ASUS busts out 7-inch R70 UMPC at CeBIT

It's big, thick, lacking any sort of keyboard and not all that pretty. But if you're aching for ASUS' next gen UMPC to cut loose from the product chute then the R70a is it. Besides toting a 7-inch display with Vista tucked inside a 120GB disk (we think) purring along on a 1.6GHz processor of unspecified Intel make (Silverthorne, please?) we really can't tell you much. Forgive us but the show doesn't open for a few more days -- instead of marketing types the booth is currently staffed with a mustachioed security brute named Dieter. Nevertheless, from the outside we can tell you that it sports a pair of USB jacks, memory card slot, kick-stand for watching videos, and controls in line with the 5-inch R50a. And judging by the way it's displayed as a dashboard-mounted device, it's safe to say that integrated GPS is at least an option. We'll find out more just as soon as ASUS decides to make the R70 official.

Gallery: ASUS busts out 7-inch R70 UMPC at CeBIT

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[ReggieXuk @ Mar 2nd 2008 1:59PM]

Was the previous UMPC review posted just to make this UMPC look good?

[OneLove @ Mar 3rd 2008 2:11PM]

...It's big, thick...lol

[SimonRichards @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:04PM]

Ahhh, what would windows be without an error?

:)

BTW Its only a freakin joke, OK?!

[Josh L @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:18PM]

It would be a little funny if it was actually an error, instead of a Security Center warning.

[nedy78 @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:16AM]

What's funny is that apparently there's "0 bytes" of RAM in system.

[mushrooshi @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:05PM]

After the great success of the Eee, they push out this? I am disappointed.

[perfectionist @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:27PM]

ASUS Is supposed to be unveiling the E-DT, E-Monitor, and E-TV with full specs, etc. at CeBIT.

[robothouse @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:34PM]

Why do UMPC manufacturers keep believing that the best UI is just a traditional UI, but with all the icons shrunk down? Can anyone honestly say that look easy or appealing to use? If you're building a computer that is meant for ultra mobility, you should make a UI that is meant for ultra mobility as well.

[iofthestorm @ Mar 2nd 2008 3:00PM]

Yeah, that's rather annoying but then at least Vista defaults to much larger icons than XP, and can go extremely huge if you want them that big. I think default icons are 64x64, classic icons are 32x32, and large icons are 128x128. In explorer windows you can even set it to use extra large icons which appear to be 256x256, which is kind of overkill unless you're using a 40" 1080p TV as a monitor with the Wiimote as a mouse replacement.

[Aguiluz @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:37PM]

I also want two pairs of Shoulder Buttons, A D-Pad, Four face buttons for emulated gaming. :)

[Brian Eun @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:40PM]

I see that some still didn't get the memo, but Silverthorne is something you DON'T want for Windows because of it's In Order nature. 1.6GHz Silverthorne will barely get you an improvement over the 800MHz McCaslin A110 because A110 does OOOe.

Intel can go screw themselves for getting me excited about Silverthorne for the last year without letting us know about this important fact.

[El Itouch Lover @ Mar 2nd 2008 2:54PM]

But Why????

why do we need so many UMPCs
im fine with my hp laptop
its all i need for portability

[sinjinn @ Mar 2nd 2008 3:37PM]

dont buy it then. its not like someone forcing one on you.

[BV @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:50PM]

"dont buy it then. its not like someone forcing one on you."

This guy is:

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_04/bullyL2810_468x350.jpg

[Reader @ Mar 2nd 2008 6:28PM]

Is there a UMPC in his coat?

[Cody @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:44AM]

While there isn't a physical keyboard, there is a touch screen. Look on the left side of the screen about halfway up. That is the tablet/touchscreen input tab.

[dean @ Mar 2nd 2008 4:39PM]

I still don't quite understand the point of these things. Wikipedia, here I come!

[sinjinn @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:11PM]

surfing on the couch , the kitchen. mounted in car for a great gps , movie/mp3 player. your desktop enviroment in the size of a book. runs all your day to day programs like word , office, windows media , browsers , and lot and lots more. no learning curve. way more comfortable to use. no need to be sat at that same desk all the time . easily transported.

[usedHONDA @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:11PM]

Dang, that thing probably has a higher resolution than my 1280x1024 monitor!

[Geonerd @ Mar 2nd 2008 8:53PM]

A2DP Bluetooth ??????????

[Greg Legowski @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:30PM]

Looks decent to me, pending price (although I agree that Silverthorne wouldn't be the most appealing choice for processor unless it keeps cost WAY down). "No keyboard" is a feature if it keeps it more portable -- am I the only one who actually LIKED the thumb-keys applet on the original UMPCs?