The Next Gen UMPC -- then what ?

Hello, I'm Back Again !

It's been such a long time since my last blog... January 2008 ?..pheew, it's definitely I'm not a true blogger yet.. :)

Btw, since my last review on Asus eeePC 701 or should I say, the 1st Generation, we saw and still seeing some other similar products from different vendors like :

- Taiwan 'not-familiarly-heard' products like: MSI-Wind and Quantel (in Bahasa Indonesia),


- Taiwan 'more popular' products like: Asus eeePC 900 series (with 8.9" display) and Acer Netbook,



- Japanese products like : Fujitsu, Sony, Kohjinsha,

and even from US like HP Mini-Note 2133.

And not just getting smaller, but also getting thinner, after my review on Apple MacBook Air, there were also IBM X-300 and later come to my attention, is from HP, called Voodoo Envy 133.



note : appreciate for Gizmodo, umpchouse and 18line for making these pictures available here.

Question come to my mind is : where does these trends end up, let say 3 to 5 years from now ?

Are they getting as thin as our newspaper, and display with bendable plasma ?
Or are they getting as smaller so small to be 'merged' with our watch or belt and to use it we will be given smallest-lightest DLP Projector to beam up the display to wall, or even as hologram ? (remember Tom Cruise's movie- Minority Report)

If the question spread to the processor technology, then the question can be : could the Big Server application can be installed and stored in high-tech notebook (with size of these days), so we don't actually need the room named 'Data Center' anymore, since all the connection are linking altogether 7x24x365 with Advanced Wimax broadband technology ? Ha, remember.. we haven't touched the wireless technology yet, nor for the next 3-5 years..

For a simple buyer and consumer like me, I'd like to have all of the above features, with the affordable price I can purchase within the next 3-5 years !.. ^-^

Apple MacBook Air : Next Big Thin(-nest)g ?

Recently in Apple MacWorld Expo 2008, Steve Jobs has introduced his new toy, the Apple MacBook Air. He claimed this new stuff as the thinnest notebook ever, as described on its Apple website.

The summary of techspecs are as follows:

• Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB on-chip shared L2 cache running at full processor speed
• 800MHz frontside bus
• 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM onboard
• 80GB 4200-rpm Parallel ATA hard disk drive2
• Optional 64GB solid-state drive
• 13.3-inch (diagonal) glossy widescreen TFT LED backlit display with support for millions of colors
• Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory
• Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement)
• Backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor for automatic adjustment of keyboard illumination and screen brightness
• Solid-state trackpad with multi-touch gesture support for precise cursor control; supports two-finger scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
• Connection ports (only 3 port and those can be hidden):

- Micro-DVI

- USB 2.0 Port
- Audio Out / Headphone jack

• Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on IEEE 802.11n draft specification); IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
• Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
• Built-in iSight camera (as webcam)
• Upto 5 hours of 45W MagSave Battery Power with Wireless productivity

And of course, the amazing physical dimension with some pictures as follows :

• Height: 0.16-0.76 inch (0.4-1.94 cm)
• Width: 12.8 inches (32.5 cm)
• Depth: 8.94 inches (22.7 cm)
• Weight: 3.0 pounds (1.36 kg)

Since I haven't seen the physical unit by myself, I just wanna make some sort personal opinion for this Apple MacBookAir (sometimes ppl on net call it as MBA).

Okay, physically it's thinner or maybe thinnest one so far. Like shown on his ad, we can put it on the standard big brown envelope and no one will guess it as a hi tech gadget.

Feature is fine too. Wireless installation with RemoteDisc and even for other thing like migration, iTune shopping can be done wirelessly as well. MultiTouch is one breaktrough since it will reduce the use of mouse, meaning no additional connection. More of it's features are clearly shown on their ad as you can see now in youtube, sent by Michaelstockamore and GMRghost .

For all the benefits given away on this new Apple, I must say that Apple is start throwing away some major physical connection and replace 'em with the Wireless N, from installation upto backup-restore procedure. Unfortunately, that wireless config required ANOTHER one devices, either PC or MAC with Wireless connection as well, and make it such dependent-device. Perhaps this just a beginning or a milestone to release the next big thing such as -- the thinnest and portless Ultra Mobile MacBook !

The Existing, Errata and Enhancement of Asus eeePC 701 --- part 02

The Errata

From Latin words, Errata can be considered as condition of something not in proper way or not as planned, as we know now as 'error'. After we went through the 'proper way' or the existing, we're going take some time of it's Errata.

1. The Keyboard. Though at the beginning, I mentioned about the OLPC concept, this Asus eeePC was meant to be used by every level of ages, including adults. Unfortunately, the mini size of this UMPC, is built for 10-fingers of children under teenagers. Therefore, I found some difficulties on writing in comfort when I used -say- the Word processors. Typing this blog, for instance, I should need an external USB standard keyboard to avoiding heavy pain on my wrists.
2. The Heat produced. It seems this is a common issues in Asus notebooks including UMPC. The device is getting warmer quickly (some case turns hot) on wristpad in less than 1 hour standard usage. I think the heat produced (in) and released through vent (out) was not balanced and creating this issue.
3. Touchpad button is (sometimes) hard to press either left or right. The material (chrome?) looks cheap for me. It is the only design that IMHO not match with overall parts, once I open the lappie.
4. The AC Adaptor is way to big! The weight itself can be a significant proportion compare to the unit. In daily usage, one power jack sometimes used for other devices, so the slimmer one is more appreciated.
5. External Optical Media. Perhaps this one is not about the product itself, but more on marketing side. I still wonder why Asus did not provide the DVD or CD USB external packed inside so the user does not have to 'invest' another device that could raise some incompatibility issue (and cost for sure). Still I consider this as an Errata for the incompleteness of the overall unit pack.

There we have my quick Errata that hopefully can be considered to be some potential issues for improvement, which about to be completed more on Enhancement.


The Enhancements

The 3 Existings (with 7 quick benefits) and 5 Errata on my previous posts are just a milestone for us to see how this Asus eeePC actually has such enormous potential to be enhanced as a Must-have-gadget-of-the-year.

1. Yes, the SSD can get bigger and the display can get wider. As of November 14, 2007, Asus has confirmed to release the one with 8GB and 10" display, as reported in Engadget.

2. If today the product is capable for Windows XP, then tomorrow the same product can be installed with Leopard and make it as the cheapest MacOS UMPC ever, as reported in Uneasysilence.

3. What kind of device is called UMPC if it's not Touch-screen capable. Jkkmobile has shown us that this product can have touch-screen feature as well, as shown in his youtube.



4. Since the original resolution is poorly set on 800 x 480 pixels, scrolling more up and down, left and right can be painful for us. Pauldiy123 in his 2 (two) youtube instruction shows us that with installed Windows XP, the unit can have resolution as big as 1024x768 full display. Check these 2 video below, part 1 and part 2:





5. CES (Consumer Electronic Show) 2008 also presented the future of Asus eeePC as reported from engadget.com here. In short, Asus will provide WiMAX on next eeePC.


The Extra

Here they are all the Existing, Errata and Enhancements of Asus eeePC I can give and as a bonus to really closing my review of Asus eeePC 701, I put some latest update (as of January 2008) about the unit :

1. In October last year, the Asus eeePC has been sold worldwide 1 unit every 6 (six) seconds. Here is the report. No wonder, Asus has announced this unit as the most successful product ever.

2. Quite OOT. The OLPC CTO, Mary Lou Jepsen has resigned and decided to build the same business with more profit orientation.
3. The close competitors of Asus eeePC IMHO has been narrowed down to these devices :

• A. Everex Cloudbook

• B. Intel Classmate

note : comparison between Cloudbook and Classmate can be found here

• C. UMPC built by Mary Lou Jepsen (under USD 100) - name / URL : unknown

More higher specs and under Fujitsu U-series, can be closed to :

• D. Kohjinsha, with intensive review in these 2 posts, from my fave ones : Snave and Jenn K. Lee
  

There you have my 5-rounds review about Asus eeePC 701 ! .. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and c ya on my next postings.

The Existing, Errata and Enhancement of Asus eeePC 701 --- part 01

It really took me some serious hours to do the report analysis of the Asus eeePC 701 since this blog has never been and will never be the official website/blog of every products that shown and reviewed here. I expected it to be an objective and constructive essays. Any comments to improve my future analysis or report surely be much welcome and appreciated.

The Existing

What I mean by "Existing" in this case, is what other would say the Plus Factor which this product has. Every product built and shipped from the factory, has been 'packaged' with what I called, the 'existing expectation' of their designers, engineers, marketers and managements. For short, it is the Existing.

At the end of the product chain, we as the users, will receive the whole features of their products, and when we experience it, we feel and get the benefits, the natural responds from our mind is that the product has the Plus Factor. So, let's roll what really are the Existing that I myself experience from this Asus eeePC.

1. Proper Cost Justification

For sure we get the product AFTER we bought it. There was some money spent. And for the return, we demand to have some QUICK benefits back from it,first. Definitely after that we will ask for more .. :). Out (spent) and In (get quick benefit). It is Yin-Yang basic philosophy here. Let's check these out.

* Cost spent : USD 400 (my price, see my first posting, dated Dec 26, 2007).
* Quick benefit :

1. lightweight (0.89 kg). I'm a mobile worker and would not weightened my shoulder for more than 1 kg for 'just' a PC-feature-device.
2. display is somewhat wide enough (7") for me to see what I'm typing, and not like the one I see on my cellphone or any PDA in the market.
3. linked to the above, the keypad is QWERTY standard, not CellPhone standard just like on the other PDAs. Typing with 10 fingers will get more errors on Non QWERTY keypad.
4. the connection is various. LAN port, USB, and Wireless are becoming the must-have in Computer-function-devices and this stuff got them all. Please note that other country or other model is equipped with Modem port as well.
5. the processor, memory and storage (SSD) are sufficient enough for handling the application layer above them.
6. quick start. Try my Win XP notebook and turn it on. I can have my short phone call to my colleage before the notebook is completely ready for me to use. With this whitey one, the longest time is typing the password since I'm a lauzy typist .. :)
7. So rich of the applications to start. Like their mission: Easy to work, Easy to learn and Easy to play. I got the bunch of the apps that meet my needs. Doesn't have to have some built-in TV tuner or GPS here,' coz the 'e' here was not meant for me to Easy to watch TV or Easy to find a way to Hotel with GPS built-in. Other ppl could have some other needs as well and I'm aware of that.

I think 7 is quite enough to be called as a 'Quick' benefits you'll get ... :)

2. Technology-update Enabled

For any kind of tech device or gadgets, no one wants to purchase and own them if the products are engineered or bundled with technology statics. Enhancement either coming from the manufacturers or by the users (expert) is something in common for tech device, included this Asus eeePC. More details on this will be discussed more on Enhancement session.

3. Quality Time of Users

Not easy for me to explain this. Okay then, i'll try to make it easier with some illustrations.

Imagine you are now a Reporter or Journalist doing your reportage on the spot. Back then, you write or record (audio), sometimes with different devices. and in order to publish the report, you should come back to your office to compose report and send it to the other guy who will compile it with audio and video as necessary before it is ready to publish. The whole thing will take some significant time until finally, if consider there is no other task again, you can go home and have some time with your family or hang out with your buddies (for single).

Now, while on duty, you have your Asus eeePC on your bag. Take some photos and do recording from some news makers, and save them all in your SD card inside your eeePC. Then go find yourself a HotSpot, that can be a hotel lounge, cafe, malls or any specific place that these days are using an Internet Wireless as one of their added services. Instead of coming back to your office, you just write and compose your reports there and along with your supporting files (audio and/ video), send them all to your colleague in the office, while this time his/her job is only doing the Q/A and finishing before your reports are finally gone published, faster. The rest of the day, is nothing but your quality of time with your spouse, kids or buddies.

Second sample, for those of you who have kids or nephews. These days, I see students go to school carrying lots of books, some even use the trolley bag, as if they want to go overseas for couple days. Those books they carry everyday surely does not related with the knowledges they absorb and their time to play has been replaced with some readings on those books either.
Now, imagine some schools have equipped some students with -let's say a 30 days trial- Asus eeePC and see the result after 30 days, compare with students carrying those bag and books. The first team will get a lot of new experiences on their new 'laptop' that already installed with apps either for studying or for playing the games. No more pain on dragging the bag all over again. In short, their time is now filled with some quality education and safe game that your kids dream about.

Last one, did I mention earlier that Asus eeePC already equipped with Skype apps and webcam ? Just like the first sample: get yourself a HotSpot and you can do your job and still can have a chit-chat, completed with 0.3 Mpx webcam with your new baby or long time buddies or your kids studying in school miles away. Really, your time is now measured with quality, seconds by seconds.

Later on, we will realize that there are things in this UMPC has lots of potential to be improved, by finding some limitations in it.

Video Reviews of Asus eeePC

Before I post my own opinion about the plus and limitation of the eeePC, I saw some good videos from youtube that can give us a 'touch and feel' of this Asus UMPC. I already selected the review video of eeePC, like the news video from jkkmobile below :



Obviously there are other several videos of the eeePC review that I got from his.

Another interesting fact is that eeePC can be installed with Microsoft Windows XP and the booting process is getting famous for its fastest either for native Xandros or with Win XP. The booting process with XP took only less than 45 seconds as shown in video below from chiewata. Certainly it is considered there's no password when we login the system.



The funny thing is that there's also another one testing, this time with password login, and it took about 36.5 seconds for booting. Gosh.. you may check this video from emiltse :


I wish I had time to make my own video about eeePC, surely it will go on screen right now. But again, time is the only thing one can't buy easily.. so I hope you guys enjoy this review videos. C ya on my final post about this eeePC !

Testing the Asus eeePC Wireless in HotSpot

Finally, after some tech problem (forget the password and loosing the battery power, yeah.. it's classic), I made a chance to use the wireless internet function on my eeePC.

With the starting battery power of 90 %, I started to activate the Wireless function, and let it detects any available hotspot around.
For your info, I brought this lappie on some food-court locating in some Mall in southern Jakarta. This is the place I know for sure where I can get the hotspot (not free though) while having some lunch without being disturbed.

Several seconds in waiting, then it shows some available hotspots with their status. Since I'm also a member of CBN, the local ISP, I picked the CBN hotspot with 100% connection level.

Connection established, then it goes to login-password page from CBN which required us to fill-in. From that, it opened the first page, which is the asus eeepc welcome menu.
Now we can really start surfing.

The speed-test website was the first page that I really want to test for it's wifi speed. The result was shown in the picture below. 148 kbps for download and 125 kbps for uploading. Not much for a frequent broadband mobiler, you will say. But when surfing is started, I must say it's fair enough to see some sites without delays that often found on local regular dial-up connection (max upto 56 kbps, but almost never reached out).

My two others website that I checked was Yahoo Mail and my own blog (g4bl.blogspot.com). They are opened without hassle and the pictures and layout/format was shown as is, just like I browse it from regular notebook or desktop PC.

It was about 20-30 minutes of surfing, when I realized the battery power was dropped down from 90 % (where I started) to 70 %. So it is about 20 % power losing for that max 30 minutes of surfing. Multiply by 5, then technically I will get maximum upto 150 minutes or 2.5 hours of happy browsing before the UMPC start screaming for recharging.

For wireless browsing, in overall I must say, I am quite happy with the wireless capability of eeePC. Surely any improvement would be worth to wait. On the next post, I will summarize what I feel about the Plus and Limitation (I won't see any minus here) of the Asus eeePC. Stay tune then !