Sharp-branded Willcom D4 MID gets examined, shown off on video
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 8th 2008 5:42PM
posted Jul 8th 2008 5:42PM
Willcom's Atom-based D4 MID has been out and about for a little while now, but the folks at Direct From Japan have now thankfully gotten their hands on a Sharp-branded version of the device and offered up some of their initial impressions by way of UMPC Portal, along with a video. On the upside, they say that size and weight of the device is "perfect for a big pocket," and that the screen quality and pixel density is "amazing." They also seem to have been particularly impressed by the dock, which'll let you charge a second battery, and by the device's rather unique touchpad on the side of the screen. They were less impressed by the hefty $1,200+ price tag (or more when you factor in the optional dock), however, and by the small keyboard, though we doubt many were expecting anything otherwise there. Those outside of Japan also won't be able to do much with the included W-SIM card but, if you're still curious about the device, you can check out the video after the break.
[Thanks, TareX]
[Thanks, TareX]
Oh no, not another apple fanboy.
Touchscreen.
Vista runs fast.
Very Pocketable umpc.
Slide and tilt screen (my fav form factor).
Full qwerty.
Atom processor.
This is the perfect UMPC. Finally, one that is powerful, AND fits in a pocket.
But as the page says, it most likely will only be available in Asia. I wonder if the OS version will even be in English. hmm, maybe Dynamism.
technically it is not a umpc its actually a phone. it comes with a separate device that picks up a signal from the big thingy to act as a more practical and smaller phone to use when talking
The price tag is not insanely diffcult to handle honestly.. but with the EEE PC now shipping with the Atom Intel Processors for way under a $1,000 its kinda tough to justify getting one.
Price would be more justified if lowered to a $1,000 and had support for US 3G / or optional CDMA hookup.
I agree, if phone calls could be made from it it would be inline with other PDA phones yet running a full OS for mobile one.
I'm not convinced there's even a market for these "mids" at all.... am i wrong?
In Japan there's a market for it. They like small computers. When I lived there, saw all kinds of extra small laptops and several book sized devices that ran full Windows- but they all start at over $1000.
Wheres Linux?
Where's Waldo?
In dire need of your help, I'd say.
http://www.jtrue.com/cartoons/art/low/wheres_waldo.jpg
You might want to install this on your UMPC ?
http://www.ubuntu.com/products/mobile
These things are nice and all, but $1,200? Really?
Smartphones and Netbooks are making these things look ridiculous overpriced.
Im curious as to where all this MID/UMPC/Smartphone/PDA/PMP/Internet tablet thing is headed... It is inevitable that they will all pull an AT&T on us and merge together into one name. So the question is who is going to take the leap and invest in one of these "MiD's"? Oh and our psp's and DS's will eventually be assimilated as well... I will give it till 2012 since thats supposedly the magic year of the paradigm shift in humanity's tech advances. Im not saying the concept is bad... I love the idea. What I want to know is if MID's will be the 'IT" device that is going to make me throw away all my electronics...
where's windows XP? oh hell and while we are at it..
where's Ubuntu Mobile?
damn comment system....
Check out that purrty screen.
Any chance of a nub mouse? Or even a USB port for a tiny portable one?
(Is that one i see on the upper left hand side?)
I can't imagine that controlling a cursor with a touch pad is easy, especially not with clicking.
I am suprised no one yet has come here going "Yo dat be da new Saaaaa'kik 5 Y'all!!!" cause it's made by Sharp
I don't believe the parenthetical portion of your name.
for the record.
also: you're like that one really loud homosexual screaming in falsetto about how much you love cock in your mouth. ...you make everyone else in your demographic look like a fool. cut it out.
damnit: above comment was supposed to be a reply to "Ocean (im not 'clak')" - the first comment, that said "GOOD, but wheres apple osx"
...but, again, Engadget's commenting system is a pile of crap. ...so... apologies.
You mean Mac OS X? Way to fail.
This is in yodobashi camera
if you guys go there
everything is duty free
i went the on at Osaka got a KOHJINSHA
good deal
Nice try, but ultimately a useless product. Besides the high price, it runs on the dying Japanese PHS network, which is woefully slow for this type of device. One wonders why E-mobile with its partial HSDPA network did not get an exclusive on this device and why Willcom was able to convince Sharp to put a PHS chip inside instead of a HSDPA chip.
I'm sure the internal politics of Sharp are a factor, as the old Zaurus team is apparently in charge of creating product for Willcom. They will need to wake up to the need to create good global product, and not waste R&D money on a dying technology.
Also I'm sure E-mobile could not swallow the financials of this device. With Goldman Sachs reviewing every decision at E-mobile its not surprise that E-mobile's product line up is the worst of all the Japan networks.
Willcom is using a PHS network. This standard was never deployed outside of a limited number of countries in Asia, so I'm quite sure this phone cannot be used (as a phone or internet machine) anywhere except Japan and Tw.
Any difference between Vista UMP and Vista desktop? UMP version run-able on desktop because that would be one fast Vista.
Hopefully it'll come with Origami 2.0 by default. I use it on my Samsung UMPC every other day, and it works great. I don't know how I could easily enjoy my multimedia on a UMPC without it.
It's right.....*there*. You see it?
It's next to that red thing.
You see it? Look, it's waving now. Go befriend it.
Damn comment system. It was a reply to Ocean not Clak.
*too lazy to repost*
Bend over and I'll show ya....
Even though I know id never use it to justify purchasing it, god do I want it
wow, almost the size of PSP but much better :)
Sometimes I hold the PSP up to my ear like I'm taking a call, and used iPhone like gestures on the screen. A lot of chics don't know the difference.. they just see this stud with a pretty cool gadget. When they ask to see it, I ask for their number. I'd write an ebook on the topic but I think you get my drift.
i heard the iphone was better
i herd u liek mudkipz, i mean, i heard you were a fanboy
is that you clak?
hmm, comment system is hating on me today. was supposed to be a reply to the top. the joke is lost
i want one!
Can you believe that there is no Linux x86 machine sold in store in Japan? Japanese PC vendors are obviously not facing to users...8 inch width non-touch-typable keyboard? how many people can actually type on a keyboard like this? Why no Linux? or even XP? I'm pretty nervous about this...
Conics and several other companies are selling the D4 and installing English Vista. There is an extended battery that is a must to increase the battery life to 4-5 hours. This is the first UMPC that might be a practical computer not just a toy for the geek at heart. Business users just want a touch type keyboard, pocket laptop that runs full Windows and here is the first such device. I hope more companies start copying this form factor.
Even though the cell phone capabilities do not work outside of Japan, the form factor alone is worth it. The wifi and computer functionality form factor is worth the price.