Shift -- Engadget

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Maingear SHIFT reviewed: $7,000 can shatter a lot of records

by Darren Murph posted Nov 5th 2009 at 11:01AM

It's the priciest rig we've seen since we laid eyes on Alienware's latest gaggle of machines back at TGS, and it's not even from a company that you would generally take seriously in the gaming PC arena. But according to Computer Shopper, that small-man bias should be shelved, and fast. Maingear's newly unveiled SHIFT can be had for just over $2,000 if you stick with the basics, but CS managed to review a loaded-out $7,113 edition that produced "record-shattering performance." The "uncompromising design" and build quality was also lauded, through the college-fund shattering price tag prevented it from notching a 10/10 rating. Feel free to tap the read link for the full skinny, but honestly, this thing simply did exactly what it should've done for the price; anything less than world-beating would've been a disgrace at seven large.

Maingear unveils Core i7-packin' SHIFT, your own 'personal supercomputer'

by Darren Murph posted Nov 2nd 2009 at 9:00AM

We'll be straight with ya -- we're betting these "personal supercomputer" claims are just a bit out of line with reality, but even still, there's no denying that Maingear has shoved an insane amount of horsepower beneath the (admittedly large) hood of its newest rig. The beastly SHIFT does away with copious LED lighting and blinging accents found on many modern gaming PCs and instead opts for a classier, more ominous tower. Within, you'll find a vertical airflow system, a Core i7 processor, your choice of ATI or NVIDIA graphics, 8GB (and up) of DDR3-1600 RAM, up to 6 HDDs or 12 SSDs, DVD and Blu-ray options, an Asetek liquid-cooling solution, Razer peripherals, an optional Killer NIC Xeno Pro and Windows 7 running the show. The Intel P55 rig gets going at $2,199, while the X58 model starts $400 higher; for those in creative design fields, Maingear's expected to unveil a SHIFT just for you in the near future. Head on past the break for the full release.

Gallery: Maingear unveils Core i7-packin' SHIFT, your own 'personal supercomputer'

Continue reading Maingear unveils Core i7-packin' SHIFT, your own 'personal supercomputer'

Reminder: HTC's new Shift UMPC up for grabs

by Darren Murph posted Apr 14th 2008 at 6:40PM

Yes, we're already focused on the next design revision for the site, but thankfully, there's still time left to celebrate our most recent overhaul. You've got until the minute before midnight (ET) this Friday to get your name in the hat for a HTC Shift UMPC, so do yourself a favor and tap the read link for contest rules, regulations and entry instructions.

Redesign giveaway: HTC's new Shift UMPC

by Ryan Block posted Apr 10th 2008 at 5:31PM

It wouldn't be quite right to put everyone through the re-acclimation process if there wasn't some giveaway gear attached, now would it? So in honor of today's makeover and the launch of Switched we're giving away a spankin' new HTC Shift UMPC. You know the details of the machine already, read the rules below for your chance to take home that $1,500 HTC-made portable.

Leave a comment below. Feel free to shout out what you'd use this UMPC for. "Browsing Engadget" is a totally acceptable answer.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. That winner will get a brand new HTC Shift. Package includes all retail hardware, but may not have manuals or software. Approximate value is $1,500.
Entries can be submitted until Friday, April 18th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

HTC Shift hands-on

by Ryan Block posted Mar 28th 2008 at 6:05PM

HTC's Shift finally launched in the US this week, and what do you know, we landed one to check out. Sure as hell ain't too shabby for a UMPC, but while it's got a number of things working in its favor (versatile form factor, solid hardware, lots of niceties like a fingerprint reader, 3G, Windows Mobile, etc.), it's got a number of bits working pretty hard against it. Some thoughts:

The screen hinge is significantly improved and feels really solid. Without putting it through 20,000 open / close cycles, we think it's fairly trustworthy, definitely good HTC gear.
The microscopic keyboard keys are an absolute nightmare to type on with two hands if you've got normal human mitts. Unfortunately, it's just too small to use regularly, and too large to use with your thumbs; with that kind of real estate we'd have preferred a proper split thumb-board with a nice big track pad in the middle. Major bummer.
The trackpad is pretty sensitive, but a little difficult to control. The machine itself is certainly snappy enough, though, even running Vista with Aero.
Hitting SnapVUE / Windows Mobile-mode is instantaneous, albeit a little jarring -- especially since the screen is so huge and WinMo is so clearly not intended for it -- but it's nice to have a lighter weight interface than full-on Windows.
Try though we might, we simply could not find a way to disengage the unit from its leather-bound case. Maybe this was outlined in the Shift's documentation, of which we received none. Quite annoying.
HTC kindly bundles a screen protector, a spare clicky stylus, external USB hub with Ethernet (ahem, Air), and headphones with mic.

All in all not bad, but it's going to take a hell of a lot more than what the Shift's offering up to get us to drop $1,500 on a UMPC of any kind. And it isn't winning it any further points considering that one of the device's main draws -- the keyboard -- may as well not even exist for us fat-fingered fools. Check out the extensive unboxing and hands-on gallery below.

Update: Apparently the case is permanently bolted to the unit and can't be removed, part of some weird FCC requirement regarding antenna distance / SAR. At very least they HTC could have used Philips head screws (and not Torx) to facilitate ease of removal.

Gallery: HTC Shift hands-on

HTC Shift is finally coming to the US on the 24th with Sprint 3G

by Ryan Block posted Mar 19th 2008 at 11:15PM

Ah, after long last, HTC's first UMPC, the Shift, is finally making its debut in the US. The early results are in: the keyboard and the Sprint EV-DO are good, but the $1,500 price tag might be a bit heavy to swallow -- especially considering our European counterparts are paying about $400 less, and we also get to tack on another $60 per month for the 3G.

HTC Shift finally ships in Europe, still nowhere to be found in the US

by Ryan Block posted Feb 11th 2008 at 12:00AM

The oft-postponed HTC Shift is finally hitting Europe today, about two months later than expected after the update we got in December, and even further from its original November 2007 release date. If you're out that way, you can snag yourself one in Spain through Telefonica, UK through Orange, and, in the near future, Italy through TIM -- all for €1,199 (~$1,750 US). As for us in the US of delay? The wait continues.

HTC Shift hits the FCC, gets ripped apart

by Donald Melanson posted Jan 16th 2008 at 11:36AM

It's been hit with a few snags along the way, but it looks like the HTC Shift's slow roll out around the word is finally nearing a close, with it now making its expected debut at the FCC. In addition to putting it through all the usual tests, they of course also ripped the thing apart and, thankfully, provided of pictures of the process (hit up the link below for more). Prospective Shift buyers can also take advantage of the FCC's generosity to check out the device's user manual, although there aren't exactly many surprises to be found, considering how long this thing's been around already.

[Via jkkmobile]

HTC Shift slightly delayed, hits the States in a month

by Paul Miller posted Dec 7th 2007 at 2:06PM

HTC hasn't been terribly forthcoming about this, since its "official" launch date for the Shift -- at least in Europe -- was November, but we gave them a ring today and they say the UMPC should be shipping in Europe and Asia in about a week, and Stateside in about a month. Nice and vague, just like we like 'em. And sticking with that "shifting" motif, Dynamism currently has the pre-order price for a Shift import pegged at $1599, a whole $99 more than it read in August.

HTC's Shift with HSDPA and SnapVue gets a ship date

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 1st 2007 at 7:15AM

Although it feels like it's already launched, the HTC Shift with HSDPA data just received its final push out the door today. Nothing new spec-wise to report. It's still the same 7-inch, touch-sensitive "slide-n-tilt" device sporting HTC's new SnapVUE shell -- a Sideshow-like, Windows Mobile-like, information display with its own dedicated processor for instant access to your email, SMS, calendar and contacts without booting into Vista. While the 2 days of SnapVUE standby time is indeed stellar, the 2-hours of Vista juice is generation-one UMPC pathetic. Available "across Europe" starting November for an undisclosed price.

Gallery: HTC's Shift with HSDPA and SnapVue gets a ship date

HTC to unveil Windows Mobile lineup at upcoming press event?

by Darren Murph posted Sep 25th 2007 at 4:24PM

While Apple chose London to inform the world of the iPhone's international agenda, HTC is reportedly looking to make a few announcements of its own on that side of the pond. According to TheUnwired, HTC will hold two press events on the first two days in October, the first of which will be in the UK and the second in Germany. Best guesses suggest that we'll be learning a bit more about the firm's forthcoming Windows Mobile-based lineup, and we can only hope that the Kii, Omni and / or Polaris are part of the show -- but considering the location and all, we wouldn't bet the farm on hearing too much about the likely US-bound Juno. Hold tight kids, the events get going in under a week.

HTC's Shift runs Vista (for 2 hours?) not Windows Mobile

by Thomas Ricker posted Sep 10th 2007 at 5:38AM

HTC's Shift: runs Windows Mobile right, after all, it's an HTC device? Nope, Vista Business Edition. That Windows Mobile looking UI we've seen is HTC's "SnapVUE" shell, an advanced BIOS with support for some of the same applications you would see on a Windows Mobile device. So while you won't get voice capability or Windows Mobile Office, the Sideshow-like display will provide up to 53-hours of use with push email enabled (11 days, without). At least that's what Kaz911 is saying after getting their hands on the claimed, official HTC specs and interviewing Kevin Chen, General Manager HTC EMEA. If the spec list is to be believed, we're looking at an 800MHz Intel A110 Stealey-class CPU; 1GB memory; up to 60GB of disk; 7-inch, 800 x 480 touch-sensitive LCD for all the Aero and 3D flip action you can handle; 802.11b/g WiFi; Bluetooth 2.0; and of course a 400MHz Qualcomm MSM 7200 chipset with tri-band UMTS / HSDPA and quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE radios. The odd (and hopefully inaccurate) spec is the 2700mAh battery rated for "up to 2-hours" of that Vista wow. Sounds a bit fishy to us for a McCaslin-based UMPC which targets 4-5 hours of battery life. We'll see once these official specs are actually released by HTC.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Read -- HTC Shift "official" specifications
Read -- Kevin Chen interview

HTC Shift, others to see release at Dubai's GITEX show

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 28th 2007 at 6:13PM

With interest in the Shift -- HTC's foray into the wacky UMPC market -- coming to a rolling boil, we're glad to hear the company has finally shored up firm plans to get the sucker released. Vishnu Vardhan, HTC's exec for the Middle East and North Africa, says that the Shift will see an official release at Dubai's GITEX Technology Week starting September 8. That's not all, though; Vardhan says that four "brand new products" will see the light of day for the first time at GITEX, too, and if we had to lay money on it, we'd guess they're all Windows Mobile handsets. We'd previously heard that the Touch-like Nike might get called out in September, but the other three are anyone's guess.

[Via the::unwired]

HTC Shift gets a price: $1500 on Dynamism

by Ryan Block posted Aug 14th 2007 at 10:03PM

The headline more or less says it all, friends: HTC's Shift, both UMPC and ~~Pocket PC~~ Windows Mobile 6 Professional, has a pre-order price of $1500 over at Dynamism. No date is listed on the site, but with units in the wild (or, at least, a unit in the wild) we're hoping it won't be so long.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

HTC Shift gets hands on

by Conrad Quilty-Harper posted Aug 13th 2007 at 7:44AM

If you can bear to watch the walkthrough video, GottaBeMobile has a hands-on with the HTC Shift, the first UMPC from the traditionally cellphone only company. It appears as if HTC has a winner on its hands with the Shift, as the reviewer seems completely smitten with the device: HTC has definitely nailed the "feel" of the device in terms of balance and finish. The Pocket PC mode seems to be pretty great too: the extra battery life is welcome, and as the reviewer demonstrates, it's very easy to switch between the two modes. "I'm in Vista Business, I'm back in Pocket PC. I'm back in Vista, I'm back in ... " Check it out at 30:35 in the video after the break.

Continue reading HTC Shift gets hands on