Manufacturers unwrap first ultramobile PCs

At CeBit, Samsung, Asus and Founder deliver minitablets, though early models seem to have poor battery life.

Photos: Origami handheld devices

By Graeme Wearden
Special to CNET News.com

Published: March 9, 2006, 7:17 AM PST

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HANNOVER, Germany--Intel lifted the lid on Microsoft's Origami project on Thursday by showing off three ultramobile PC devices at the CeBit trade show here.

As expected, one of the UMPCs was manufactured by Samsung Electronics. The others were built by Asus and Founder Group, a Chinese technology company.

But it appears that significantly more work will have to be done before UMPCs are ready for the mass market. Pankaj Kedia, Intel's manager for low-power Internet access marketing, told ZDNet UK that these first devices have a battery life of between two and three hours, depending on whether they are used to play video.

And while the Samsung and Founder devices were operational and being used to play video at CeBit, the Asus UMPC--the R2H--appeared to have run out of power.

Intel's general manager for Europe, Christian Morales, told a crowded press conference at CeBit that UMPC devices represented the start of a new form factor for the PC industry. He also promised that Intel would help make UMPCs much more efficient over the next few years. "We have plans over the next five years to deliver a 10fold improvement in power usage," he said.

All three UMPCs on show had touch-sensitive color screens, measuring 7 inches across diagonally. They support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and have two USB ports. They weigh just less than a kilogram (2.2 pounds), with hard drives of 30GB to 60GB, and run on Intel's existing ultralow-power Pentium and Celeron chips.

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Samsung's device, called the Q1, is scheduled to launch in May this year, costing about $1,190 (1,000 euros).

Bill Mitchell, Microsoft's vice president for mobile platforms, joined Morales on stage and demonstrated that the UMPCs ran Windows XP Tablet PC edition, with the addition of a piece of software called the Touch Pack, providing an innovative on-screen keyboard that lets people type with their thumbs.

"We've been working very hard for five years to leverage the full power of the Windows XP Tablet (PC platform)," said Mitchell. He showed that UMPCs would include modified versions of Internet Explorer, OneNote and Windows Media Player.

Graeme Wearden of ZDNet UK reported from Hannover, Germany. ZDNet UK's Charles McLellan contributed to this report.

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Its not a iPod killer

Peter Bonte
Apr 14, 2006, 1:41 AM PDT

I LIKE THE IDEA, HOPEFULLY IT WILL TAKE OFF!

stansoft
Mar 11, 2006, 9:31 PM PST

Perhaps...but you would be surprised

debH
Mar 11, 2006, 11:18 AM PST

All UMPCs need an interactive speech interface

debH
Mar 11, 2006, 8:19 AM PST

How I wish FlipStart...

Mendz
Mar 11, 2006, 5:19 AM PST

Did you see the price tag?

J.G.
Mar 9, 2006, 8:46 PM PST

It's all about the battery life!

vunny
Mar 9, 2006, 4:06 PM PST

Does "modified" programs mean crippled, extra development?

dotmike
Mar 9, 2006, 3:51 PM PST

Whats So cool About it

morbidsaint
Mar 9, 2006, 3:27 PM PST

Fantastic!!

P Shi
Mar 9, 2006, 1:26 PM PST

What I want in a UMPC

pmfjoe
Mar 9, 2006, 9:39 AM PST

Really Not Anything New

rsx10
Mar 9, 2006, 9:37 AM PST

What the...?????

plaidpjs
Mar 9, 2006, 8:53 AM PST

I'm sure these will be a hit...

Hep Cat
Mar 9, 2006, 8:28 AM PST

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