The Insiders Guide to Mobile Computing and Communications
This site is the ultra-mobile personal computing (UMPC) guide from those who helped create the category. Direct guidance on mobile devices by folks who design mobile devices for a living (before the marketing crew takes over).
Brands - Get a look at the latest UMPC device capabilities and trends. Designers - Find the trends and hardware/software capabilities of components. Consumers - Stop chasing the latest news and understand the tradeoffs before you buy a UMPC.
While the UMPC category is evolving and changing, it is definitely here to stay. One question we hear often is what were MS and Intel really thinking when promoting the UMPC concept? And what are they thinking now? What would Intel really like from this category of devices? See our industry Players section for this discussion.
[Update 8/8/2008]
Many companies are launching new Intel MIDs this summer, including BenQ, HTC, Lenovo and Aigo. We are hopeful about upcoming launches, but generally we still have not seen any device that well-suited to the MID concept. Short battery life and overall thickness are two main problems with existing devices. Current CPU's and chipsets simply have too high power consumption, although the Intel Atom is approaching the right tradeoff of processing power and battery life. We hope the next generation of Atom (Moorestown) will enable true MIDs.
The current generation Intel Atom-Z processor has power management that allow very low standby power, which greatly increases battery life under most usage scenarios. But this is not enabled on the Atom-N version (larger package). Are different business units within Intel at odds with each other? Why doesn't Intel enable this power management on all Atom processors? Check out our Designers Guide section for update on Intel CPU/chipset offerings in this space.
Here are some shots we've received of MIDs that are launching soon or have already launched. This represents all of the Atom MIDs being launched this year.
