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]
[Via SlashGear]





















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
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