Toshiba working on a netbook / UMPC that's actually interesting

We're almost totally over the whole netbook craze, but Toshiba's latest prototype shows there's still interesting things possible, even if it isn't a traditional laptop. The 5.6-inch touchscreen handheld runs Vista on Intel's Atom processor with a 64GB SSD and a GPS chip -- which like an awfully expensive setup, but Toshiba says they're aiming for netbook pricing. Of course, that means almost nothing, since netbooks are all over the map -- and that probably explains why Tosh says it's identified "six or seven" segments of the netbook / UMPC market, and that it might not compete directly with Eee-class machines. Sure -- but isn't an expensive handheld touchscreen netbook just a straight UMPC? Nice try, guys.

[Thanks, Pete]

[chris @ Jul 24th 2008 12:31PM]

i like the angling of the key layout.

looks way more comfortable to type on.

[OneLove @ Jul 24th 2008 12:53PM]

look out, here comes a flood of new UMPC's based on the atom. Samsung should be releasing a new atom based Q1 ultra in 3...2...1...

[roach @ Jul 24th 2008 1:41PM]

I've seen the angle layout keyboard before on earlier Samsung UMPC. The earlier version seems better because it was semi-transparent.

[huh @ Jul 24th 2008 1:47PM]

It may look neat, but I can guarantee you that an on-screen split keyboard will be HORRIBLE to use. I had a Q1 Ultra, and it was nasty, this will be worse. No feedback, having to always look at the screen to verify keys, and typing with your thumbs (two fingers) compared to ten? Come on.

[OneLove @ Jul 24th 2008 2:08PM]

I'd rather have a slide out keyboard like the OQO. On the Q1 ultra I mostly use the vista keyboard and stylus to type. I have a folding bluetooth keyboard for extensive typing.

[John H. @ Jul 24th 2008 12:32PM]

ooooooo, shiny, want!

[nioko @ Jul 24th 2008 12:59PM]

it's taken a long time for toshiba to impress me again, but this looks, as simple as it is, like a very interesting device. pricing will be too high with those specs i guess...

[phoomp @ Jul 24th 2008 1:11PM]

too shiny ...

[phono48 @ Jul 24th 2008 12:33PM]

sounds

[Mam00th @ Jul 24th 2008 1:00PM]

great!

[L @ Jul 24th 2008 12:34PM]

Warning: may cause blindness in the sunshine.

[Doc @ Jul 24th 2008 12:37PM]

Looks nice,and it's also nice to know that fingerprints come standard with it too. I'd like to see a slider keyboard though, since it would wear out the screen in no time with it doubling as a keypad IMO.

[Minilap @ Jul 24th 2008 12:40PM]

But it probably has the slower atom not the 1.6. All I want is a fast dual core atom so I can run OSX and fusion, now that's a usable device.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Jul 24th 2008 1:16PM]

Don't forget 24 hours of battery time, and EV-DO, oh, and what color would you like your pony?

[Matt @ Jul 24th 2008 2:34PM]

Yeah, I love Engadget commenters:

"Man, the Voodoo Envy is pretty neat, but it really should have a C2Extreme and 2 SLI 8800GTXs, you know."

[Minilap @ Jul 24th 2008 3:20PM]

hmmm, I didn't know mentioning the word OSX will get you low ranked. But seriously I don't wanna wait untill nanotech becomes mainstream. Like I said all I'm asking is a fast CPU that can handle both xp and osx, not a single core 800mhz atom.

[diode3diode @ Jul 24th 2008 3:37PM]

It would be better if Apple came out with its own tablet and better handwritting software. Of course, without a solid handwriting software and multi-touch why osx?

[Minilap @ Jul 24th 2008 3:56PM]

Why OSX? Because for me there are at least 6 must have programs that are osx-only, and about 3-4 other must have programs that are xp-vista only. So I gotta have both.

[quandmeme @ Jul 24th 2008 12:46PM]

Shiny, they thought about the input. Looks good. I like the size myself. Bezel will probably have to shrink. Remember when palm created that mobile phone accessory that I can't even remember the name of. Allow something like this to pair with a mobile phone like in the Origami teaser and I'm interested.

[Sarig @ Jul 24th 2008 2:42PM]

Everything you mentioned here already exists ;)

[Wez @ Jul 24th 2008 12:50PM]

Looks nice, I hope the price isn't too high.

[OneLove @ Jul 24th 2008 12:51PM]

It looks like it came out of the movie "the day the earth stood still". klaatu barata nikto!

[Madoc @ Jul 24th 2008 12:52PM]

Nice concept on the keyboard layout....

[ethana2 @ Jul 24th 2008 1:49PM]

...qwerty? i think not.

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 24th 2008 12:53PM]

GPS only devices are soon going to be a thing of the past.

[d @ Jul 24th 2008 12:54PM]

gimme in matte black and running OS X (not a fanboy, just a fan) please
like the keyboard idea, though

[ethana2 @ Jul 24th 2008 1:48PM]

Ship it with an EFI bootloader and hardware OSX supports and let the user get in trouble from apple themselves..

[retro77 @ Jul 24th 2008 12:56PM]

+1, I like the on screen keyboard

[ethana2 @ Jul 24th 2008 1:50PM]

The keyboard belongs on the back though, physical keys with a little slider on the top to turn it on and off..

[Ryan Karolak @ Jul 24th 2008 12:58PM]

Looks nice, but I'd rather have a physical keyboard. I'd hate to have that cover up the entire screen every time I want to type. Plus, I doubt it's available for linux.

[Jason @ Jul 24th 2008 1:14PM]

I guess this week is the week for touchscreen tablet netbooks. techcrunch was SO ahead of the curve on that idea.

[Brian @ Jul 24th 2008 1:17PM]

Didn't Samsung fail at the on screen keyboard with the Q1? And didn't all the UMPC/MID companies learn that lesson too? Tisk Tisk Toshiba.

[Rhino @ Jul 24th 2008 1:32PM]

My SEXY Toshiba!!!

[Mike @ Jul 24th 2008 2:08PM]

As an owner of a Toshiba laptop, I have to ask...
It this device gonna run at 1000 degrees too or will it run cooler by default since its smaller? I cant imagine tryin to use that thing if it heats up as much as the notebooks they make, although scorching your fingertips would problably solve that pesky print problem:)

[Kevin C. Tofel @ Jul 24th 2008 2:14PM]

I don't know what the innards were in January, but we saw this prototype at CES back in January. It ran Vista back then and they also had a custom Linux version too. It was a MAJOR fingerprint magnet that Toshiba said was likely to be a concept only.

http://www.jkontherun.com/2008/01/toshiba-mid-dem.html

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 24th 2008 2:17PM]

PLEASE make a version without chrome.

[CraigJ @ Jul 24th 2008 4:31PM]

Please make a version without Vista, either XP or Ubuntu. I'm going on 18 months with Vista, and it makes me love XP all the more.

[David D @ Jul 24th 2008 2:28PM]

I've heard from some guys I know (Electrical Engineers) that the Atom performs at just a little above HALF of a new Celeron of equal clock speed. If that's the case it would be more like running Vista on an 800 Mhz Celeron. Sounds lovely, no? I really hope that Intel can make the Atom at least a somewhat powerful processor, while keeping the Atom's goodness (Power sipping, TINY, etc.)

[Benson @ Jul 24th 2008 2:31PM]

Something pretty much like that. Half the power consumption, and half the performance. Maybe, just maybe, ARM is a better choice for battery-powered devices?

[CBrowne @ Jul 24th 2008 3:03PM]

Am I the only one who thinks this looks cheap and nasty? The case looks like it's from a child's poundland toy!

Also, I'd prefer it if it came with a bespoke OS or a choice of OS rather than just Vista or nothing. Some of us are sticking to our guns that Vista was a mistake from the word "concept".

[CraigJ @ Jul 24th 2008 4:34PM]

Vista was a mistake from the word "concept"

Something I have to do on a daily basis is copy large files (12GB + VPC images) On XP this takes 30 to 40 minutes. On vista it takes 2+ hours.

Same hardware, same network. Microsoft has no answer for me.

Vista: The Wow starts with Windows 7. Maybe.

[Johan S @ Jul 24th 2008 3:24PM]

I don't care much about gadget looks but

1. The chrome looks like crap
2. The frame margins are way too wide (rather the UMPC be deeper or only extend the bottom part where the controls are)
3. The screen should not be recessed inward in that manner, unless they expect game controllers to be overlaid or snapped on -- but it seems that can happen on the bottom instead

I guess we have to wait for Apple's UMPC to see a decent design.

[TareX @ Jul 24th 2008 4:12PM]

Can the silvery metal material look any cheaper, crappier?

The screen and idea is amazing though. I'm afraid I'd rather have an iPhone, or a touchscreen Android device... whenever these come.

[bvocal @ Jul 24th 2008 8:39PM]

I know that no one will ever care... but this is what I want to see, and I don't care about if it is 300 clams or 900 clams....
A decent 'netbook' computer, ie Atom, ram, plenty of disk space....
but here is what has to be to make it worth owning.
4-5 hours battery, min, under real use.
wifi, gps, and some way to use the cell phone world when out in the wild.
the form factor is a solid tablet. one box, with, if you must, a slide out qwerty keybord, but not that big, just enough to type medium shit., but it could easily be a screen based keyboard.
But here is what is the main point, a PRESSURE sentive screen, ala Wacom, so it will work as a real sketch book. also work as a real color e-book reader, and an internet tablet, and a GPS unit, I will asume the regular computer stuff will also work, email and writing and spreadsheet....
but it all about the interface, and MS notes on my tilt is not what I mean in terms of good... I want to be able to REALLY draw and paint, watch vidi, play music, to email, surf, and then find my way home...
Do I ask toooo much?
I think not...
pardon the sloppy me, big absynthe beverage is almost gone...

cheers.

[AiYiYiDuDe @ Jul 24th 2008 10:20PM]

Shiny chrome just makes me think of cheap plastic.

[Steven @ Jul 25th 2008 1:39PM]

The metallic casing means it must be good.

Do want.