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Top 5 UMPCs

By Darius Chang
Jan 02, 2008

More than just small laptops, UMPCs are entirely different animals from even ultraportables. Like pet Chihuahuas, UMPCs are pocketable and can be taken out even in situations where their full-sized brethren cannot fit into.

On the other hand, woe awaits those who expect to use a UMPC as a primary working computer. Yes, all of them can run full-fledge Windows operating systems and have wireless access and USB ports for peripherals. However, their main advantage--portability--is also a flaw. Anyone who has tried to type essays on a UMPC's mini keyboard or read long documents off its small screen can understand why this machine was meant to be a companion to your laptop, not a replacement.

Though the first generation failed to gain market traction due to high cost and poor battery life, 2007 saw a new wave of UMPCs which were a lot more affordable and had more acceptable uptime. The Kohjinsha SA1 was the first to break the S$1,000 (US$636.21) barrier, while the ASUS Eee PC went a step further with its sub-S$600 (US$381.73) price tag. Even relatively minor players in the notebook arena like Packard Bell and Gigabyte have entered the UMPC market.

2008 should see a skew of exciting new UMPCs as well as significant upgrades to existing models. In fact, rumors of a second-generation Eee PC with a higher screen have already made the rounds. The following are our top picks based on readership as well as review scores (where applicable) in the past year.

Click here for a feature comparison table.
1.  ASUS Eee PC 701 (Celeron M ULV Processor 900MHz, 512MB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 8.6 out of 10
The good: Great value; three USB ports; design.
The bad: Cramped keyboard; lack of storage space; no optical drive.
The bottom line: There're no two ways about it--the ASUS Eee PC 701 is a great laptop. It's affordable, sexy and highly portable. If you're looking for a cheap second PC that can fit into a small bag, then there are few better options.

Price: S$598 (US$380.46)

Review | See full specs | Rate this
2.  EasyNote XS20 (VIA C7-M processor 1.2GHz; 1GB RAM)
 
First take

Packard Bell sprang a surprise by launching its first UMPC last year. Dubbed the Packard Bell XS20, it found itself in direct competition with the cheap ASUS Eee PC as the latter also made its maiden appearance at around the same time. Despite the fact that both are 7-inch clamshell laptops, digging a little deeper reveals that both machines actually target different markets. While the Eee PC goes for the basic user with its Linux OS and puny 4GB, the XS20 aims for those who need a little more power with its VIA 1.2GHz processor and larger 30GB storage space. Though one may be tempted to make comparisons with the Kohjinsha SA1 and SH6, the latter is a convertible tablet PC with a touchscreen, while the EasyNote uses a normal LCD.

Price: S$1,298 (US$825.80)

First take | See full specs | Rate this
3.  Gigabyte UMPC U60 (VIA Esther ULV C7-M processor 1.0GHz; 768MB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7 out of 10
The good: Good battery life; slim for a sliding design; has one of the fastest processors in a UMPC; optional accessories add functionality with relatively small premium.
The bad: No external display port; no Ethernet or modem onboard.
The bottom line: The Gigabyte U60 is a surprisingly good pioneering attempt at the UMPC market by the mainboard manufacturer. However, we feel the docking station should have been included as part of the bundle as it adds a couple of essential functions.

Price: S$1,549 (US$985.49)

Review | See full specs | Rate this
4.  Kohjinsha SH6 (Intel A100 processor 600MHz; 512MB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.5 out of 10
The good: High-resolution screen; display rotation button now available; good build quality; small but comfortable keyboard; integrated Webcam.
The bad: Low specifications are not really suitable for Windows Vista environment; expensive.
The bottom line: Better keyboard, rotation button and integrated Webcam are only some of the improvements the previous Kohjinsha SA1 that we appreciate. However, one major issue is in its choice of operating system. With a sub-1GHz processor and 512MB RAM, it would have been much better off going for Windows XP instead of Vista.

Price: S$1,399 (US$890.06)

Review | See full specs | Rate this
5.  Raon Digital Everun (AMD Geode LX900 processor, 512MB RAM)
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.6 out of 10
The good: Good multimedia performance for a UMPC; auto-rotating screen; many dedicated control buttons; exceptional battery life; acts as an external harddisk when turned off.
The bad: 512MB RAM cannot be upgraded; flimsy stand; only one USB port for external devices.
The bottom line: With its portable form factor and long battery life, the Everun has thus far come the closest to fulfilling the UMPC concept. Though it cannot run Windows Vista unlike some of the latest range of UMPCs, its Windows XP Home platform is sufficient for the majority of users and runs quite spiffily.

Price: S$1,638 (US$1,042.12)

Review | See full specs | Rate this


 

 
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