Although the unit can operate in standard laptop 'clamshell' mode, a twist and a swivel turns the unit into a tablet, complete with included stylus. There's also a 'nipple' mouse controller, similar to those that used to grace ThinkPads and Toshiba laptops, but here located to be accessible whether the keyboard is hidden or open. Also available from either configuration is a dedicated screen-orientation button that allowed this left-handed user to hold and operate the unit as easily as a right-hander might.
The built-in keyboard, though small - a 14 mm key pitch, according to the publicity, with a fairly generous 1.3mm keystroke travel - proved relatively easy to use, even for my fat foreign fingers, though as with all Japanese keyboards the space bar is too short for my liking, and I kept changing between Japanese and English input. I also disliked the cursor keys needing a modifier Fn key to operate, but keyboards are a matter of personal taste. This is certainly not a keyboard that you'd want to do a lot of work on, but fine for form-filling, etc. In any case, the port replicator contains a few more USB ports, as well as an external VGA display port. The built-in Ethernet - 100-Base-T - also finds its outlet here.
COMMENTS
Zaurus anyone?
This is very reminiscent of the (now discontinued) Sharp Zaurus, with it's twistable screen, CF/SD ports, and diminutive keyboard, although with a bigger footprint. Although I love my Zaurus, this is definitely a tastier bit of kit - especially as this has wifi, a wider screen, and isn't restricted to running Linux, NetBSD, or OpenBSD.
I wonder how long it'll be before it appears on these shores...
hmmm...familiar
looks like a nice piece of kit. Reminds me of my old HP Jornada PDA (the really old ones with full keyboards) just a lot nicer. Hes right though, that keyboard would take a lot of getting used to.
Fujitzu Siemens UMPC @ WinHEC
Hi
I have been at WinHEC this week. They had this wee Fuj on display. Looks like a nice piece of kit. Gates' keynote referred to UMPC's quite a bit, he used a number of them incl the Fuj in his speech.
If the £ price quoted turns out to be true, i'll be having one. I love my Fuj P1610 tablet jobbie.
I took so photies of the fuj umpc and for the specs PDF, but I think the register has everything anyway. Maybe they were also at WinHEC??
Cheers
Nigel
US Keyboard on the WinHEC sample
Hi
There was a US keyboard, and english langugage win on the WinHEC unit. (have pics if required). Unit is no longer in its display cabenit since this is the last day and exhibitors have packed up!
I never got to play with it unfortunately.
If the register wants em send me an email and i'll send em back.
Nigel
