HP rumored to be prepping UMPC "lifestyle accessory"

Details are pretty light on this one but, according to Crave, HP recently dropped word in an "informal chit-chat" that it is now prepping its very first UMPC, which apparently could hit the market as early as late spring of this year. Most interestingly, HP reportedly said that "you won't even need to consider this purchase," adding that, "you'll buy it like a handphone without a thought". What's more, HP also apparently boasted that one of the "key areas of improvement" would be in battery life, although unsurprisingly didn't get any more specific than that. Even more vaguely, HP went on to describe the device as a "lifestyle accessory," which would cater to "professionals as well as youths." Needless to say, that's quite a bit of boasting for HP to live up to, but Crave at least seems confident that the device is in fact in the works, so we'll hopefully be able to see how things pan out for ourselves soon enough.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

[phanbouy @ Feb 18th 2008 5:40PM]

Wow... this one's rife with good material. My fav is "you'll buy it like a handphone without a thought". Is he referring to hands that are phones are to handphones that are thoughtless?

[Anthony @ Feb 18th 2008 5:44PM]

I don't even know what a handphone is. Do I own one? Did I think about it when I purchased it?

I love things that say things like "professionals as well as youths". What that generally means to me is: "We don't know what this thing is."

[phanbouy @ Feb 18th 2008 5:45PM]

folks, this is what an MBA can do to you.

[Fubar @ Feb 18th 2008 6:36PM]

No, no, no.

A handphone is the modernized counterpart to Maxwell Smart's shoe phone.

[Dster @ Feb 18th 2008 5:40PM]

Sweet. I hope this market just keeps getting busier and more competitive.

[bob e @ Feb 18th 2008 5:51PM]

It is about time we have more small gadgets put out by American manufacturers. I'll probably buy one if the web browsing experience is good.

[hahkorea @ Feb 18th 2008 6:17PM]

Before you get all excited, my hp Pavillion was manufactured in China.

[bob e @ Feb 18th 2008 6:20PM]

yes I meant US based corporations, not manufacturers... my bad

[John @ Feb 18th 2008 5:55PM]

"Lifestyle accessory"? Does that mean that it won't work for those with alternative lifestyles?

[gt2378b @ Feb 18th 2008 6:22PM]

Since the news came from an "informal chit-chat," it may in fact be an alternative lifestyle accessory.

[john @ Feb 18th 2008 6:05PM]

If it's x86, runs linux natively (they can have a windows version, but HP has to have a supported native linux on it, that takes advantage of all of the hardware), has bluetooth FTP, and more than a total of 16GB of internal storage, then I'll definitely consider it.

If it also has options for an SSD, WWAN (again, usable/supported with linux), and bluetooth DUN or ability to act as a wifi access point (for my PDA)... then I don't see how I could pass it up.

[john @ Feb 18th 2008 6:09PM]

Oh, and at a price point that's comparable to the Eee, or cheaper.

[Anthony @ Feb 18th 2008 6:22PM]

Do you want it to be able to walk on water or would floating be acceptable?

[john @ Feb 18th 2008 6:28PM]

anthony:

My basic requirements aren't a big stretch at all. There are other linux UMPCs out there (esp. the one they name in the article). Bluetooth FTP is no big deal. 16GB of internal storage is no big deal. X86 means some design trade-offs, but it's not unreasonable.

On the other side, only the "linux supported WWAN" is the stretch. And, even then, it's not a huge stretch.

The only HUGE stretch here is: linux from HP.

[Anthony @ Feb 18th 2008 6:33PM]

I think linux isn't going to happen as Windows is A) Easiest, B) Most consumers "get" it.

Now what if they used Nokia's platform? It's linux & could do all the things you mention. Again, I believe it would be a stretch- though you could always replace the OS if it is x86 based.

[john @ Feb 18th 2008 6:50PM]

a) the PDA I mentioned is my Nokia N810 :-) And that's why I know that, as a MID, it's entirely doable to have those other features. an UMPC just does that in a bigger form factor (making the features even easier to accommodate)

b) Nokia's Linux (maemo) isn't x86 based

c) Nokia's Linux isn't 100% open, so it'd take some individual work to make it port over. Rather than have basic functionality rest on individuals, which also then means that you can't count on the hardware being 100% supported, I'd rather have the hardware vendor actively support it. Thus the reason for that being in my basic requirements.

[john @ Feb 19th 2008 11:13AM]

Anthony:

Depending upon the bluetooth capabilities, they've pretty much given me what I asked for. Express Card slot for the WWAN, SSD storage, choice between Linux and Vista.

Ready to eat crow when the rest of the list comes in? :-)

[phanbouy @ Feb 18th 2008 6:21PM]

note to HP: my laptop is NOT a handbag.

[Kendall @ Feb 18th 2008 6:42PM]

Be XP not Linux. I want a pocket computer I can use. Not some hyped knockoff hacker crap thats not found in stores used by computer nerds. Look at gOS on cloud book or the EEE OS. Most people buy it and then use it for websurfing or get mad and put XP on it. Sheesh listen HP. People will buy XP because people know XP. So please don't screw it up.

[Pete @ Feb 19th 2008 4:31AM]

I recently switched from XP to Ubuntu. I mean, I recently started the switch. Really what I'm trying to say is that I installed Linux 6 months ago, and now I hate XP.

I know, messed up eh?

But like OpenOffice works (and now I use it in XP)
And Firefox works good (I use that in XP too)
And Ubuntu works ace and boots faster (I don't really use XP much any more)

Basically, Kendall, what I'm saying is don't be afraid. Linux is the way forward. Try a live CD. Don't install nothing, just try it.

And I don't want to start a Linux vs XP flamer section, I just want to say in the UMPC market, Linux is ok because all you really want is to use office and browse the web which free software is ace for... in fact its what I use in XP.

[Sam Winter @ Feb 19th 2008 12:08AM]

"Not some hyped knockoff hacker crap thats not found in stores used by computer nerds"

How can linux be a "knockoff"? It surely isn't a knockoff of windows XP.

I'm assuming you are referring to stores like circuit city, best buy, and walmart. And we all know they sell the cutting edge of systems and operating systems. It's not found in stores #1 because it is free and open source, and #2 because most tech illiterate people are only (somewhat) knowledgeable of windows. The only reason for that is sheer momentum and the monopolistic forces of Microsoft. People who find Linux hard to setup/install and use day to day, have to remember the reason for that is because big companies haven't been supporting the platform for consumers. So there are problems with hardware compatibility because Windows has such a large market share in the consumer market that many hardware vendors don't build drivers for their consumer level hardware. Consumer software in the past had the same problem, with versions only available for Windows or Mac OSX. The problem in application software is slowly starting to vanish, but the hardware driver problem still remains.

Had Linux always maintained a significant share of laymen users, many more companies would be supporting Linux with their hardware and software.
In fact, in the professional workstation and server market, they do just that as Linux and BSD tend to dominate. Professional versions of windows are also used in corporate IT Infrastructure, but Linux and Unix dominate in professional creative content development, media production, high performance computing/supercomputing, Scientific Research/Biotech, Computational Sciences, University systems, etc.

What I'm really trying to say is STFU about shitty Windows somehow being superior than everything else. As with this UMPC you are talking about and the market at large, if operating systems actually competed ON MERIT, Microsoft's consumer division would be much smaller that it is today..

[dennis @ Feb 18th 2008 6:43PM]

Sounds like they are talking about a piece, or maybe condoms.

[Bill @ Feb 18th 2008 8:00PM]

I was going to buy a Samsung P2, but now I'm going to hold off and see what this fantastical new device can do. In fact, I may not leave the house until it comes out.

[Reader @ Feb 18th 2008 8:39PM]

Well I'm glad they're confident, just will feel bad for them when they're all let down (probably hard).

[silentio @ Feb 18th 2008 8:52PM]

No link to the original article?

Anyway, here it is

http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2008/02/16/hp-umpc-coming-this-spring-/

[silentio @ Feb 18th 2008 9:08PM]

Oops.. it's there already, my bad.

BTW, handphone is a slang used in Singapore for mobile phone, a bit like how Americans use the term cell phone. I know, cell phone makes a lot more sense than handphone... but hey, it's English, it's funny that way

[Woody @ Feb 18th 2008 10:02PM]

They're right: I won't even need to consider this purchase.

[MisterB @ Feb 18th 2008 10:47PM]

Maybe they're bringing back the TC1100...

[Kendall @ Feb 19th 2008 1:14PM]

This is stupid. All these nerds are whining on how Linux is Just as useful as XP. Sure it is. Thats why I can go to a store right now and purchase a Linux computer. Wait a sec, I can't. Unless I go to walmart and get a everex crappy pc with Linux.

Sammy Winter-maybe you should read what you said genius. "Had Linux always maintained a significant share of laymen users, many more companies would be supporting Linux with their hardware and software." Read again.

Thats right dumbass. Linux does not share the significant share of laymen users. Which means a lot more software is made for Windows today. Do you get it now dummy. You want Linux to be the king but it just sits on the sides and grabs its junk whining about driver issues and how know one likes to watch. Stupid really. Pointless yeah.

[jamizzle @ Mar 28th 2008 7:30PM]

hey, i think he was pointing out the pros and cons of BOTH operating systems. calm down.

and linux isnt a big corporate machine. it sucks that it cant be appreciated appropriately.

so windows is worth more than an open source free progr....wait a sec...its worth more than somethign free? WOW!

and it sucks that.... well nevermind, you cant tell someone close minded that they are.

take some fuckin college courses and get your head out of your ass.

[jenchiwei @ Mar 5th 2008 4:43AM]

My "lifestyle accessory"
Wifi internet, Phone (GSM, GPRS or 3G), GPS navigation functionality
not too small to operate, not too bulky to fit pocket