Nanovision Mimo UM-710 hands-on and impressions

The Mimo UM series USB monitors have been on our radar for a while now, so we were excited to get our hands on one and put it through the paces. The company sent us the base model UM-710, which sports the same 7-inch, 800 x 480 display as the rest of the line. Also available are the UM-730, which includes a webcam and a mic for, and the UM-740, a touchscreen variation of the 730. Read on for our brief impressions after spending a few days with the mini-display.

Gallery: Nanovision Mimo UM-710 hands-on and impressions

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[Special thanks to The Gadgeteers for the display]

When we got the monitor out of the box (complete with the cheery words "Good Friend!" printed on its inner flap), the first thing we noticed was the monitor's plastic housing. Not that we were surprised, but this isn't a particularly robust piece of hardware. The monitor stand, however, has some heft to it -- although the monitor itself probably won't survive a fall off a high ledge, as long as it's screwed to its base and placed on a steady surface it's unlikely that anything beyond a direct hit is going to send it crashing to the floor.

As for the display itself, the picture was bright and crisp. When viewing an image with a black border, we did see quite a bit of light leaking out of the edges of the screen, but this wasn't at all noticeable with items that took up the whole 800 x 480 display. We did basically everything one can do with a computer monitor -- used it for a dedicated IM display as we went about the important business of blogging, used it as a digital picture frame for a couple hours, watched Serpico on it, even took Ableton Live and Propellerheads' Reason for a drive, utilizing the extra desktop (you can never have too much desktop) so we wouldn't have to keep toggling through the various open windows. The UM-710 was more than capable than fulfilling all of our needs.

We know what you're asking: "Why do I need a 7-inch monitor?" Well, a lot of you probably don't. And for a lot of you, it would be nice, but not worth shelling out $129.99. But for people who work with a number of apps on a daily basis and find desktop space to be at a premium -- especially those of us for whom two monitors is still not enough -- this guy is definitely worth a second look.

[Bjarke @ Dec 20th 2008 6:28PM]

Did I spot Ableton Live in the Dock? *thumbs up*

[zioncat @ Dec 20th 2008 7:00PM]

I like it but I could just as easily get a 22 inch flat panel for the same price of 200 bucks. But the cool factor on the mimo is higher :-)

[gonintendo @ Dec 20th 2008 7:08PM]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009145
or if you really need that 2ms response time:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009998

[MoShang @ Dec 20th 2008 10:41PM]

Nope - it's Propellerhead Reason.

[Zac @ Dec 21st 2008 1:41AM]

Yes, Ableton, right next to Reason.

[brad @ Dec 21st 2008 1:45PM]

Did anyone read the article? "...even took Ableton Live and Propellerheads' Reason for a drive"

[steve @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:01PM]

Hrm... Did you use it as a monitor while you listed to the Clash?

[Alex @ Dec 20th 2008 6:30PM]

Its an interesting idea. If I had an extra 200 I might consider it

[zunq @ Dec 20th 2008 6:32PM]

The macbook looks washed out compared to it

[David85 @ Dec 20th 2008 6:41PM]

Yea it does, could it be the angle though?

[Mat @ Dec 20th 2008 8:35PM]

It's the angle. I have that Macbook and everyone says the image looks washed out when they are looking at the notebook from an angle. It really isn't a problem for me though...

[Sneakz @ Dec 20th 2008 6:32PM]

They work with Mac OS X. Did they require drivers, or just plug and play? How come none of those USB to DVI things work with OS X?

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815118301
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812225007

[Sneakz @ Dec 20th 2008 6:46PM]

Found my answer here http://www.displaylink.com/mac_downloads.html. So now I can connect my MBP to more displays.

[IoXXoI @ Dec 21st 2008 4:26AM]

there promotional video just says its for XP or Vista

[Konstantin @ Dec 20th 2008 6:34PM]

I agree. This thing would be nice but not for $129. It would be awesome for me, being a huge nerd, to take it with me to the library and used it for articles so that I always have what I'm writing about at hand. How portable is this thing? Anyone know the weight?

[Arkenklo @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:56PM]

What The Hell are you talking about? It's a monitor, not a PMP.

[Konstantin @ Dec 22nd 2008 3:37PM]

What? I can't throw it in a backpack and go work somewhere? I just wanted to know if this thing is meant to sit on your desk as a compliment to a second monitor or if you can take it with you. Where did you see me call it a PMP?

[Chase @ Dec 20th 2008 6:40PM]

i could easily get a nice 19" widescreen for under $200 on newegg

[barry99705 @ Dec 20th 2008 6:57PM]

Does it hook up with usb?

[Jesse S @ Dec 20th 2008 7:51PM]

For me, requiring USB is a negative...

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 20th 2008 7:52PM]

because i mean, every monitor and computer has VGA, right?

[Darrell @ Dec 20th 2008 10:19PM]

Well, they all have DVI with many of them shipping with a VGA adapter, save for the new apple products since they don't want to pay the licensing fee when you get down to it.

[Marcus Hesse @ Dec 20th 2008 11:00PM]

Of course but what you are paying for here is portability & convenience instead of size. Think of how handy this could be for a technician or network manager.

[strdust @ Dec 21st 2008 12:02AM]

What is the deal with everyone complaining about, I can get a 22" monitor for the same price. The purpose of this monitor is not to use it as a primary or secondary monitor, but rather as as third monitor for dedicated monitoring of IM / stock / status / video / etc. For those of us that already use 2 monitors for work, having a third one just to monitor IM and such..

[iEye #2 @ Dec 20th 2008 6:58PM]

♫ iEye Don't like this...! ♫

[andres @ Dec 20th 2008 8:04PM]

♫shut up ♫

[page87 and counting @ Dec 20th 2008 11:16PM]

Aye Aye lackie

[YOYO @ Dec 20th 2008 7:01PM]

Hmmm this would be nice to use with a costume linux ibx juke box i am working on

i was considering just making it web access to connect to from my laptop

but it would be cool to small form with just a remote and touch screen to replace my stereo and use to store all my music on

yeah ill have snag one of these

[SimonRichards @ Dec 20th 2008 7:09PM]

...a mic for...?

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 20th 2008 7:46PM]

if you dont have a mic built into your computer, or if said mic is broken
same thing as the webcam

[G1 now, tossed the iPhone 3g... @ Dec 20th 2008 11:19PM]

There's nothing better than a webcam and a mic for!

@He Said: Whoooooosh....

[Arkenklo @ Dec 22nd 2008 12:59PM]

Well, basically, for picking up sound.

[Pat @ Dec 20th 2008 7:18PM]

So is it a touch screen or not? How does it interact with osx's "spaces"?

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 20th 2008 7:45PM]

there is a touchscreen model, but it wasnt the one they had
And hopefully it could have a second space on it, but it most likely cant

[iEngadget @ Dec 20th 2008 7:26PM]

Why was this post low ranked??

The Gadgeteers site is the only place where you can buy the thing...

I guess he offended by wishing happy holidays

/sarcasm

[JJ @ Dec 20th 2008 7:31PM]

As evidenced by the pic with Reason. This would be perfect for opening my plug in's in Logic Pro. Having a small dedicated window for this would be the bee knee's.

But.. the price......... Yikes. Not really justifiable.

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 20th 2008 7:44PM]

The Mimo looks better than the MacBook display...

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 20th 2008 7:47PM]

you need to stop

[macfan406 @ Dec 20th 2008 7:47PM]

Where can i get one and for how much (the touchscreen one)

[catter12 @ Dec 20th 2008 8:32PM]

You can get em over at http://www.thegadgeteers.com/, and the top model touch screen is $199.

Personally, I have been looking at these. Looks like a really great idea for a touch screen dock or something. But I don't think I could justify a $200 7" touch screen monitor, when one can get decent 22" for around that.

[macfan406 @ Dec 20th 2008 7:49PM]

on your previous comment, just wanna point out if you use Dual Display mode, you can have space #2 on the 2nd display

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 20th 2008 7:51PM]

i think it is funny that your commenting name combines the EOS 5D Mark II and Apple, even though the RAW files the Mark II uses didnt work with Macs for a while...

[MickeyMoo @ Dec 20th 2008 7:52PM]

Does anyone (Jeremy?) know if the touchscreen on the 740 model is OSX compatible? I'm guessing the mic and speakers are, and the webcam can be "coaxed" but I wonder about the touchscreen...

[jsh4ft @ Dec 20th 2008 8:08PM]

Yes, it is compatible with OS X. Right now we are paying extra to make it compatible so we may have to charge extra for OS X users in the future.

Email us: [e-mail]

[anonymitee @ Dec 20th 2008 8:47PM]

Okay, I've been really liking these things since I first saw them...
Now, WHERE DO I GET ONE?!?!?!
(And GOD I hope I can get it to work in Linux...)

[anonymitee @ Dec 20th 2008 8:48PM]

Heh... heh... oops.

[Wwhat @ Dec 20th 2008 10:23PM]

Because you seemed like a self-admiring spammer heh.

Happy new year to you too though, and thanks for clarifying the post.

[MajorTrip @ Dec 20th 2008 11:39PM]

I ordered the 740 last month, I am really looking forward to it. Just hope I get it by Christmas! Will be used on my MBP so I can let you know if there are any problems

[Nas @ Dec 20th 2008 11:52PM]

You really find that funny...?

[Connor Bevans @ Dec 21st 2008 1:23AM]

Hmmm...This thing could be awesome for using effects in Ableton controlled through X/Y parameters...A bit like a non-multitouch, smaller JazzMutant Lemur...