WiBrain to offer Atom / SSD / HSDPA-packin' I1 UMPC

Say what you will about the attractiveness (or lack thereof) of WiBrain's line of -- shall we say, unique -- UMPCs, but hardware wise, they're hard to bang on. The B1 just recently saw an update that added in a succulent SSD, and the all new I1 looks to share in that joyousness while also including two more tidbits we've been longing for. According to early reports, the I1 will feature a tweaked B1 design with a mildly updated casing, but the real fun is within; we're talking a 1.1GHz / 1.3GHz Intel Atom CPU, SSD options as roomy as 64GB, Windows XP or Linux running the show, 6-hours of battery life when browsing and a drool-worthy HSDPA module. Pricing has yet to be disclosed, but we are told to expect a worldwide launch (yes, including North America) in October.

[Via Pocketables, thanks Jenn]

[Eric M. @ Jul 29th 2008 8:56AM]

No pricing needed, I can already tell this is way passed my price range.

[Hellios @ Jul 29th 2008 8:57AM]

That form factor with HSDPA better have a built in mic and a speaker on the front.

[Steve Paine @ Jul 29th 2008 8:58AM]

Wibrain contacted me. Its the i1. Not L1.
My mistake.
Chippy / UMPCPortal.

[Anantha Narayan @ Jul 29th 2008 9:03AM]

Too many keys to press, it could have been a golden rectangle. It is certainly fun to design such gadgets.

[From My Cube @ Jul 29th 2008 9:05AM]

to many buttons???....are you surfing the correct site?

[Rishone @ Jul 29th 2008 9:07AM]

This thing will be good for gaming (Pinball anyone?)

[brandon @ Jul 29th 2008 9:08AM]

Still too ugly.........

[Dillon @ Jul 29th 2008 9:09AM]

Why is there a Popsicle stick sticking out of the left side? Was there perhaps once a Popsicle there? :)

[OneLove @ Jul 29th 2008 10:39AM]

that's what she said!

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 29th 2008 12:23PM]

Actually, its just a home pregnancy test.

[dennis @ Jul 29th 2008 9:12AM]

I really like the design of this machine and am glad the company is aggressively updating the specs. It suggests that they have certain, you know, goals (omg) for this device and are always trying to improve it.

As for the design, sure, it's strange looking, but when you think about what you really want to be doing with a handheld computer, it makes a lot of sense. And I with more of these small devices managed to add a reasonably sized touchpad. I hate it when companies go with control schemes that are so physically small or ridiculously placed that they are almost impossible to use comfortably.

That said, I'm not in the market for a handheld computer right now. I'm going to wait for at least one or two more processor generations and watch the price/power usage/CPU speed ratios.

[loosely_coupled @ Jul 30th 2008 10:03PM]

I would have to disagree. I think this has a terrible keyboard layout, and i don't just mean aesthetically. It looks like it would be near impossible to actually get anything done with that keyboard. The "right thumb" touchpad looks like it might work adequately, but I'd have to try it.

Basically, I find these UMPC form factor devices mostly worthless, and judging by the sales, I think most people agree with me.They just don't seem to offer anything compelling enough to justify the expense. I do think there possibly is room for a device between a cellphone and a subnotebook, especially for niche applications, but It would take a very innovative new interface and control layout to make this work.

I know the haters will come out in force with this comment, but I really do believe that Apple is possibly going to completely redefine this category. I don't think this because I worship Apple and The Steve and believe they are the only company who can make great products, I say this because his is really what they do best.
Apple did it with the iPod, and now with the iPhone. They take an existing fledgling market that has a ton of potential but where the products are poorly implemented, difficult to use, and unpopular. Think of the nascent MP3 market when the iPod came out, or the pre-January 2007 smartphone market. The smartphone market was more developed than the MP3 player market, but Apple once again showed everyone that the status quo indeed was pathetic.

The UMPC/MID market is looking just the same as these others! There have been many different products with many different form factors, and no one has been successful in making a true "handheld" computer. The "smartphone" market has been successful and evolved out of the standalone PDA form factor, But there hasn't been anything successful that has been larger than this and smaller than a notebook. Just look at all the names over the years:
- Netbook (eePC)
- Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC)
- Mobile Internet Device (MID)
- Mini Tablet (think Nokia N800)
- Handheld PC / PalmTop (old clamshell, ran early Windows CE)
- Pocket Computer (very old clamshell, calculator-like - see CASIO/Sharp)

No one can figure it out! All these hardware and software companies keep trying to just shrink down the conventional desktop form factor and interface into a mobile device, and the result has been crap. Look at most "UMPCs" -- They shove a full desktop interface into a small, high ultra resolution screen, then they stick on Treo size keys and a trackball or touchpad. On the other hand, we have different sizes of tablet-like devices that use a stylus with no practical keyboard.

Now I'm not professing to have all the answers, but SOMEONE HAS GOT TO BREAK THE MOLD! And I think it will be Apple because they are likely the most experienced and talented company at understand human-computer interaction and producing pragmatic user interfaces. I know they are working on something for this space, and most people believe it is a "mobile tablet", probably similar to but larger than a Nokia N800. It would have an interface similar to the iPhone, but would probably use a more advanced mult-touch control system, and I would assume a larger virtual keyboard mechanism, and possibly with some special haptic technology. Whatever it is, I want to see it soon! And if they don't end up revolutionizing this space, I hope someone else does soon!

[linuxamp @ Jul 31st 2008 3:21AM]

@loosely_coupled
You asked for the haters so here I am. Let me tell you why I think sales of these devices are low. First, they're a relatively new market so the mass market still doesn't understand the MID's place in their life. Early adopters know what they want from a MID but they're hesitant to by for the following reasons.

1) There are just too many of these things to choose from. I spend a good deal of time comparing each model and I have finally decided to get an M528 when it's available but that was only after a lot of research.

2) The marketers are always blabbing about how "the next thing" is just around the corner. Atom, extended battery life, 3G, multi-touch, WiMax, ubuntu mobile... the marketers are building so much hype for the next thing so many consumers just wait.

3) Networks in most places are still not ready or have device restrictions. 3G coverage is poor in many countries and where coverage is ample, like Tokyo, providers sometimes use hardware locked SIM cards so I can't pop my SIM in my M528.

[dennis @ Jul 31st 2008 8:57AM]

Hey, interesting discussion. I agree with both of you.

I also think and hope Apple will re-define this category. Interestingly, when I've gone into this on one of the Apple fan sites, I've been shot down. They say things like, "I would never buy one, so I know they won't make one." I do think they have certain design issues to figure out when integrating multi-touch into a computer with a screen of a certain size. I.e., it's easier to have a small multi-touch surface (first a mousepad, then a phone sized screen) than, let's say, a 9" or 12" screen.

It's true that the marketplace is a mess. On the other hand, I would never have guessed that people would go for the EeePC so hard. I've had a Fujitsu Lifebook 1510D for a couple years now (8.9" convertible touchscreen PC), and I paid around $1600 for it, which at the time I thought was a very reasonable price. Now you can get something functionally similar (though not exactly identical) for about 1/3 that price.

Getting back to the Wibrain, I like the fact that the company is seemingly trying to keep their product both as up to date as possible and as low in price as possible. And the design to me makes more sense than tiny Sony, top heavy handheld computer with the slide-out keyboard that goes for $2000 or whatever. Plus, it's called the "Wibrain." Bonus!

I'm going to say that these ultimately are the only relevant (and related) factors to a handheld or "pocket sized" computer:
1. How large it is to carry and also how large it is in use
2. How one interacts with it
3. The power consumption vs. processing speed (loosely speaking)
4. Battery life
In other words, form factor is a problem only insofar as people have to use the device, and the device has to have a battery that is proportionate to using the device for X number of hours at a time. We can make practically any shaped computer now, but we don't really know which we like best, and what good is it if the battery is dead after 1.5 hours in standby, etc.

[rock99rock @ Jul 29th 2008 9:23AM]

Looks like it belongs on the dash of a delorean.

[matthew @ Jul 29th 2008 9:34AM]

Damn it, I LIKE the design. I think it's great.

It very much reminds me of the first TI-92. Everyone else can have their shiny minimalist gadgets, I like em' nerdy.

[Dillon @ Jul 29th 2008 11:44AM]

White and nerdy?

[^ Fusion Fuzo @ Jul 29th 2008 9:34AM]

FUGLY Computer

[Dillon @ Jul 29th 2008 11:46AM]

Anyone who uses the word 'fugly' is automatically wrong no matter what they're saying.

[Icaarus @ Jul 29th 2008 9:41AM]

Anyone notice they are running vista in the above picture

[Christian Walters @ Jul 29th 2008 2:21PM]

YA RLY?

[daddycool @ Jul 29th 2008 10:06AM]

I'm in shock that his is real. I thought the pic was a photoshop joke about an unreleased product that was over-speced.

[wolf @ Jul 29th 2008 10:18AM]

I love my B1h- I just wonder if the atom design will have the graphic abilities of the via chipset- not all games are supported (couldn't get the halflife engine to run right) but it does support every 3d app I have thrown at it and does have open GL support which is nice considering that it fits in your pocket- I do like the SSD addition though, I would actually like to have that upgrade in the b1, but I don't feel like taking it apart... yet

[ijyt @ Jul 29th 2008 11:00AM]

Why is there a custom Vista style from deviantart on the screen?

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 29th 2008 12:26PM]

My guess is that it was put there.

[Dillon @ Jul 29th 2008 11:47AM]

My foot drop-kicking you in the eyebrow looks better.

[Dillon @ Jul 29th 2008 11:48AM]

That was in response to Ocean 10 (a.k.a clak)

...friggin reply system...

[Rick White @ Jul 29th 2008 12:28PM]

Atom!!!

[Y00. @ Jul 29th 2008 3:42PM]

Wiibrain, it let's you play the games with your brain.

[everunman @ Jul 29th 2008 4:54PM]

To all the Vista comments, it may be a xp program called bricopack, turns xp into Vista cosmedically only!

[Jason @ Jul 29th 2008 11:30PM]

Hard to bang on? Nah, just put a bag over it's head.