ASUS' R50A UMPC goes legit
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Nov 19th 2007 5:21AM
posted Nov 19th 2007 5:21AM
[via JKKmobile]
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looks sleek and sexy just needs to be priced somewhere near the Eee pc
Should be based on Menlow according to Intel at the last IDF.
http://www.umpcportal.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1059
Steve.
Looks like a PSP
Needs more cowbell.
Looks slick as hell, but no qwerty would be a bummer.
The lack of a built in querty can be offset by the avalibality of several USB ports, ya know, for a keyboard and mouse, and one more for my Archos, maby even a VGA or DVI port for a monitor, for when i get home
Can't see that being all that handy whilst out and about..
"Oh, wait there, let me plug in my keyboard first"
Nah, built in qwerty is definitely a must.
No, it really, really isn't. The speed of the keyboard on my sony vgn umpc is comparable to the on-screen keyboard on my slate tablet pc.
No, it really, really isn't. The speed of the keyboard on my sony vgn umpc is comparable to the on-screen keyboard on my slate tablet pc.
Needs BT; if it has that, then it's not "plug in my keyboard", it's just flip the keyboard open.
I use a Palm folding BT keyboard, and it's quite a handy little thing. Whip out of jacket pocket, press latch, and it's folded open, taking very little longer than to open a typical qwerty slider and shift grip. Then you can have full-pitch keys, which can't happen with a slider in a device this size.
And the speed of on-screen boards can approach full-size keyboards and beat thumb-boards, when they're well-executed. This screen is large enough for that to work well, if they can get the software right.
The 4.8" diagonal is getting to the large end for stylus work, though. That's my only serious concern. As screen sizes increase, resting your hand on the bezel and reaching the screen with a stylus becomes awkward. Until touchscreens can take stylus input while ignoring your hand resting on the screen, and still be finger capable when not using a stylus, I don't think a landscape display over ~4" wide can work well.
(Note to Apple fanboys: I have never had a Newton, but I think they have a screen height >4 inches; if they have a landscape mode, please don't kill me for it. Even if they do, I expect writing all over the whole screen is still a lot easier in portrait mode.)
Want to touch the shiny.
I think it's great there is no keyboard. These integrated keyboards are usually cramped, and have unpleasant action.
They are also often the first thing to get broken. Besides, it makes the machine bulkier.
A seperate keyboard can be chosen to onesp references.
PSP lookalike with suspect functionality. The thing is too bulky to 'redefine mobile', bricks went out a long time ago. The lack of QWERTY keyboard is something that should have been flagged at desgin stage. The market they are aiming for, probably business users, like new gagdets but are also very demanding with what they come to expect from a gadget and lack of QWERTY keyboard will instantly turn off a large portion of that market...
http://gadgetheat.myassociate.co.uk
Size of a PSP = Good, since i can fit one in my pocket. So my other pocket could have a UMPC soon, sweet.
If Asus could squeeze 1024x600 resolution into this small screen, surely they could have used a panel supporting this resolution in their 7" Eee PC!
They could but it would probably be a couple hundred more expensive.
Goes legit? Wait, are you telling me it no longer does dealings with illegal markets? Big Vinni's gonna be pissed...
If Asus is truly working on the new Apple tablet, I'll bet the keyboard is on the touchscreen.
Better bet is Black EeePC - bigger screen, has a keyboard.
Is Asus jumping the shark?
The lack of a QWERTY keyboard is a killer unless they've come a long way from the R2H -- the onscreen keyboard on that beast is more than useless. Yeah, it's got USB ports a-plenty and bluetooth, but for the "Ultra Mobile" part of UMPC you need to have a real, USEFUL input method. The R2H's onscreen isn't. Here's hoping the R50A is leagues ahead.
Will suffer major acceptance issues without a slideout keyboard. As cool as iphone is, people really are having a difficult time adjusting to the onscreen keys. (I know, blashphemous!)
Too bad no one has developed a USB cell dongle ... slide in your SIM, plug in the USB dongle - *BANG* you have a cell-capable device that would just draw off the mic/speakers ... dunno what to do about the antenna, but oh well :)
I am holding out for the wibrain b1- I like the side trackpad better than the analog stick, the qwerty is nice and am impressed with what I have read about the VIA C7-M
Check the cell-phone on the read-linked page. Has a built-in speed gauge, which can be set to go off when you exceed the speed limit you have set.
Great for teenagers; you can persuade your parents to buy you an expensive smart-phone. Just make sure to talk to your friends where your parents can hear:
"Man, I hope my parents don't hear about that Asus big-brother phone that alarms when you drive 56. The last thing I want is some #$*@#$(#@ device beeping its #*!@$# beeper at me every time I drive too fast. It'd be like driving with Mom in the back seat."
They will immediately find out about and purchase this phone, _demanding_ that you use it instead of the $10 POS they bought for you last month.
Enjoy your new smartphone!
Why is there a classic windows mouse cursor over the picture of the cell phone on the read link page?
LOL I completely missed that. Is that some graphics guy's notion of an Easter egg? or did they take a screenshot of ... well, a screenshot of a picture of their cellphone?
"This image software we're using won't export as a JPEG! What do I do?"
"Ctrl-Alt-Print Screen, and paste it in paint."
"OK, got it."
(Yes, I know C-A-P.S. doesn't actually get the mouse cursor.)
And don't forget to try new virtual on-screen keyboard. It's ideal for Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC).
Site: http://www.virtual-keyboard.net/
Download: http://www.comfort-software.com/download/kb_setup.exe