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E-Lead's Noahpad UMPC gets trunk lid unboxing
We've been seeing in the wild shots of E-Lead's Noahpad for months on end, but on some fateful trunk lid likely to be halfway across the planet, this undeniably peculiar UMPC has finally arrived to an end user. Oddly enough, said user couldn't even wait to get the thing inside, and as you can clearly above, this unboxing took place entirely on the trunk of a car. We can't determine what's more interesting here -- the unit itself, or the totally cute Baby In Car sticker just up there on the right.[Via Pocketables, thanks JB]
E-Lead's Noahpad shows up with larger keys, multi-touch
Though we're really no closer to figuring out the master plan behind E-Lead's perplexing Noahpad, at least the company is warming up to the idea of a more usable keyboard (of sorts). Judging by the demo unit set up at Computex, the keys are now a tad larger and multi-touch support is also thrown in. If you just can't get enough of one of today's most eccentric lappies, head on down to the read link for a smattering of hands-on photographs and a trio of videos.
Two videos of E-Lead's Noahpad in action
If our description from CES of the perplexing (and frankly inconvenient) navigation associated with E-Lead's Noahpad wasn't enough to truly depict what is going on with this thing, then perhaps these videos will help. Sure, they've gotten a British guy to do voice-overs, and the company is playing some interesting angles with the multi-use concept, but we're not sold that anyone could really get used to that keyboard. Take a look for yourself... you'll see what we mean.[Thanks, Tom]
Hands-on with E-Lead's Noahpad
We've gotta be honest, as we approached the Noahpad, we figured it was some sort of mockup or prototype -- the "keyboard" just doesn't look real. It turns out that's because it's not real, though, and that's by design. The tiny PC features two trackpads side by side with pictures of keys on them; running your finger over the key you want and pressing down actuates the key. A button switches between keyboard and mouse modes -- a little inconvenient perhaps, but hey, when you're holding the thing with two hands and using a pair of thumbs to type and navigate, what else can you expect? When you're too cool to use the Noahpad in traditional laptop configuration, it can be flipped completely around so that you're only looking at the display while the keypad is actuated with your fingers on back and navigated using an on-screen display (check the gallery to see what we're talking about). A little unorthodox, yes, but this sucker's one of the most versatile UMPCs we've yet laid eyes on.%Gallery-13078%
E-Lead's Noahpad gets official, enters ring with Eee PC
Remember that curious Noahpad UMPC we peeked just as 2007 was coming to a close? Turns out, E-Lead Electronics has finally gotten around to making an official announcement about it, and it will unsurprisingly be debuting at CES. This 7-inch UMPC will indeed utilize the firm's own human machine interface (HMI), and while pricing wasn't provided down to the penny or anything, it will be "within range" of Asus' Eee PC for obvious reasons. Oh, and E-Lead apparently recommends hanging it around your neck while jogging -- now there's a concept.
E-Lead Electronic's "Noahpad" UMPC
If you think the market for small, white, Linux-based UMPCs is overcrowded, you're wrong. Dead wrong. Enter the Taiwanese-made E-Lead Electronic "Noahpad" PC, a tiny little laptop which the company affectionately refers to as a "classmate, roommate, and travelmate." The system is based on a 1GHz Via Eden CPU, has 512MB of RAM, a 30GB hard drive, a touch-based (rather than tactile) keyboard, and a 7-inch LED-backlit display. The Noahpad comes default with Ubuntu 7.10 installed, though the device is apparently capable of running XP as well -- if you just have to. Among the more interesting aspects of the unit are its unique split keyboard (which appears to be where the "Noahpad" touch input is put into action) and flipping / folding hinge design, that -- according to the company's promotional material -- will allow you to use the system in all sorts of bizarre ways (see above). The UMPC is set to be unveiled at CES this January, but for now you can hit the via and read links for more info.[Via Pocketables]
