Gigabyte's M704 UMPC gets reviewed and unboxed

Quite a bit has gone down since November of last year, but if your memory is sharper than a tack, chances are you haven't forgotten about the M704. This stylish UMPC from Gigabyte was recently acquired, unboxed and reviewed by Mobile01, but we'll go ahead and warn you: the inability to read and comprehend Chinese could hurt your understanding. At least images are universally grasped, right? Check out the read link for the full rundown.

[Via SlashGear]

[Bobs @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:47PM]

There better be a good reason why the space in the center is getting wasted on stickers that could be placed soemwhare else, like the back.

[Jaimi @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:15PM]

Yes, and that good reason is so that the keypads for your hands are seperated, so you can type easier. Don't forget how small this thing really is.

[Tom Oliveri @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:14PM]

second bobs, i'd NEVER buy this thing

[naz @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:48PM]

looks pretty chunky

[jbs @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:22PM]

Apple can make these so much better, other companies should just give up now....

[Sarig @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:27PM]

And yet, Apple isn't making "these" at all!

[Whizzut @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:53PM]

Wow.

That looks like a poorly thought out, poorly designed format for a UMPC.

Clap clap for the handicap.

When is the wind blowing again?

[maddawg836 @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:53PM]

It took me a minute to realize what it was. I thought it was an ugly phone, then i saw it was just an ugly pc.

[xor24 @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:54PM]

here's a link to a babelfish translation but it is still kind of hard to read due to grammar.... http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mobile01.com%2Fnewsdetail.php%3Fid%3D5596&lp=zh_en&btnTrUrl=Translate

[Slasher @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:54PM]

If anyone could understand chinese how good is the keyboard?? Am betting its better than Q1U's wimpy, tiny , dot, keyboard

[xor24 @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:55PM]

here's a link to a babelfish translation but it is still kind of hard to read due to grammar.... http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mobile01.com%2Fnewsdetail.php%3Fid%3D5596&lp=zh_en&btnTrUrl=Translate

[Fusion @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:57PM]

bad keyboard design

[Ignatius @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:02PM]

I only gave it a cursory glance at first, and thought it was a good design... until I noticed the keyboard was broken apart. I'd be livid, I can't type on those crappy 'ergonomic' designs. Standard keyboard for me. (well... G15, but I don't even use the fancy features past adjusting the sound.)

[Sarig @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:23PM]

It's a thumbboard. It'd be more convinient to stretch it into the middle, right, so you could properly excercice your thumbs?

[Low Ranked @ Jun 2nd 2008 12:59PM]

This looks extremely painful.

Possibly even lethal.

[whowhatme @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:06PM]

The perfect murder weapon! No one would ever see it coming

[TareX @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:01PM]

I love this form factor. It's like a OQO m2 + touchscreen.

As regards to "chuckiness", it's actually thin for a umpc.

[darkstar @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:28PM]

its about time they use this form factor! the eee kb is very hard to type on.
but i gotta admit this design from gigabyte kinda looks like the oqo 01. the oqo 02 is hotter!

[Pochi @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:56PM]

I have an OQO 02 and it effing sucks. Don't be fooled.

[teslasnp @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:56PM]

how much you want for it pochi?

[FRZ @ Jun 2nd 2008 3:57PM]

@ Pochi,
What is wrong with the OQO 2? From I have seen of it online, its seems like a nice fit and the features sounds pretty good. The only reason I don't have one is the price.

[darkstar @ Jun 2nd 2008 4:27PM]

yeah, the oqo 02 is too expensive for me also.
if for $500, i would take it without hesitating!

[Pochi @ Jun 2nd 2008 4:58PM]

@FRZ

Here's what's wrong with it...

I ordered mine in October. The one I have right now is still broken. I have sent it back five times down.

1) Power didn't work. Sent it back.
2) They returned it to me. Power didn't work. Sent it back.
3) Got it back. Battery didn't work. Sent it back.
4) Got it back. Hard drive was clicking and freezing. Sent back again.
5) Got it back. Won't power on.

This is the fifth time I have sent it back. This time I had to send each piece back in a SEPARATE RMA. What!? It's now been, what, nearly 8 months? And I still have nothing to show for my $2,000 investment since each repair takes an ETERNITY. On top of that, when I did use it, the buttons were extremely hard to press (lots of resistance) and the thing was pretty heavy and got very hot. And no Windows button (wtf). It's a hot lookin' little device, everyone wants to know what it is and where I got it. But seriously, not worth it. Not. Worth. It.

[Arnob @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:03PM]

so...whatever happened to way back when when umpcs didn't have physical keys? were the touch screen keyboards really that bad that almost all umpcs now have a physical keyboard?

[Stiv @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:10PM]

Yes, on-screen keyboards are for suck.

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:12PM]

I am better off without something like this...

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:16PM]

or rather get an eeeeeeee pc

[jalapeno @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:16PM]

Wow that thing is fugly..good thing they left space on there for the Intel and Windows stickers...

[jalapeno @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:18PM]

err.. Via and Windows stickers

[mnoble @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:29PM]

Want one now?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gigabyte-UMPC-notebook-M704-Latest-Model-English-Vista_W0QQitemZ370031774256QQihZ024QQcategoryZ177QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

[Juice @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:43PM]

Ouchie. 1k$. I'd rather get a Raon Everun with the voice HSDPA card for about 900$. I also like that Gigabyte tablet that just came out.

[Edward @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:39PM]

Basically everything that I need in a small package, I dont understand what issues you have with the keyboard, it seems that it would be quite easy to type on for me.

[Slasher @ Jun 2nd 2008 1:48PM]

Try reading PDFs in everun. I mean I've used the wibrain and 4.8inch screen is not for me! This is it. If you dont like the keyboard, slide it in

[Tom Oliveri @ Jun 2nd 2008 2:14PM]

too ugly to remember sorry

[Phil @ Jun 2nd 2008 4:57PM]

Consumers just don't seem to get it. The big massive operating systems such as XP or vista are not what these little guys are all about. We don't really need a big powerhouse inside a handheld device. To me, this is a step backward. Nokia got it right with their n800/n810 tablets. Even Microsoft realizes there's more potential in Windows CE/mobile than in their desktop systems... they're just waiting for the public to catch-up and realize it. When we do, most tiny handhelds will contain hardware based/instant-on fast streamlined OS such as pocket PDA's have offered for years. My little handheld will turn-on, connect to wifi, send and receive email before one of these UMPCs even has a chance to boot up. And my sluggish laptop?? That baby is only used for my big everyday powerhouse usage... it doesn't even make the trip to the airport or to Starbucks. Why? It just can't keep up with a little Nokia tucked away in my pocket! David has crippled Goliath, but we just don't realize it yet.

[sinjinn @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:57PM]

umpc's are usually left in hibernate mode. i will boot my umpc maybe once a week , so that isnt an issue.
windows mobile is rubbish. thier are new os's coming for mids, ubuntu mobile, midinux , etc , but they are desighned for the intel atom and this is a via machine.

i agree vista is bad chioce for a umpc , but xp is almost perfect. all you would need is to have the cpu slightly faster with fast return from hibernation and xp would be a winner. it is widely used , has many programs written for it and is compatible with almost everything. too bad microsoft wants to kill it and put vista on everything.

[Micah Cameron @ Jun 2nd 2008 8:12PM]

How is it possible to type on that keyboard?

[sinjinn @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:58PM]

with the thumbs

[gad get @ Jun 2nd 2008 10:29PM]

It looks deformed.

[brian t @ Jun 4th 2008 11:21AM]

The manual is available for download: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Notebook/Manual_List.aspx