We have a new category of computers; it’s not the perfect all–in-one device, but it’s a huge leap forward and I feel it will set the foundation for the perfect device. Today we’ll take a look at this new category of devices, called the Ultra Mobile PC. There are two main types that are emerging: the first is a mini laptop that is really thin and has a tiny screen. The other is a handheld device that brings back memories of the Game Gear.
After I finished my yet-to-be-published article on the all-in-one device, I felt kind of discouraged by the lack of full-featured devices out there. Anything that was small enough to carry around lacked the hardware power to be used in day to day operation, and anything fast enough for use is going to be too big.
Project Origami
While it may puzzle you to think about how Origami relates to the UMPC, the fact is that it was the beginning of UMPCs. The project's goal was to make a device that was a small factor tablet PC. It was developed by Samsung, Intel, and Microsoft. The biggest marketing hype came before anyone knew what Origami was; some thought it could have been a portable Xbox. Once people found out what is was, many lost interest, but that didn't stop the development.
After the idea got rolling, more manufacturers jumped on board, and now the UMPC is showing up on more and more product lines and nearly everyone's idea boards. The project got going in 2006 and after almost two years of development, the first devices hit the market in December 2007. Now only a few months later, these devices look to make some promising breakthroughs. The original project used a modified version of Windows XP Tablet Edition. There are UMPCs hitting the market that support Linux OS X and Vista as well.
Intel Atom
One of the biggest criticisms I had about the state of ultra mobile CPUs were that they really lacked any kind of power. Then Intel's Atom processors came along. This is a single core CPU clocked up to 1.8 GHz with a heat output of 2.5 watts. It's a big step forward and has the power to run everyday applications without lag. There are rumors of dual core versions. This has me very excited and I feel that it will bring the power of a notebook to your hand. The Atom core is so small it would fit onto a penny and it will only consume around a tenth of a watt of power when idling.
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