Hands-on with the Flybook V ultra-connected ultra-portable

Unlike CES, there is no shortage of newly announced UMPC devices here at CeBIT. Perhaps that's due to this being the 1st anniversary of the platform's launch. But if you're looking for the ultimate in QWERTY portability, then look no further than the new FlyBook V5. This 1.2kg pup packs pretty much everything the discerning road-warrior could want: 1.06GHz Intel Core Duo ULV U2400 processor; up to 2GB of DDR2 memory; Intel 945GM graphics; 8.9-inch, 32-bit color, 1024 x 600 (WXGA) touchscreen display which works with the touch of a finger or included stylus in both landscape and portrait (tablet) modes; 40GB hard disk; 1.3 megapixel swivelling camera built-in to the bezel; Gigabit LAN; stereo speaker; and fingerprint reader. It also brings a reasonable mix of expansion which includes Express card, 2x USB 2.0, and TV-out. The best part, however, is the number of radios packed into this ultraportable. It starts with Bluetooth 2.0, sprinkles in some 802.11a/b/g WiFi, and and then smothers it all with 3.6Mbps UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM. The V5 measures just 235 x 163 x 30-mm and packs a 1.2kg heft making it feel solid, not heavy in the hand. Good thing too, cause those controls you see between the keyboard and display allow you to pick the unit up while in a traditional laptop config and continue navigating the display. The miniature 80-key keyboard of the working prototype v5 that we tapped upon was seriously springy. The reduced size and key bounce would certainly take some getting used to. A sacrifice we'd be privileged to make if we could call this unit our own. Still, things might stiffen up before the April release – The Netherlands and Italy first with the rest of Europe to follow "soon" thereafter. Sorry, no definite plans for a US release date making us want one even more.

Gallery: Hands-on with the Flybook V ultra-connected ultra-portable

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[Jeremy K. @ Mar 17th 2007 6:37PM]

...and, of course, an impressive battery life, which is just over 10 minutes.

[strider_mt2k @ Mar 17th 2007 6:49PM]

Oh Jeremy K., you had to go and bring THAT up. LOL

Seriously, what's the catch?
Because I really like this alot.

[phi @ Mar 17th 2007 7:18PM]

catch is probably gonna cost an arm and a leg

[Kev50027 @ Mar 17th 2007 8:38PM]

That thing looks pretty cool, but the placement of the ports just SUCKS! Seriously, USB ports on the back? That's horrid, USB ports should be on the sides so you can easily use a USB mouse.

[HoustonC @ Mar 17th 2007 10:08PM]

am i wrong or this is released in the US already?

http://www.icube.us/product_detail.cfm/product/Flybook_V5/model/Flybook-V5.cfm

The company is located in California so I would think it's released to the US, right?

[JC @ Mar 17th 2007 10:58PM]

It goes for $2500 at icube and Dynamism but there is a two to three week delay. I've been very interested in this unit since CES Las Vegas, except for two things.

600 pixels vertical? That is too low. I use programs where the windows are 1024 by 768 and can't be adjusted. Fujitsu's p1610 screen is also 8.9 inch and is 1280 by 768. This is the clincher for me. If it were 1280 by 768 I'd get one.

Battery life is the second thing for me. Let's see how long this thing lasts.

I contacted Dialogue at their Taiwan headquarters two times, a month apart, with two simple questions, and have been kindly ignored completely. I expressed my group's interest in the V5 and noted their CES rep said it'd be "immediately" available after CES in LV. Three months later, still no response. Really makes one wonder about their customer service. Our group (over a half dozen individuals) were interested in each obtaining the V5.

[idiscuss @ Mar 18th 2007 11:42AM]

You are absolutely right, JC, 1024x600 is not WXGA, at 600 pixels vertical, many software will simply refuse to run.

Also, the post did not make it clear about what kind of tablet screen this computer uses, does it use the active digitizer found on most tablet pc or does it use pressure sensitive touch screen like those on PDAs? that is actually a quite important spec for a lot of potential users to know before they buy.

[Newt @ Mar 9th 2008 7:32AM]

Hey, I know this is a really old post, but people using search engines are still finding it, so...

Jeremy K: I ran Battery Eater on the V5. Results are here:
http://flyblog.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/battery-eater-test
and here:
http://flyblog.wordpress.com/2008/02/14/battery-eater-revisited

Kev50027: If you are using the unit in tablet mode with the screen turned vertically, the USB ports *are* on the side.

JC: I haven't had anything refuse to run on it, although I do get warning messages from Yahoo mail that the screen resolution is too low (and then when I click past it, the mail app works just fine - go figure).

idiscuss: it's a touchscreen. While others have had inking issues, I, personally, have had no problem with inking. I love that I can just touch the screen with my finger - particularly when reading an eBook.

Newt - just an Owner