a 2004 line, weighed around 3.25 lbs. My Asus S5NE weighs 2.8
lbs, the same as the one in the picture. These are 12" laptops.

Adding to the insult, UMPCs that have a tablet, as opposed to clamshell
design, require more protection while traveling, because the screen is
exposed. Factor in the weight of a case that protects the screen, and the
weight advantage disappears compared to some existing 12" notebooks.

3. Connectivity, number of ports, is poor. Any older laptop with a PC card
slot requires only a passive adapter for CF.

4. Speed. Modern UMPCs are not very fast. The CPU in the one pictured is
much slower thas my 2004 S5NE. 1.8" drives, such as the one in the pictured
unit, have in the past been much slower than 2.5" drives. I have measured 60
GB 1.8" drives at less than half the speed of a large, modern 2.5" drive.

5. Firewire. Not important anymore to the average user, but still a
consideration with us. I have had the reverse-of-conventional-wisdom
experience with Firewire ports. While the internal ones work well, one of my
laptops has trouble with PC card Firewire adapters, because of the interrupt
structure. The UMPC pictured could, possibly, be completely nonfunctional
with streaming Firewire applications such as an audio interface through a PC
card adapter . Test it!

6. Battery service life. All of the compact UMPCs use lithium polymer cells,
which have a much shorter service life than traditional packs made out of
the venerable 18650 cylinder. And UMPC batteries are expensive.

So I carry my S5N while traveling. Even with a bigger battery, it's only a
pound and a quarter heavier. And it's fully functional. I've streamed 10
channels of firewire through it, the screen is of reasonable size, and the
keyboard is standard spacing.

When newer processors, such as the Atom come along, perhaps with OLED
screens, so that the battery can be smaller and the whole thing lighter, the
UMPC may become a more attractive option.

Bob Morein
(310) 237-6511
 >> Stay informed about: slick little computer