MIU's M*Free: all in one never looked so bad

Sometimes you just can't be all things to all people, something or someone is going to suffer. Still, that hasn't stopped MIU technology from developing this new M*free HDCP -- Hybrid Dual Portable Computer. This Windows XP device features a QWERTY thumbpad and VGA screen of unspecified dimensions. Nothing unusual so far. However, if you flip it over, you'll find a slot for installing a cartridge with digicam/webcam, MP3 player, portable storage, and USB cable with a promise of more functionality (by way of additional cartridges) to come. That's not all. Flip the main display over and you'll find a smaller panel and keypad for making IP-based calls which, according to MIU, are cheaper than those made from conventional cellphones with better quality than VoIP. MIU's CEO, Joonsoo Oh, then increases the hyperbole by stating that his company is developing the, "next generation portable device that can complement all the defects of existing convergence products." Well then, we'll start saving our rubbles now for the 700,000 to 800,000KRW (up to about $875) these will cost when launched in the first half of 2007. Bigger, better pics after the break.

[Deluxe @ Dec 7th 2006 8:35AM]

*burp*

[Ignatius @ Dec 7th 2006 8:37AM]

It is hueg liek ze xbocks!

[Z @ Dec 7th 2006 8:49AM]

Man, that is UGLY!!!

Nerds and aesthetic design don't mix.

Get some artists involved! Please!

[apeguero @ Dec 7th 2006 8:57AM]

What the...? What kind of battery does this thing require for all of those functions? Is that why it's so butt ugly and thick? Next!

[Cesar Cardoso @ Dec 7th 2006 9:01AM]

Gosh. My eyes are bleeding! I'll never call any other product 'ugly' after seeing this.

[Peter @ Dec 7th 2006 9:03AM]

I don't quite understand the bit about the cartridge. So is is just a screen and keyboard that needs guts in the shape of the cartridge?

Whatever, it looks a bit of a brick but i have to say there is deffinitly a market for it. For me that screen or a psp sise screen is the minimal that i will allow my self to spend a significant amount of time looking at, for aesthetic as well as comfort and health reasons.
A UMP is too big to carry around casually and a pda is too small a screen to excite me.
I'm willing to pay around $1,000, for a device that size that can do most things.
I think these companys think wifi etc is the new internet. By that i mean it's a buz word and everyone thinks the customers are desperate for it. I for one would never need it. I think the bubble on wifi being a feature in everything will burst at some poing. Also, companies love it cause it allows them to create afte sales services such as downloads that they can charge for. I just wanna upload everything i might need to do via my home pc and not pay some company for stuff i already have on my home computer.

Anyway, as soon as a company brings something like that out, maybe a bit better looking and slimmer, then i'll be ready with my $1,000.
I won't buy a zune or ipod cause i dont want to be beholden to the company that sold it to me for how i use it. I won't buy a psp or ds cause it wont let me do other stuff. And i won't buy a collection of gadgets cause i dont wanna carry a whole load of crap around.
I want one converged, open device about the size of this thing that can play mp3's, games, movies, take photos, make phone calls, be a pda and other things. When it's in a shop window i'll open my wallet and hand over a grand.

[telepheedian @ Dec 7th 2006 9:33AM]

Why do you need an MP3 player cartridge when you have Windows XP? Just load iTunes on it and it already makes a great MP3 player.

[rogger @ Dec 7th 2006 11:43AM]

i think it must be that the mp3 player uses less power

[raz @ Dec 7th 2006 9:41AM]

I know this is way off on your comment, but Peter, you carry a grand in your wallet??? :)

[Peter @ Dec 7th 2006 10:00AM]

Well i carry a credit card. ;)

Check this out. http://www.gp2x.co.uk

It's another Korean gadget. the GP2X is a bit like a psp except you can do anything on it. Upload movies and it automatically re sizes them. MP3S, photos, games whatever you like. It's also a bit ugly but it uses up to a 4 gig SD card and the company just sells it and that's it.
you pay about 180 dollars and you can even emulate just about any games machine in the past so it has thousands of free games essentially.
The device i'm waiting for would look a bit like the Nintendo DS for a nice clamshell protection. Open up and have a psp size screen on the top and a keyboard/game controller interface on the bottom, be like the GP2X: an open system and do just about anything i want.
The only thing stopping this product from happening is that all the differing companies what too bigga slice of the pie so they won't collaborate enough to game a truly convergent device. So what we get is a device that is great at some functions but very poor at others.
Oh well, my credit card will wait till the killer device is revealed.

[Dave @ Dec 7th 2006 10:35AM]

at the bare minimum, couldn't they have at least made it all one color? Like black or brown... oh wait.. not brown. But you get the idea.

[Lt_Ladle @ Dec 7th 2006 3:44PM]

they should start making fugly sticks illegal now, so crimes like this don't have to happen again

[XSportSeeker @ Dec 8th 2006 8:23PM]

Wow. Funcionalities apart, that shit looks like some very awfully made pirated version of some kids toy. The casing looks like it was ripped apart of some of those keyboard/noise machines for kids, and the camera whatever that docs on the back of that frankenstein looks like some 80's portable game stuff or something.
And I shure hope that those goldish buttons aren't for playing games or something like that...
Wow... just wow. Win for worst design ever. I mean, if I glue up some digicam, with a UMP, cellphone or whatever, I think it will still look better.

[Yubal @ Dec 9th 2006 6:52PM]

wow, it looks halfway decent if it didn't have those white bumps/speakers at the sides... and look at those buttons! they're gold! for design's sake this is sooooo badly designed... at least it looks competent in the specs area

[Ray @ Dec 12th 2006 3:58PM]

Gahhhh, that reminds me of the 80's

[a.herman @ Jul 17th 2008 5:29PM]

when come its on the marked