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UMID mBook BZ two-fingers on
Oh UMID mBook BZ, it's not easy being the unwanted offspring of a netbook and a MID, is it? Well, it sure isn't easy on us either. After spending a bit of time with the hand-sized device, we just don't really see how anyone could use the small clamshell for more than a few minutes at a time. But hit the break for some hands-on impressions and a video of the $549 lilliputian laptop and decide for yourself. %Gallery-82385%
UMID's M2 becomes Onkyo's BX, beats it to market
UMID may have jumped the gun a bit when it let the world know that its M2 was already in development months before the M1 had even hit retail. Other than a glimpse at IDF we haven't seen much from the thing, but Onkyo seems to have grabbed the rights to create its own, called the BX. It definitely shares the same design as the M2, but its 1.2GHz Atom Z515 processor is 400MHz down on what the M2 is expected (or at least hoped) to ship with. There's 512MB of memory on tap, a 32GB SSD, and a 4.8-inch 1024 x 600 LCD upon which Windows XP is lovingly applied. Impressive specs, but at an impressive price -- ¥64,800, or about $730. We'll keep our netbooks, thanks. %Gallery-80244%
UMID M2 hands-on at IDF
UMID's got a couple prototype M2s lying around IDF, and while they don't seem like the most stable or production-ready things in the world -- one of them booted straight to an all-white screen, while another had its logo stuck on by a doting booth attendant -- it's clear that this revision of the M1 will correct a few glaring flaws. The major fix is that there's now a regular USB port on the side, instead of the M1's goofy dongle, but we're also glad to see a 3.5mm headphone jack and a (tiny) trackpad with two mouse buttons flanking the screen. Yeah, it's still a quirky little MID, but hey, maybe that does it for you. We're not here to judge what you do with the gallery below.%Gallery-73773%
Video: UMID shows off faster, cheaper, Windows 7-packing mbook M2
It seems like just yesterday we were finally welcoming the UMID mbook M1 into the world, kicking and screaming after a rather extended gestation. After all that it wasn't exactly well received thanks to a high price, a screen that didn't open far enough, and USB ports that sadly required dongles. UMID is now demoing the completely dongle-free M2, said to be ultimately available with your choice of either a 1.2 or 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. Memory has been bumped up to 1GB to support Windows 7, the case has been tweaked, the hinge now opens further, and there's an optical "mouse" integrated into the bezel with a sensor on the right and two tiny mouse buttons on the left. A non-functional version is lovingly caressed after the break, while working models are said to ship before the year is up with prices starting at $499. Let's hope this one doesn't follow the same, circuitous path to retail that its predecessor did. [Via jkkmobile]
Kohjinsha rebrands mbook M1, calls it the PM series UMPC
Hey, remember that cute little mbook M1 that was all the rage earlier this year? Yeah, you're looking at it again, only this time it's sporting a cleaner look and a Kohjinsha badge. The rebranded UMPC gets powered by a 1.1GHz Atom N510 CPU and also features 512MB of RAM, a 16GB SSD, 4.8-inch LCD (1,024 x 600), 1.3 megapixel camera, USB 2.0, a microSDHC expansion slot, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and a headphone jack. It doesn't appear to tout any sort of inbuilt WWAN, though the included battery should last for right around seven hours before petering out. The only problem? That Texas-sized ¥59,800 ($647) price tag, which should do a commendable job of hindering widespread adoption. [Via Pocketables]
UMID mbook M1 now shipping worldwide for $659
And here you were expecting this day to never, ever come. At long last, e-tailer Justek has begun to ship UMID's dainty mbook M1 to customers all over the globe, with pricing set at $659.42 for the Linux model and $765.78 for the Windows XP model (along with an 8GB microSD card). By this point, you already know whether or not you can live without one, so now's your chance to pull the trigger before Monday rolls around with a weekend full of regrets.[Via Pocketables]Read - mbook M1 (Linux)Read - mbook M1 (Windows XP)
UMID mbook M1 spotted in black, keyboard and all
We've been seeing black models of UMID's mbook M1 since way back when -- albeit with a rather eye-burning, white keyboard -- though none of the non-white models have ever seemed to be available. Regardless, a black version, with a new, black keyboard has been spotted, and we have to say it's much-improved, looks-wise. This new version is probably that revised casing we'd heard was on the way after some build-quality issues were reported back in February. There is still no word, sadly, on if or when the M1 will ever head over to the States, but there is one more shot after the break to peek at.[Via Pocketables]
UMID M1D making its way to Korea any day now
No, we still have no details on any upcoming releases of UMID's M1, but it seems that a slightly stripped down version -- the M1D -- is about to appear in Korea. This Mbook boasts a 1.1GHz Atom CPU (the M1 has a 1.3GHz Atom), and lacks both the webcam and the DMB module. Other than that, we're looking at the same cute little guy we've come to know and love. The M1D is launching in Korea next week -- but still no word on if or when it'll ever make its way to the States or elsewhere, or its official price. There's one more shot after the break. [Via Pocketables]
UMID's M1 gets reviewed: tiny and functional, but far from perfect
Things weren't looking good a few months back for UMID's M1, pictures showing build quality of the sort you'd expect from toys dug out of cereal boxes. The company since issued a recall and, with the device now appearing for purchase, UMPC Portal has given one the full once-over -- with some decidedly uneven results. The 1024 x 600 touchscreen is said to be great, but the hinge won't let it open far enough or even keep it in place. Battery life is good (4 - 6 hours on average) and the keyboard quite thumb-able, but was deforming after a few days use the case is still apparently rather flimsy (the review suggests you just break the microSD cover off to avoid the inevitable). The final annoyance? No integrated 3.5mm headphone jack, meaning you'll need the included HTC-style adapter or a Bluetooth A2DP headset to listen to tunes. It's a definite mixed bag here, and with the Viliv S5 already scoring good reviews, it seems like that's the MID of the moment.
UMID M1 unboxed ahead of Australian launch
Still no US release in sight, but UMID's M1 has now set the course for the land down under in the not-too-distant future. Pocketables has managed to get its hands on a non-HSDPA retail version to take it through the unboxing and review motions. The pictures are a good reminder at just how tiny this thing is, especially compared to the jacket pocket fave Vaio P. Unfortunately, it's also got a rather awkward set of adapters for USB and what appears to be headphones, as seen in the picture above. Australian retailer Justek's got the unit available for pre-order now, but you might want to glance at that $930 to $1426 price range before you impulsively hit the "pre-order now" button. Read - Unboxing Read - Product page
UMID M1 put through numerous paces on video
We know it's torture seeing all these UMID M1 videos with little to no hope of a US release, but just think -- it's the perfect excuse for you to use that dusty passport before it expires next year. The all-too-intriguing handheld, which is currently strutting its stuff in South Korea, has been heavily videoed by YouTube user loa2000kr. We're talking Warcraft / Quake III demos, 1080p movie playback tests and even a look at how it handles 2D side-scrollers. For a peek at the most excellent, jump on past the break; for the full monty, tap that read link.
UMID's mbook M1 gets sturdier shell, further away from reality
Man, talk about loving the drama. UMID's mbook M1 has sent us on a roller coaster of emotion, and clearly the ride is far from over. After hearing that the totally cute MID was actually nowhere near a US release and that early builds were having some nasty quality issues, Pocketables has come forward with some (mostly) positive news. For starters, the unit will be delayed until May in Australia and Hong Kong, but the reasoning is sound: there's an improved shell being implemented that will hopefully not crumble with use. Sadly, a US release date is still "unknown," and we're told that models sans HSDPA will be available prior to those with HSDPA. Check the read link for a few of the finer points, but don't even bother if you're not willing to pull the import trigger.
UMID M1 mbook now less close to US release
Less close, further away -- take your pick. The bottom line is that the UMID M1 mbook that we've been secretly swooning over for weeks now may be further away from a US release than any of us Yanks would like. According to new intel gathered by Pocketables, a Stateside release of the MID is still planned, but it's apt to ship later than previously expected. Furthermore, the units already prancing about in other corners of the globe aren't likely at all to support US 3G bands, so importing one won't fill that hole in your soul the way a WWAN-enabled MID should. Better hurry up and deliver the goods UMID, else we'll be forced to buy a rivaling unit and hack it up to suit our needs. Don't say we won't.[Image courtesy of UMPCPortal]
Hot vs. not: Viliv's S5 vs. UMID's Mbook M1
While neither has officially gone on sale yet here or abroad, two anticipated MIDs, the Viliv S5 and UMID M1, both went on pre-order last week in their home nation of Korea, and while the S5 sold out of its initial allotment of 1,000 units in just 8 hours, UMID still has unclaimed devices from its first batch of 500. This is at least in part due to some sketchy quality on the M1, with a finish on early machines that looks like a Tamiya kit haphazardly glued together by a four-year-old. The company is saying it will step up and replace all of the pre-ordered units with better ones once it gets its molds to line up, but having to trade in your new computer after a few weeks seems to partially defeat the purpose of getting one early in the first place. Of the two only the S5 is said to be officially coming to America at this point anyway, so hopefully that's the one that caught your fancy.
Forthcoming UMID M2 already dancing on M1's spotlight
In today's world, it's a pretty safe bet that revision two is already on the drawing board by the time revision one hits the market. That said, it's still somewhat embarrassing for UMID that we already have leaked proof that the M2 is on the way to replace the just-barely-official M1. Judging by a purported roadmap, the MID M2 will be smaller than 3-inches and will boast calling capabilities. Furthermore, it'll support HSPA, WiMAX and a slew of other wireless protocols (or at least some of 'em), but we wouldn't expect to see more of it until late 2009. Unless UMID wants to completely cannibalize sales of that M1, of course.
UMID M1 gets official, handled on video
We never in our wildest dreams imagined UMID would be the one to blur the line between netbooks and MIDs, but sure enough, it has. The all too elusive mbook (or M1, as it were) has reserved itself a spot on the web, and moreover, we've finally found ourselves a video of this fellow in action. We're still believing a 4.8-inch screen is just too small for the Atom inside to be fully appreciated, but maybe our goliath fingers and awful eyesight aren't indicative of the majority.[Via PMP Today]Read - Official websiteRead - Hands-on video
UMID M1 photos definitely surface - the rest we're not so sure about
We've been hearing a bit about UMID's MID M1 since it was first spotted last month -- most of it wildly contradictory. At least we've reached a consensus (or so we think) on some of the essentials: weighing in at 0.7 pounds, this guy sports a 4.8-inch (1024 x 600) touchscreen, a 1.1GHz Atom processor, up to 1GB memory, up to 32GB SSD, WiBro / HSDPA / WiMAX / WiFi / Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera, mini USB 2.0, and an SD/USIM card. The device is shipping with Linux -- which may come as a surprise to whomever ordered its Windows and Internet Explorer keys. CNET states that pre-orders start February 13th for 512MB models, while according to AVING they hit the street on the 20th. This thing will set you back about $500 and is only available in Korea. Maybe. One thing we do know, however -- we got more pics for you after the break.Read - CNETRead - AVING
UMID F1 GPS-enabled, breathalyzin' UMPC available in Korea
Does a UMPC with a breathalyzer still raise eyebrows? In addition to making you face your demons (something several family-led interventions have failed to do) UMID's F1 is a GPS-enabled device aimed clearly at drivers. This 7-inch, 800 x 480 LCD touchscreen PC sports HSDPA and WiMAX connectivity, a VIA C7-M 1.2GHz processor, WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, a GPS receiver, DMB TV tuner, FM tuner, a remote control and Windows XP Home. Available with 512MB or 1GB memory and up to 60GB storage, this machine is currently on sale in Korea. No word yet on pricing.
