Gigabyte M704 unboxing video excites reviewer, may put you to sleep

It's about time someone we understand got his hands on Gigabyte's M704 UMPC. In this case, Chippysteve over at UMPC Portal put together a relatively long video that has him gushing over the new machine, navigating XP, tapping the screen, and putting the little computer through its various tasks. He seems to love the thing unconditionally, but did admit that the chiclet keyboard could use some work. Interface responsiveness looks decent and he proved the unit's performance by running some 1080P video without much of a glitch, so his adoration is at least partially deserved. Don't forget to note his excitement over the free docking station. That all said, we're just glad to see this thing in action in the Western hemisphere. Peep the vid after the break.

[mclephi @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:36PM]

and mac book pro, and mac anything,

http://everythingbutamericasucks.wordpress.com/

[SuiXide @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:51AM]

Yes, because your iPhone totally runs XP.

[Raymond @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:43AM]

Oh, please, not again.

I, myself, is an Apple lover too.

But this kind of comment littering everywhere on every Tech. forum is really going to make people hate Apple products instead.

[bob e @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:45AM]

That is actually a lot nicer unit that I was expecting. Great features...

[Fusion Fuzo @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:51AM]

Nice except the keyboard

[Hamidxa @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:54AM]

You're either very skilled at trolling or at parody, not sure which...

[chickenator @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:57AM]

yawn...

[ni8n @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:59AM]

For once, I feel sorry for a troll who make comments just to get some attention cause he doesn't get any at home and he's got no friends.....get a life, loser.

[UFgatorsean @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:59AM]

Just like your worthless comments! ZING!

[TareX @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:02PM]

when did every single phone/non-phone post on Engadget turn into an "iPhone-comment-contest"?

it's not like that everywhere else...

And for the sake of relevance, i love this umpc!

[xor24 @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:07PM]

wow they weren't lieing by the time they got to XP i was ready tired enough to fall asleep

[Hotrod @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:10PM]

Its clearly some troll trying to piss people off and give apple a bad name. Probably hamidxa.

[TomWBrowning @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:11PM]

In that form factor I'd rather have an OQO model 1. At that sort of size I wan't something I don't have to hold. It's nice to have the option, but I'd rather have a netbook.

Neat idea for a netbook: have the screen able to fold all the way back to the horizontal and then slide forward to stop the folding motion: resulting in a layout a la this thing, but with the option of normal laptop use.

[Sarig @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:39PM]

Like the HTC Shift, you mean?

[TomWBrowning @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:46PM]

(Engadget comments not working right = grr)

Yes, forgot about the HTC Shift.

[Hotrod @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:11PM]

Anyways it looks like Gigabyte did a nice job with this, I'm real interested. How much do these things run for?

[Truegod @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:57PM]

the mobilx site he mentions is selling it for $1,176 (US, after tax, not including shipping). Probably pick one up for closer to $900 (plus tax and shipping) once Amazon and/or newegg gets them.

[tojfs7931 @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:21PM]

That has to be about the ugliest form factor I have ever seen.

[TareX @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:14PM]

Actually the split keyboard is perfect for thumb typing. It is the only way to have a big screen + all keyboard keys reachable by both thumbs.

This has got to be one of the best form factors I've seen, second only to the HTC Shift with the tilt screen.

[Ricardo @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:22PM]

I wonder if it could be any uglier?

[patriotsn1 @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:44PM]

hmm one of two things are happening:
You wish you were more sexually attracted to your UMPC
You wish other people would think you were more sexy because of your UMPC

This site is full of people that find gadgets "sexy" or "ugly"... This is not normal people.... they are computers, not sexboxes, and as far as I know, having a sexier laptop doesn't get you laid.

[Abuzar @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:40PM]

We know, but for many of us it's not sexy or unsexy. It's the fact that when we look at our laptops we don't want them to be so ugly we think "What a piece of shit". It's like buildings, we don't find them "sexy" but we like them to look good. See what I'm trying to say?

[konshuss @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:18AM]

hey is this one of those sexboxes?

[Steve Paine @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:27PM]

Did i really look/sound that excited?
The long format vid was actually meant for forum users so its longer than the average video. I can see how it might be boring for the average mac-fan! It gave Engadget a story for a quiet Sunday though i guess. Thanks for the nice title lads!

My first impressions post.
http://www.umpcportal.com/2008/06/gigabyte-m704-is-here-suprisingly-good-first-impressions/

Discussion and my testing notes:
http://www.umpcportal.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=flat&topic_id=3257&forum=12

Chippy.

[TareX @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:12PM]

it's not boring, it's not long, and I think you did a great job! :) These Mac-idiots here "yawn" at anything that doesn't have a bitten fruit on it.

You weren't too excited either (the only thing you're allowed to be excited about on Engadget is iPhone-related, even if it's a rumor about the 5th shiny casing rumor about a new iPhone with a rumored front camera... yeah that u should be excited about), I think the docking station is a real bargain and should be taken advantage of quickly (not currently in North America)...

Engadget is really starting to suck. So why am I posting here? Same reason microsoft's OS is all over the place even though it isn't the best.

[MikeKlein @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:37PM]

snarky arses...don't mind them.

Your review was fairly complete and desirable for those actually considering purchase.

What I've seen that I don't like: keyboard, no tablet pc OS, shield for dock which w/get lost, no media center edition.

It's telling that you couldn't figure out function of a couple of the buttons on front...this means bad graphics design...s/be intuitive.

For this form factor I like the Samsung Ultra better...split keybd is usable on the go.

[Sarig @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:42PM]

I haven't watched the videos you've posted, but I did watch the whole event live on friday, and I managed without falling asleep and was even quite entertained most of the time, so I say good job! :)

[Hamidxa @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:42PM]

Don't mind the Mac fans, iTools, iFools, whatever you want to call them (Engadget editors included).

You did a great job reviewing this unit. It was very informative.

[The Dude @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:29PM]

It was a good review.

How do you think a TrackPoint would do in place of the the small track pad? They'd have to get a license from Lenovo, I'm sure, but it seems like a better alternative input method than such a small pad where you have to lift your finger to make several strokes.

[Steve Paine @ Jun 22nd 2008 4:46PM]

Im a fan of trackpointers and the new optical mice but actually, this synaptics pad isnt too bad. Better than Shift, U60 and
easynote XS trackpads.

[José @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:28PM]

The design of this product made me think about my VCR that I had 20 years ago.

[TareX @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:20PM]

You had a VCR with a 7" touchscreen and a full sliding thumb-qwerty?

[designing4you @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:12PM]

"...we're just glad to see this thing in action in the Western hemisphere"?!? Where? Chippy lives in Bonn, Germany, which is where he recorded this video. However, I really would love to see this thing or something similar with a better keyboard hit the U.S. in an affordable package.

[ZeitgeistXIII @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:24PM]

Very cool

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:24PM]

Drop dead you fecal matter encrusted fanboi.

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:25PM]

VIA processor FTL

[erichoixmaiha @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:52PM]

Pretty Nice :)

[gylman @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:44PM]

I have a U60 from Gigabyte, which is not quite as good as the M704, but a very very similar device.

People dissing this device without having used it are fools. From the U60, I can tell you the form factor is excellent, the keyboard is usable, the performance is respectable.

I bought it for my wife thinking she wouldn't use it, and I would get it, but sadly she hasn't let go of the thing since getting it. She does all her email, much of her surfing, Quicken accounting, and minor wordprocessing on it. While in meetings, while at home, while travelling.

This is an infinitely superior form factor to a clamshell with a similar screen size, because you use it as a tablet much of the time, and the thumb keyboard is very usable.

[The Dude @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:45PM]

He's excited because it's a piece of tech; a gadget. I'd expect bloggers at a site named, I don't know, EnGADGET to empathize with that.

I don't get excited about all of my purchases, but certainly the ones I drop several hundred dollars on. Free dock? I'm fucking shooting wads because docks are almost always separate accessories. Commend the man for not letting Mr.Blurry/Shaky-cam shoot the video.

[Jhongerkong @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:48PM]

I wonder where he got the UMPC from.

[Steve Paine @ Jun 22nd 2008 4:50PM]

Mobilx.eu sent the device over for review. They deliver globally. Expansys have it too.
Im suprised Dynamism dont have it but keep an eye on their site.
Chippy

[Jhongerkong @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:52PM]

I know. It was a sarcastic remark since he mentions it alot.

[Cas @ Jun 23rd 2008 7:34AM]

Engadget that was a live review on ustream.tv ( umpcportal.com/live ) aswell it was very funny but he wouldnt try www.armagetronad.net on it and he didnt get to try any other games

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:36PM]

Nice form factor. Nice review. If it ran OS X and had Multi-Touch it would be perfect.

[poematik14 @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:21PM]

Oh for the love of god please shut the fuck up.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:25PM]

"Oh for the love of god please shut the fuck up."

What he ^^ said.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:26PM]

No, then it would be a piece of trash.

[Candle @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:15PM]

Very nice, wish I had one.

[Hamidxa @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:27PM]

No, then it would be a piece of trash.

[naz @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:46PM]

It's funny how Ocean's comments always get low ranked

i wonder why, because your idiot maybe?