Averatec's AHI UMPC concept device

What do you get when you mix one part OQO, one part Sidekick, and add a touch of UMPC? Apparently you get Averatec's new AHI concept device, that's what. Expected to be launched this fall for as little or as much as €500 or €900 ($600 or $1,090 US) depending on options, Averatec's aiming to launch their device with XP, a touchscreen (which we assume will take advantage of Microsoft's Touch Pack UMPC suite), WiFi, GPS, 3G data, and a six hour battery life in a 7.3 x 3.5 x 1.3-inch 24 ounce package. So yeah, basically this device might single-handedly solve just about every complaint the UMPC community (and we) have: price, battery life, keyboard, and wireless data. We'll believe it when we see it though, so keep your eyes out for Averatec this fall.

[Via The Reg, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[jr @ Apr 13th 2006 7:50PM]

If anyone can make one affordable, it'll be Averatec. I'm glad to see they're entering the competition on UMPC...

[rex @ Apr 13th 2006 7:58PM]

wow they strategically placed a pen to show how super portable this thing can be....awesome :)

[flooted @ Apr 13th 2006 7:59PM]

Screen's too small. Really f'ugly. Seems all you need to do is make it white and every computer guy and his dog thinks you've got an ipod. didn't they notice that the ipod is popular in black now, soon in paisley.

Of all the UMPC I've seen in concept the only one that looks vaguely OK is the green one on the origami website - the one that looked like it was desined by a 1950s refridgerator design consultant. I thought it looked bad when I first saw it, but at least it was more or less original looking.

The samsung one is a creative disaster.

a yellow one would be nice, or something in orange.

[feet @ Apr 13th 2006 8:00PM]

Nice of them to include the pen to give some perspective on those tiny keys.

The thing is fugly as hell :(

[quahogian @ Apr 13th 2006 8:01PM]

So is it good that I still didn't get the HTC Universal? Boy I hope they come out soon with that, and especially if they got a 30 gb hdd there. This might be it for the biggest gadget in my pocket to rule them all!

[jmchez @ Apr 13th 2006 8:04PM]

I heard that it'll be available in black or silver too. I also wish that the screen took over more room without the thick frames (both inside and outside). Maybe if they just had the keyboard pop out instead of the screen, they could make the latter bigger.

[quahogian @ Apr 13th 2006 8:04PM]

There is a black version and it does look better in my opinion.

[roberto @ Apr 13th 2006 8:17PM]

looks like a big fat white sidekick

[Dan @ Apr 13th 2006 8:17PM]

I have an Averatec laptop, I love it. It runs very stable for weeks with only using standby (cept for games of course). However, due to common faulty design, I had to get it a new PSU chip. But they are a growing brand and I think they can definintly pull this one off. They somehow manage to make tiny things cheap. I look forward to it.

[Stellar @ Apr 13th 2006 8:20PM]

ild say fugly is a bit extreem, i think the first three fit that category, this one seems more streamlined. Its hard to find companies that dedicate allot of effort to interface/product design :/ I think they are aiming a bit small on the screen tho.

[retro @ Apr 13th 2006 8:21PM]

Now that is the ONLY smart umpc design I have seen so far (besides ruby and origami). Kudos to averatec.

[Regula Oblique @ Apr 13th 2006 8:23PM]

I actually like it though the keys need to be worked on and maybe a black matte version.

[PeterB @ Apr 13th 2006 8:26PM]

put this around 700 and i'm sold.

[dave95 @ Apr 13th 2006 8:42PM]

Does anyone have an original design idea anymore?

I guess Industrial designers are too expensive these days. ;-)

[Jake @ Apr 13th 2006 9:25PM]

This thing looks great to me (maybe not so much this one, but the black shown at The Register story if you click the link).

Nice specs, too. 3G connectivity is awesome. Get yourself a mobile broadband account and one of these babies and you're set.

All of you guys with the snarky comments have been reading too many blogs. Reading too many blogs can be dangerous to your outlook on life -- it seems to teach that the only way to react to anything is to make snide, sarcastic remarks about it.

[flooted @ Apr 13th 2006 9:32PM]

"All of you guys with the snarky comments have been reading too many blogs. Reading too many blogs can be dangerous to your outlook on life -- it seems to teach that the only way to react to anything is to make snide, sarcastic remarks about it."

....well we were making critical remarks about a machine. You on the other hand are criticising people to defend a machine. Long live the snide and snarky!

[Circle @ Apr 13th 2006 9:34PM]

Getting closer, apparently someone read my posts about earlier UMPC's and needing to be less PC and more Ultra-Mobile.

Still it's pretty big, cut off maybe 20 - 30% of it. More OQO in there and less origami please. As to the IPOD likeness, neither here nor there. Idiots asked me if my Zodiac was an Ipod. I get asked if my crudtastic motorolla (C301 I think) is an Ipod. If it has transistors be prepared, an idiot will ask if it is an Ipod.

As far as the design... I like it, except it is a little too big. Of course I wasn't impressed by the postage stamp size MP3 players until I saw them in person so take that opinion with a grain of salt.

The feature list is nice, and if it comes in at (or near) the lower price point then I've found my next portable device. Assuming the requisite usb host mode. and a port or two.

What about storage? Give me flash for instant on and I'd be in heaven!!!!

Still I have to admit that the only reason I want this is because I sold my laptop... This isn't the new market segment MSFT had hoped for. And I still don't see it becoming as commonplace as our beloved clamshell.

This however does smack of the resurrection of (the never went away) PDA.

[Jake @ Apr 13th 2006 9:36PM]

Oh, yeah, built in GPS, too.

Yes, this thing really sucks alright. I'm gonna wait for that video ipod instead.

More seriously, if/when Apple releases the "real" video ipod, it better be real cheap or it better have have alot of these functionalities.

Of course, the hypnotized masses may very well be willing to pay too much for a video ipod that will allow them to buy movies only from iTunes and play those purchased movies back only on Apple devices.

[Eric Bostrom @ Apr 13th 2006 9:58PM]

I sure hope these UMPCs have pressure sensitive touch screens. I've been waiting for a long time for affordable, decent tablet pcs to draw with. I currently draw directly on screen with my pda, and indirectly with a wacom, but it would be excellent to pick up an affordable pressure sensitive sketchpad/umpc.

...combined with photoshop, painter and sketchbook pro of course.

[TZK @ Apr 13th 2006 10:12PM]

That thing is made of out sugar, so dont bitch a bout the design just yet. It will be sleeker, and shinier! Think PSP/Sidekick-esk. (I love to mispell just like engadget!)

Anyway, I am curious about the CPU, because we all know how slow the OQO is......... ew.

Cant wait for this!

[OddManOut @ Apr 14th 2006 1:05AM]

"Does anyone have an original design idea anymore?"

Sure...trouble is just cause an idea is *new* doesn't mean it will work an better than an existing idea, or work at all for that matter. I mean when you get down to it, we all know the UMPC is just an updated version of the abacus, a roll of papyrus and a charcoal stick...

Recycling the sidekicks' design was a good idea IMHO. Very space efficient, and you get a nice extra bit of fuctionality. If executed correctly, the device can still be pretty sturdy too.

Averatec, huh ? Yeah, they sell a bunch of dirt cheap stuff. If they can hit the $500 - $700 sweet spot with out selling a complete piece of STEAMING crap, more power to'em.

But if that thing is running an XP variant of any kind the CPU had better have some chops...

[Johan @ Apr 14th 2006 1:18AM]

i love the entire concept, the screen is just the right size for my me and i presume many other business type people.

but the keyboard's crap. It looks very slow and uncomfortable to type on, the key are too tiny. And the bump shape is bad design, it's like a remote. Should keep it square and raised higher like a real keyboard.

[play free games @ Apr 14th 2006 1:25AM]

I can dig this. The price looks good, I like the screen size, and the keyboard is a step in the right direction. These UMPC's will be super once you can easy input text and navagate options quickly. Oh, and agreed on a black colored version.

[Sang @ Apr 14th 2006 2:36AM]

Here are some additional photos:

http://www.skyventure.co.kr/upimages/AVERATEC-AHI-Noir.jpg
http://www.skyventure.co.kr/upimages/AVERATEC-AHI-Noir-2.jpg

[Paul @ Apr 14th 2006 3:59AM]

Doesn't a physical keypad make the XP Tablet Touchpack addition redundant? Why not add an index finger trigger button to automatically load the onscreen thumb keyboard? Save space, smaller, sleeker, sexier!

[Bedpanjohn @ Apr 14th 2006 8:01AM]

icky white

[3rdsun @ Apr 14th 2006 9:15AM]

This is looking to be the best one yet. the black one looks awesome. has a an intel celeron, 30Gb hdd, and fit for gaming. This is an all in one killer

[3rdsun @ Apr 14th 2006 9:28AM]

bummer only 5" display. price sounds good tho

[Akula @ Apr 18th 2006 2:39AM]

WHY OH WHY did i spend my money on a laptop two weeks ago?!? for the equivilent of �400-600 I would buy this thing quicker than you can say "wow!".

Oh well, thats the way the world is. I like the design, its taking OQO's ideas and enhancing them, like being able to use the joypads whilst the keyboard is closed, etc. The spec list is really quite impressive for the size, and especially for the price!

[Jose Rivera @ Aug 17th 2006 7:39PM]

I just today learned about this product and are awaiting for your launch date so I can purchase one of them.

[Nobody @ Jul 8th 2008 10:40AM]

This device is perfect....................to look at but try really using it for anything really productive other than typing a few ''lol'' ''lmao'' '''hehehe cool'' and it fails.