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UMID starts taking pre-orders for its MID M1

Feb 10, 2009 00:05

UMID has finally announced its MID M1 price and official specs, and is taking pre-orders from February 13 in Korea. Most basic information have already been uncovered by a number of blogs, but I would like to add some more information and answers to questions about the UMID M1 here.

Here is data provided by the appointed local distributor UMID in Korea. The UMID M1 will be available in Korea in two versions. The company mentioned that the UMID M1 will be available in four versions, but the following models are the only versions released in Korea.

1. Atom 1.1GHz/512MB/16GB SSD/DMB: RRP at US$505 and pre-order at US$433 (limited stocks only).

2. Atom 1.3GHz/512MB/32GB SSD/DMB/camera: RRP at US$577.



The other two versions will contain 1GB of RAM instead of 512MB. The local distributor mentions that these international versions will be carrying 1GB of RAM, but one should note that the M1's onboard memory cannot be replaced by customers and is also a difficult process for manufacturers. 512MB RAM is not good enough to run Win XP if you ever use this OS for your desktop or laptop. 1GB is necessary for an MID if it runs on Win XP, but the company has escaped this obstacle by installing Linux as the default OS, while advertising that it is possible to install Win XP on the M1.

Well, the MID uses SSD as the default storage which can perform at a much better speed than a 1.8-inch HDD. This is the reason some users and this local distributor are saying 512MB is enough to run Win XP in their experience.

I just don't understand why the company is providing a 1GB RAM embedded in the M1 for international customers since they have no concerns related to Web surfing out there. ActiveX is the only problem for Korean customers, so Linux should be good enough to operate the M1 on 512MB plus an SSD version. I think the above two versions should be exported to overseas markets, and the company should bring the 1GB versions to Korea. Here is my concern and theory for this RAM difference.

If UMID has plans to release the 1GB model in Korea much later on, I can only guess that it is because the company has already produced the UMID M1 with 512MB and realizes that most people will want to purchase the 1GB model instead of the 512MB if the former comes out at the same time, since the RAM cannot be upgraded later on.

So it needs to clear those 512MB stocks first in Korea because reworking them to 1GB requires high costs. If they bring the 1GB model into Korea, it means the 512MB stocks won't move. What do you think of this theory?





No word on the colors since I saw only three hues of the M1 in a few places, including white and wine red at CES 2009. I assume those models will be available in white only.



The local distributor also motioned battery life, claiming that the battery delivers 4.5 hours of movie playback with maximum backlight. The released leaflet is the same one we've seen at CES 2009. So skip it.

By the way, UMID told us the M1 will be released with Linux as the default OS. If that is the case, is the company going to make any changes to the M1's keyboard layout? I can clearly see Windows and Explorer logos on its key layout below. What about those function keys? Is UMID going to support the Function key application for Linux and Windows OS as well? Especially since it is not selling its M1 with Win XP preinstalled?



Also, the space key has an alternative function of voice record. Anyone tried this? Many questions surround those keys since the M1 will be out with Linux OS instead of Win XP.

I know UMID M1 is one device that was spotlighted at CES 2009 and many people are expecting this device to be released soon. I am one of those people here.

It is exciting to see actual consumer feedback on this UMID M1, and we can find that out within the next few weeks.

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