Intel's MID UMPCs: So long XP/Vista, hello Linux

Big news on the UMPC front this morning folks. Looks like Intel is shedding the Origami gorilla (read: Microsoft) as they prep a Linux-based platform to compete with Vista and XP-based UMPCs. Intel will unveil their new MID (Mobile Internet Device) platform at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing later this week. Unfortunately for their marketing department, they've already posted the slides. Unlike UMPCs which target mobile professionals, MIDs will target "consumers and prosumers" and feature a range of screen sizes from 4.5 to 6-inches with resolutions from 800 x 480 to 1024 x 600. Yup, these are the same devices we spotted under the in-house name of McCaslin sporting Intel's codenamed "Stealey" class of dual-core, battery-friendly processors. Intel's reference designs run a tweaked, 500MB version of China's RedFlag MIDINUX which boots in about 18 seconds (less than 5 seconds from standby) to a mix of open-source and proprietary code including Google Maps and web-based office and enterprise applications. Data access will be provided via HSDPA and WiFi. More GUI shots and reference designs in the gallery below.

Gallery: Intel's MID UMPC: So long XP/Vista, hello Linux

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[Via UMPC Portal]

Read -- overview slides [Warning: PDF link]
Read -- design slides [Warning: PDF link]

[michael @ Apr 16th 2007 4:46AM]

Does that mean no more Intel-based UMPC's? I think that's kind of a mistake. Many people need UMPC's, and even like UMPC's. Building some crazy new platform is never going to work. Does this mean that Intel is going to start building it's own computers? This doesn't sound like a good thing.

[Ronald Acevedo @ Sep 25th 2007 2:06AM]

MID is just Intel's coined word for UMPC.

[JT @ Apr 16th 2007 5:13AM]

Icons come straight from the iPhone or what?

[Pc_Madness @ Apr 16th 2007 5:17AM]

Oooh Linux on a UMPC.. now that does intrigue me. :)

[Aaron Corsi @ Apr 16th 2007 5:19AM]

And apparently when intel starts building their own computers with their own OS, it will simply be a rip-off of the iPhone, since no other manufacturer is capable of improving on something Apple has already done. The iPhone is great, but there's no reason every interface that comes after it has to imitate it.

[kadajawi @ Apr 16th 2007 5:25AM]

Well, it doesn't totally imitate the iPhone... look at the thing at the top of the screen. Now that's Linux as I know it... fugly.

[Karel Jansens @ Apr 16th 2007 5:33AM]

Wow! this is so original! If only someone like--say Nokia had come up with this idea before Intel. Amazing, an Internet Tablet! I wonder whether Intel is going to call it "770" or "N800"...

[Pete @ Apr 16th 2007 5:34AM]

12 seconds or 5 seconds -- both are far too long for this sort of thing. If it's going to replace *any* PDA-type functionality it would need to be on instantly. If it's not, then why bother?

[chris @ Apr 16th 2007 6:23AM]

Its a pda it should be instant on if its trying to be better than a UMPC, from what i've seen with the stripped linux its more a competitor to the TMOBILE AMEO than to or the old Nokia Internet Tablet, than an actual threat to devices like the HTC Shift

[ZSX @ Apr 16th 2007 7:00AM]

Judging by the photos, Intel appears to be OS agnostic. The first few pictures are of Windows, there are a few of what may be OSX and there are a few of what looks like Maemo (the Linux running on the Nokia Internet Tablets). This is a hardware platform after all, presumeably it is designed to run a variety of OSes.

[Steven @ Apr 16th 2007 7:09AM]

The only icon that was stolen from the iPhone is the Browser. When you compare the two, their identical. The compass is pointing in the same direction, there's a globe behind the compass.

The only thing that's different is the iPhone version is a little brighter.

It's sad they can't make their own icons.

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 16th 2007 7:39AM]

I see a lot of comments on the icons being ripoffs. Have you ever taken the time to consider that the icon could be coming from the application? The compass being Safari...

[Rick Ludwig @ Apr 16th 2007 8:03AM]

Okay, so I think people are really missing the point: If they're running Linux, running a lower-powered chip, and are targeted at the consumer, does this mean that we might finally see the ~$500 UMPCs that they were talking about when this whole thing first started? I don't know about the rest of you, but with the size of the UMPC and a sub-$500 price tag, alone with running Linux... That's something to get interested in... especially if I can run an opensource Photoshop clone on it.

[Jonathan Sundy @ Apr 16th 2007 8:30AM]

An excellent point.

Initially I was against the idea of this since a companion device needs high compatibility which is a lot of work when it's not just windows on it.

But if this would get the device down to 500.... I'd seriously consider it.

I want a note taking device I can bring to meetings so I have all digital notes, without spending a fortune on a tablet since I already have a laptop.

[harpreet @ Apr 16th 2007 8:10AM]

WOW... Why am i getting this feeling that i've fallen in love with the interface???

[Olivier @ Apr 16th 2007 8:40AM]

Intel should join forces with Nokia's Maemo Linux.
The UI already looks very similar, I;m sure they could get more developpers on board if they presented them with a compatible framework that would only require a recompile to run on N800s or Intel's UMPC. Better yet they could have some kind of Universal binary like apple has for its Intel Machines.

I don't think we need another mobile Linux flavour, just more concerted efforts to push the current projects further.

Anyway, hats off to Intel for realizing that if we can barely run Vista on today's desktop machines, than cramming it in a small device will come very expensive and with poor battery life.
A good RDesktop will suffice as far as I am concerned.

[Jason @ Apr 16th 2007 8:58AM]

I don't get it... So they are trying to make UMPC's more popular by stripping out software functionality (Windows) and putting on a POS OS that can't even make it in the desktop world... if they make the UMPC not be able to run the standard software you can run on a computer it becomes more like a phone and less like a computer... there are plenty of phone PDAs out there that do things like email and simple web browsing just fine... who needs this??

Oh and by the way... if people out there are willing to pay $600-700 for an iPhone... basically just an iPod that has a cellphone built in then why is $1000 too expensive for a mobile version of the PC that can run all the software that a regular pc can?

The only way these things will be a success is if people can buy the cheap ones and then load Windows on them after the fact... and besides an OEM of windows only adds $100 to the cost of the machine... removing that isn't going to bring the cost of these things down $500.

[Mike @ Apr 16th 2007 9:08AM]

RUNNING LINUX HUH? I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IS OUTLOOK RUNNING ON THE SCREEN OF THE MID ON THE RIGHT HA HA.

THIS IS AWESOME THOUGH, SERIOUSLY. I WOULD LOVE TO ROCK FULL UBUNTU ON A HANDHELD!

[Chris @ Apr 16th 2007 10:18AM]

you mean the left, and yes, that's outlook.

and stop yelling.

[mj @ Apr 16th 2007 9:33AM]

Linux makes sense. This is more of a cell phone style device, so eliminating the redmond tax and all the awful UI features of Windows is important. Most consumers won't know the difference since Windows Mobile is hobbled worse than mobile Linux for compatibility. These devices should be about surfing, music, VOIP and remote access to other devices. You're better off with custom software designs that aren't purposefully screwed up by Redmond's ambitions.

Intel needs to create a UMPC market in China because consumers don't have enough money for full PCs and the Chinese language lends itself to pen input more than keyboard input. Using Linux saves on software costs (obviously) hardware costs AND is approved by the dictators in China, so this is their only feasible option. Even in MS-friendly democratic markets, it makes more sense due to cost considerations.

A Chinese consumer can buy one of these, not learn the insanely complicated method of typing in the Chinese Alphabet, walk to internet cafes for high-speed access and printing resumes, use it at home for education and add headphones for entertainment from downloaded music and videos.

[shiltz @ Apr 16th 2007 9:34AM]

Don't really think that's a great idea, while getting away from Vista cause it does suck is a good thing Linux isn't really any good either as the whole reason I got a UMPC is for a portable device that runs full windows programs, Linux will be a lot more efficent and faster, but can't run much in comparison.

[Chris @ Apr 16th 2007 10:22AM]

so, what kind of applications FOR HOME USE that you would really want to use on that small a screen don't have satisfactory linux equivalents?

[Coyote @ Apr 16th 2007 9:53AM]

Capslock is cruise control for cool....

But seriously the icon debate is moot.. their the application icons. If they can release a UMPC for less than $500 or at least $200 less than a comparable Vista UMPC I can see it being very popular.

[kevin @ Apr 16th 2007 10:27AM]

Aren't those all Mac OS icons?

[John @ Apr 16th 2007 11:22AM]

I would buy one if the price was right at release.

[zorg @ Apr 16th 2007 11:44AM]

Windows is crap. Linux is better. Yet many posters to this thread don't seem to get that. Let me explain.

Windows is a franchise. It was originally done on the desktop through lock-in: prevent users from making a choice about the OS. Any excellent software included is a by-product. The main business is to prevent user choice.

The only way to protect the franchise is to shoehorn Windows into non-Desktop devices where its paradigm is all wrong and try to obtain lock-in by assuming users of other devices also need desktops (or need content they can exclusively license). Again, any quality products are by-products. If you like Microsoft Office, that's okay. But what's important is that you don't get a choice about it.

Now that choices are appearing, it's crucial for the MS share price to do some astroturfing on forums like this while applying behind the scenes pressure. For instance, make a deal with content providers that prohibit them from making content for Linux.

Therefore, people with an MCSE are guaranteed to chime in with "Linux is a POS OS" or similar wacky comments. These people understand basic economics. They may even use Linux. They may know a lot about Linux. BUT THEY ALSO KNOW WHO THEIR MASTER IS AND WHO BUTTERS THEIR BREAD. The only way for Windows to win is for everybody else to lose.

[Picky @ Apr 16th 2007 12:33PM]

Or maybe, just maybe, they honestly prefer Windows to Linux. Not everyone is part of some Microsoft conspiracy to stomp the life out of all of us. Just like how some Linux users realize that peddling Linux as the all-around superior OS is complete and utter, mindless bias.

Linux is not a POS, but it's not vastly superior to Windows, let alone OS X for that matter.

[Raptor @ Apr 16th 2007 2:17PM]

No, Linux is crap. Windows is also crap. Mac OS X is another variant of crap. Unfortunately, Windows is where the applications are. You can talk about UNIX style permissions, intelligently-built sudo-based installation solutions, and even some of the really neat toys like Zero Install, but in the end, people are still whizzing about MS Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, Powerpoint presentations, and so on.

It's not the OS, it's not the kernel, it's not the license, and it's not developers.

It's the applications. What MS has out there is not only good enough, it's good enough for almost everyone. What's needed isn't another Photoshop clone, or a Word-compatible word processor. What's needed are *better applications.*

Apple beat the snot out of IE on the Mac by releasing Safari, a better browser. They're taking marketshare from Powerpoint by releasing Keynote, a better presentation package. They're destroying Word/Publisher with Pages, a better word processing/consumer grade DTP package.

Linux... has OpenOffice and a dozen ways to still use LaTeX. It's got Dia, which can't beat Visio on Visio's worst day.

Linux needs to stop mimicking, and start innovating. Make a BETTER mousetrap. Don't worry about having it work with Acme Mousetraps. Just make it work so nicely, so cleanly, so intuitively, that when you then also work out a way to work with MS file formats, you'll win by default. When you offer tools so much more robust than what's out there that people *want* to use your file format, you win.

Word *does* suck. Unfortunately, it's good enough. Excel also sucks, but the same goes for that. Visio really sucks, and it's barely good enough, but that's okay, because Dia sucks MORE.

In the end, Linux, its apps, its interfaces, and its general way of doing things just isn't up to the challenge of working just right for your average kid, or your average grandparent, and for now, it's got to do both. Sadly, since everyone knows Windows, it's far easier to teach Grandma what we already know than to go digging through the toolbox of a million open-source workalikes that each do a different 90% of what we get from the Microsoft equivalents.

[Picky @ Apr 16th 2007 12:22PM]

With all of the flavors of Linux available, they chose the one from the Chinese?

Not exactly a beacon of trustworthy computing there. Color me unsold.

[Dylan @ Apr 16th 2007 12:25PM]

Running a Linux-based OS means you'll only get an outdated version of Flash. That might seem like a minor thing, but losing simple (from a user's perspective) Internet functionality in video playback and multimedia support means that users give up part of an experience they've become used to. Making concessions isn't going to make the average user happy -- "Sure it's small and cheap but it's lame and it can't do YouTube."

Also, Linux generally sucks at power management. That situation really needs to improve before it's going to be competitive in a format like this.

[Mohan @ Apr 16th 2007 2:01PM]

The interface looks slick, reminds a bit of Apple's interface with the iPhone.

[Chris K. @ Apr 16th 2007 2:20PM]

Oh, and for the record, while the application icons are ripped off from the iPhone, the status bar icons at the top of the screen are straight out of Hildon, the Nokia Internet Tablet UI. I'm assuming that this was a VERY hasty mockup.

[C3 @ Apr 16th 2007 3:42PM]

Chinese, explains the iPhone icon(s). Now let's see who can be the first one to find the Chinese back doors in the OS.

[Jason @ Apr 16th 2007 5:09PM]

LINUX has no place in the market... OSX and Windows are the only viable options when it comes to plaforms right now. Like it or not there are MILLIONS of people out there who make a living writing software for Windows and OSX... you can make a living doing so... that is why there is TONS more software out there for Windows... OSX to an extent but with the base of LINUX users looking for a FREEBIE makes it a no go for people looking to build a software business... so you are limited to whatever people will develop for free... then comes the problem with support, etc... it will ALWAYS be that way... even when LINUX had people like RedHat selling it they never were able to make it into a viable platform to write software for and make a living...

[md @ Apr 16th 2007 7:14PM]

haha, Linux...no thanks, I'll take an OQO 02 even if this thing was free.

[Who @ Apr 16th 2007 9:17PM]

That's definitely Maemo there in some of the screenshots, which is made by Nokia for the 770 and N800.

I know some of the Maemo code isn't open source, so there may have been some colaboration with Nokia here... Who knows

[theChipmunk @ Apr 18th 2007 2:47AM]

Now forgive me if I'm wrong here - I haven't had time to study the whole hardware properly, but I'm guessing if it's specced more or less like other UMPCs, then you guys will have no problem installing XP on it if you want it.

And, as was said earlier, most of the interface shots probably aren't final, so stop saying it looks like iPhone icons.

I think, if the price was low enough, I would probably buy one. If it has a decent suite of applications and, more importantly, good support for developers and connectivity (please, Intel, nothing proprietry on that front!), then it may well be one of the biggest things to hit the market.

But then again, maybe not - we'll just have to wait and see.

[EWR @ Apr 20th 2007 4:07PM]

I am glad that one does not have to use the Windows platform on a handheld. Now, if someone wants to use Open Office while on the road, they can.

[Samma @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:53AM]

*drool*
Um...Is the picture of the one running Outlook running Windows or something? Or is there some linux port of Outlook I don't know about?
*confused*

[grundler @ Apr 23rd 2007 11:26AM]

I'd like windows vista base and the availability to put linux on a little sd card or something to have both. the hard drives in these things tend to be so small, i don't know that partitioning and installing both would work. but why not some variant of linux that can be put on some kind of removable media?

[kenekaplan @ Apr 24th 2007 2:27AM]

I just saw this from Intel co-workers in Beijing who are blogging from IDF. See a short video of a UMD running XP http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2007/04/perspective_from_inside_intel.html. The complete keynote can be viewed here http://www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/events/idfspr_2007/video.htm.

[feynman @ Apr 30th 2007 8:12PM]

Hey,

Can't figure why everyone's so hung up on Windows Vista etc..

The devices are 'small' mobile devices. If you really need top processing capacity then a notebook/laptop makes more sense! As for Linux, it's pretty nifty. I find it runs a ton faster than Windows on any hardware that I run Windows (XP or Vista). Mostly Intel seem to be targetting the types of application which can be run through a browser or which don't require bundles of processing power to run. Sure you can even do word processing, spreadsheets or database work through a browser now, if that buzzes your chickens.

As for the heavy stuff ... Do you really intend to program .Net apps on the fly and run a backend SQL Server on a handheld :) ?

[Genefy @ Sep 20th 2007 12:05AM]

Yes! really want to Program on the go. Programming, Full web browsing capability, RDP and 5 hour battery life.

[A @ Sep 25th 2007 8:57PM]

Application is what's lacking??? Linux based OS already has interface for these applications. If Linux is such a low demand on professionals and businesses, then why is the goverment department of defense and other highly sensitive goverment network use Linux based computers/servers? Because of STABILITY and SECURITY the few things windows can not resolve. Some Power plants are die hard about linux based OS because of the same reason.

Check out Yoggie gate keeper which provides a "corporate level firewall" for windows is a LINUX OS in it. A Linux OS protercting a windows OS? Linux need so much less on its own for security.

Linux, is an open source. SAFARI browser is a linux based browser so when Apple use it, they were required to share any development to everybody. That's something Bill Gates do NOT want. Free UPGRADE do not cross his mind.

Do you know that the number one browser Mozilla Firefox is run by linux on their server? They are stable, secure and reliable. You will gladly find to know that when the greedy corporate leaders and the politics aside. There are a lot of things Linux can do.

[cowbot @ Oct 27th 2007 12:37AM]

The x86 is a horrible CPU family chuck full of suck. Now and forever. The 8086 was a barely functional garbage scow and the 8088 - even worse - a demented piece of evil

ARM is a vastly superior design, and the Cortex A8 blows this stuff away on the mips/miliwatt benchmark. One can only hope that this entry will help pollinate the consumer mindset to see the advantages of this form factor and purchase the pioneering Nokia N800 linux tablet, or its successor.