Intel appears to be preparing to launch is ultra-mobile PC on 7 March, if the umpc.com website is anything to go by. The date is just two days before the deadline set by Microsoft's Origami Project website for more information about the Windows XP-based consumer-friendly tablet PC.

In August 2005, Intel announced its new focus on developing processors that deliver the best performance per Watt. At the time, CEO Paul Otellini demo'd a "handtop" computer - a paperback book-sized tablet with full wireless functionality and a processor capable of running Windows Vista, yet also able to run on battery power for a full day.

More recently, the chip giant has been giving up the device the name "ultra-mobile PC", and showing prototypes to journalists. It had been suggested Intel will reveal more at its bi-annual Developer Forum, which kicks off next week, on 7 March.

Unfortunately, the umpc.com website had its domain registered through a proxy, preventing us from confirming that the site was indeed set up by Intel.

On Monday this week, a video allegedly leaked out showing a handheld wireless PC with pen input. In the promotional movie, it was used to play and record music, do satellite navigation, play games and surf the Internet remotely. Think a truly personal computer small enough to take with you wherever you, but big enough and sufficiently powerful to do big jobs, not just basic, PDA-level stuff. ®