Video: Willcom's D4 Vista MID previewed

Akihabara News had the chance to take the Atom-based Willcom D4 / Sharp WS016SH for a spin in Tokyo. Although they only got hands-on with a near-final, engineering prototype, the kids at Aki came away impressed. Sure, the yet-to-be-optimized hardware still struggled a bit with Vista. Nevertheless, Aki remains enthusiastic about the OneSeg device toting a sliding / tilting 5-inch, LED-backlit 1,024 x 600 touchscreen display with WiFi and Japanese W-SIM. With this, Lenovo's ideapad U8, and other Intel Atom-based MIDs on the immediate horizon, these bigger than a cellphone smaller than a laptop handhelds look to be fulfilling the ultra-portable 2006 Origami promise... finally, in the second half of 2008. Lengthy video available after the break.

[gad get @ May 19th 2008 5:40AM]

Is it just me, or is that screen crazy?!

[gad get @ May 19th 2008 5:49AM]

Never mind, it's just me that's crazy.

[fuhreralmighty @ May 19th 2008 8:09AM]

When will these developers ever learn? Hell, I won't buy an MID if it runs a desktop OS. No matter what they do, the experience is still different. I really think the MIDs can go somewhere, but it should have a simple OS that can perform functions like web browsing, chatting, mapping (GPS), and my digital media.

I don't want to see the start menu, my computer, my documents, or finder (I am not biased)

Seriously, I really think that the concept of having a powerful internet communications device in my pocket is really really great. But I hope they don't screw it up by slapping the desktop versions of Vista, XP, Linux, or OS X.

[Bondtastic @ May 19th 2008 11:24AM]

I agree with you 1000%

It's like the difference between console and mobile gaming. The games on DS / PSP that are success are those that are made for the mobile gaming experience, not simple ports from the console games they once were.

The OS on MIDs needs to be the same. Although OS2008 (on Nokia's Internet Tablet) drives me crazy sometimes, I know its better than Vista simply because of how it's been geared to work on the go (which is how I use an Internet tablet).

[Mark @ May 19th 2008 7:26PM]

@bondtastic
You won't see a start menu, my documents or my computer - you'll see a windows menu, documents and computer :P.

[loosely_coupled @ May 20th 2008 12:01AM]

Vista on a MID? What are these people thinking? Who wants to try and use a desktop OS on a small screen? It doesn't make sense from ANY perspective --- processing requirements, RAM, user interface paradigm, etc.
In order for these to be easy to use, they need to be based around a touchscreen interface. Otherwise, How would you navigate a mouse cursor around the screen?

Just like with smartphones, the hardware is finally available to make a great experience in a small device --- no complaints there. The *real* challenge is software. They need to make an entirely new OS platform for these MIDS. It needs to be a universal, mobile-optimized lightweight implementation of Linux. Maybe Google will help these guys out and make an appropriate interface for Android to put on these devices.

I can guarantee that if they don't figure it out and keep trying to sell these with ANY version of Windows on them, they are going to get killed in the market. All it will take is a new multi-touch device from Apple that will blow away any MID attempting to run Vista. And I'm sure Google will be working to get Android-based hardware out there too.

[c88lman @ May 19th 2008 5:41AM]

impressive but slow.

[Terc @ May 19th 2008 6:54AM]

That this in unusably slow, I'd be frustrated in a minute or two. Doubtful anyone could actually stand to be productive on this hardware. Here's hoping they manage to get it running a little more fluidly in the final hardware. I suppose you could always toss linux on this though.

[Tonicboy @ May 19th 2008 5:40AM]

Why on Earth would you ever stuff Vista onto this thing?

[Hellios @ May 19th 2008 5:56AM]

Stupidity.
There's just no other reason.

[Technex @ May 19th 2008 9:09AM]

Because it's a great OS.

Signed,

A Vista and XP user. (For a change)

[Silas Miller @ May 19th 2008 9:16AM]

Agreed Vista is awesome.

All the nay sayers just keep jumping on a rotting bandwagon. I run both XP and Vista across 5 machines ranging from 4 year old hardware to modern. Only the older hardware shows any difference between the two. With modern components they move at nearly the same speed with Vista doing many things actually faster. Plus I love Vista's look. Before it came out I had Mac envy. That vanished the first time I loaded it.

Back to this post, I think the Vista on MID would be very cool for the Media Player and especially Windows Media Center. WMC on Vista is fantastic.

[CT A @ May 19th 2008 11:03AM]

Yes we agree that XP and Vista is cool, but it shouldn't be on an MID device for now.

[OneLove @ May 19th 2008 11:21AM]

I just downgraded my q1 ultra el (2GB) to xp media center to compare with vista media center. (xp was more responsive overall) However, when I tried getting my HD tv tuner working (in MCE) I remembered why I went to vista. (i got it working after 3 hours) I finally reinstalled vista, I just cant go back.

[DefPo3t @ May 19th 2008 5:43AM]

are you not happy to see me or is that just vista in your pocket





*meaning there's nothing bulging from your pocket for those who couldn't get the joke*

[gad get @ May 19th 2008 5:44AM]

I still don't get it.

[w00t @ May 19th 2008 6:40AM]

I never really got the joke the other way around either.

Even if you were just happy to see someone who the hell keeps their dick in their pocket?

[gad get @ May 19th 2008 5:48AM]

OK, I'm no Apple fanboy, but we all know how bloated Vista is compared to OS-X. So I'd just like to go on the record here as saying:

APPLE! We need you here!

[DefPo3t @ May 19th 2008 6:01AM]

here is what your lookign for applefanboy
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/29/oqo-hacked-to-run-leopard-now-worlds-smallest-mac/
jk onthe fanboy part :^)

[gad get @ May 19th 2008 6:03AM]

@ DefPo3t

That doesn't count, though.

[Synthaxx @ May 19th 2008 5:53AM]

That was terrible.
If this is any indication how vista will perform on the atom platform, i'd suggest revoking any vista capable certifications for this and future machines.

It would be interesting to see this thing with a decent OS though, anything other than vista would probably scream. Otherwise this thing is a stillborn.

[maff @ May 19th 2008 8:07AM]

the key word here is 'prototype' software issues will likely be helped by fine-tuning drivers and optimising the OS for slower cpu's, I also doubt this is a stillborn concept - th w-zero series is a pretty popular selling item in Japan and sharp have invested millions in this series, so a working solution will be reached at some point i have no doubt of

[Armoured @ May 19th 2008 6:56AM]

That's SEXY!

And the only reason that it's running vista is cause vista is more stylish and matches with the overall design of the device. XP on that with blue everywhere will look plain ugly.

[Cory @ May 19th 2008 7:03AM]

Window Blinds. http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/

Also, any straight man would take "ugly" XP over performance like what we just saw.

[Cory @ May 19th 2008 6:59AM]

Throw some 3g/WiMax on there and I wouldn't mind using it as a cellphone (as long as it ran on Ubuntu, or maybe XP). I want to go back to the good ol' days where we had bricks. It's time to start merging the UMPC and cellphone markets. Remember to pray for Android.

[Sean @ May 19th 2008 7:40AM]

i don't think it's going to be sold outside of Japan.

[darkstar @ May 19th 2008 7:56AM]

it is nice! but lets hope it doesnt cost more than $1200. or else it'll prolly be in 2011 when umpc are widely adopted

[shanoboy @ May 19th 2008 8:28AM]

Looks like you'd need a magnifying glass to read anything at that resolution on a screen that small!

[BluesK1d @ May 19th 2008 9:52AM]

Painfully slow. If it had more memory, it'd likely be less hideous. If you'll notice, the HDD access light in the upper right basically never stops blinking.

[Drew @ May 19th 2008 9:55AM]

What artist is this? Love this song...

[nn432100 @ May 19th 2008 1:44PM]

If a desktop can barley handle Vista, why port it to an MID? Please just stop it! I think maybe they should have went with xp or some linux OS. With these small portables, system response and OS efficiency are key to a successful product.

[MichaelP @ May 19th 2008 2:10PM]

Yea, let's run Win 98 - Microsoft's fastest and most stable OS ever!

What's that? It's not supported anymore? New accessories won't run on it? New software won't run in it? Well, that just $^%&; I'm going to Mac or Linux! %(

Actually, I miss the Windows CE H/PC platform. Basically what you see here - a full Windows interface (yea, a little more limited), but with instant on/off. If they modify Vista for UMPCs to support instant on/off, I'd like it. Or they could modify Windows Mobile 7 for UMPC use. Typical battery life of 2-6 hours on these does not excite me. I miss my H/PC with 16 hours of life. It was great for taking class/meeting notes. (And $400 retail was also nice.)

They should be able to make a Windows Mobile based unit that gets 24-36 hours of battery life, with newer battery technology, with built-in 3G and WiFi, but all the ones I've seen either suck batteries or just don't include a good one. And it should sell for $199 or less, due to drops in tech prices over the last 10 years.

[Brian @ May 19th 2008 10:17AM]

Nice woodgrain! Is that mahogany?

[dan @ May 19th 2008 10:22AM]

Vista in UMPCs are slow and bad, but in in this MID is terrible decision.
My wibrain b1h with xp literally fly compare with this atom MID.
Vista in small devices sucks. Sorry for my very poor english but vista is terrible for small devices, xp is better.

[Alexkass @ May 19th 2008 10:43AM]

vista is faster than xp. just stop defender and indexing.

[cybereality @ May 19th 2008 11:18AM]

I could probably VNC from my cell-phone and get better speeds than that!!!

[fuzzy @ May 19th 2008 1:02PM]

DO WANT

Please make one that'll support a standard ATT SIM, and have a built in phone.

I'm all about convergence.

[conor @ May 19th 2008 3:17PM]

how about merging windows mobile 7 with vista, take the best of both slim vista down a little for MIDs.

[$e@alblaighter @ Jul 8th 2008 7:17AM]

IS THE BEST PHONE IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[$e@alblaighter @ Jul 8th 2008 7:37AM]

I like the Japanese tehnology.They are advanced.Especially I like Ntt DoCoMo products, Sharp.Is too bad they wont get out some Sharp.

[Alan @ Aug 4th 2008 2:50PM]

an

[Alan @ Aug 4th 2008 2:54PM]

Pocketables.net has a 14 minute video showing the D4 does run Vista with no problems! Remember this review above was the prototype not the final released product that Sharp is selling now!

I think it is the best UMPC so far! Hopefully more companies will copy and build upon this great design. Yes I loved the HPC Windows CE too but for me I would rather have a full windows computer in my pocket as I have to run business applications that you can only run on desktop MS OS.