With all these new cheap ultra-mobile laptops being announced, things started to get confusing for me, so I created a comparison chart for them and have added it to the Mobileread wiki here (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Ultra-cheap_ultra-mobiles_matrix). I hope you find it useful, and please edit it as more information becomes available for these devices.

The devices in the matrix are: OLPC 2B1, Intel Classmate, Palm Foleo, Asus EEE, and the Via Nanobook.

Cool! Thanks!

What does the "2B1" after OLPC stand for? Because I was thinking you might want to add a note about the speculated "buy 2 get one" program for the OLPC.

Very helpful Branko!

Will you fill in the blanks as they come? May I suggest trying to find out in the future if they allow reading and in what formats they will?

Good work!

Will you fill in the blanks as they come?

I was hoping everybody would pitch in and help.

2B1 is the name of the model. (OLPC is the name of the project.)

This is excellent, and hopefully we will all help it to grow as you indicated.

The new wave of devices being enabled by the new chip sets is really incredible and exciting. Even though they were, in many cases, hindered by the new hardware requirements imposed by Vista, so many options are coming. I can't wait to see more!

My current "dream device" is a Foleo-like form factor, as a convertible tablet that has Q1 Ultra screen and features (including the fingerprint reader that they unfortunately only put in the highest models), plus an easy dock and a bit more expandability for memory and disk.

My current "dream solution" is a more powerful and faster Treo, with applications that can handle a wireless connection to an external keyboard and full VGA or better screen -- in the form of a Foleo-sized convertible form factor.

Like most of us, however, it's going to be a while before I can get what I want on the market, especially if we want it for less than $1,000. :(

I have an issue with the nomenclature of the category these devices fall in. Mostly the initials. 'UCUM' (Ultra Cheap Ultra Mobile)??? Hmmm! Like the kind of spam I get! :laugh4:
Or UMUC? (Ultra Mobile Ultra Cheap) Kind of muddy!

How about UCM. Ultra Cheap Mobiles. Simple and to the Point. :)

How about UCUC (Ultra Cheap Ultra Crap) :smack:

I think the title "ultra-cheap ultra-mobile laptops" is fine, but that isn't the title of the wiki page (Ultra-cheap ultra-mobiles matrix). A page on laptops with a $500 (list?) cutoff is a good idea, but it should say laptop in the title.

There are low cost alternatives today that are not laptops (Nokia 770 and 800, perhaps PDAs), but these are all clearly different beasts. UMPCs are sometimes laptops and sometimes not (either way they are clearly laptop-like), but are currently all above $500. Over time, UMPC's will dip below $500, but this is probably too high for "ultra-cheap" in the long term anyway.

I guess sub-notebook would have been better, but "ultra-mobile" is a word I just learned a couple of weeks ago, so it sort of stuck. :D

Please rename the page if you like.

I renamed the page "Ultra-cheap sub-notebook matrix". I also added that Eee will be running Xandros (from PC Mag article (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,132622-c,thinandlightnotebooks/article.html)) and it has a touchpad (see photos). So far as I can tell, no one knows for sure what its screen resolution will be - which is strange. It is always just called a 7" screen.

I think the title "ultra-cheap ultra-mobile laptops" is fine, but that isn't the title of the wiki page (Ultra-cheap ultra-mobiles matrix). A page on laptops with a $500 (list?) cutoff is a good idea, but it should say laptop in the title.

There are low cost alternatives today that are not laptops (Nokia 770 and 800, perhaps PDAs), but these are all clearly different beasts. UMPCs are sometimes laptops and sometimes not (either way they are clearly laptop-like), but are currently all above $500. Over time, UMPC's will dip below $500, but this is probably too high for "ultra-cheap" in the long term anyway.

From what I've been following since the introduction of the MS "Origami" vaporware a few years ago, is that an UMPC was a small, slate-style PC that may or may not have a keyboard attached to it that slides out/down, and has a screen larger than a typical PDA (4"), but less than a sub-notebook (10"). So given these specs, any other device that has the moniker UMPC attached to it is just plain brand-spamming. I've seen quite a few TabletPC's that are being marketed as UMPC's, but they still have a keyboard attached that swivels around just like a typical convertable TabletPC; i.e., still a TabletPC.

I do like the acronyms that have turned up here; such as UCPC, UCUMPC, or UCP. Who knows, maybe we're going to be coming up with one of the new buzzwords to describe this new trend? I do hope that they don't come out as PoC's as Wolf describes, otherwise his moniker will stick... "Look, it's an UCUC!" :D

Why do manufacturers think we like touchpads?

If I want a mouse cursor that hops around the screen every time my sleeve touches the pad or my wrist hovers over the pad, I'll get a touchpad. I much prefer the little eraserhead in the keyboard for a laptop or subnotebook.

For a desktop machine, I still like an optical roller ball. Easy hand position and movement, never gets dirty.

Thanks for the great thread!

I was using UMPC to mean a slate-style (touch screen) device with a x86 cpu and 4-10 inch screen. So I would include small convertible tablets with movable keyboards and devices with keypads on their wings, but not a conventional clamshell with a fixed keyboard.

The new category seems to be small no-frills clamshell laptops, with almost all expandability via USB (e.g. no CD or DVD drive) and perhaps even no hard disk. It isn't clear to me whether this is a real category or if it is just defined by price. Clamshell, no touch screen, no DVD, all reduce the cost for example. These may just end up being the low end of the sub-notebook class.

BTW the 300,000 pixel camera resolution translates to 640x480 (307,200 pixels).

This article (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,132622-c,thinandlightnotebooks/article.html) suggests the Eee will support Skype -- my dream come true!

I much prefer the little eraserhead in the keyboard for a laptop or subnotebook.I see what you're saying, mogui, but gah, I hate those stinkin' things. :freak:

Clearly, they must work better for others than the do for me, or they'd've stopped putting them on laptops by now. :shrug:

Most consumer laptops seem to have the touchpads, not eraserheads. But I have the same problem as Mogui with my Palm or other things touching the touchpad while I'm typing. It's terrible. In a Word document or email, for example, it means that I'm typing every now and then in random places, messing up my own document. I don't mind having them there, but I wish there were easy options to turn them off when there is an eraserhead on the laptop also.

The other problem I have with touchpads is that it sometimes registers my finger as a tap when I'm still dragging. But most people do like the touchpads, so obviously Mogui and I must be in the minority.I see what you're saying, mogui, but gah, I hate those stinkin' things. :freak:

Clearly, they must work better for others than the do for me, or they'd've stopped putting them on laptops by now. :shrug:

Why do manufacturers think we like touchpads?

Because we do? I have tried both the touchpad and the eraser thing, and with the latter moving my mouse pointer feels like moving tar around. I need my laptop for more than just looking beautiful, so I very much prefer the touchpad.

Having said that: the projected uses for these new sub-notebooks are probably vastly different from how I use my laptop. When I take my laptop with me, I also bring an extra mouse, the power brick and whatever other gadget I think is necessary to recreate the desktop experience.

But these new sub-notebooks are probably intended to be entirely self-contained: you only bring the sub-notebook along. And in that case the mouse input needs to be as user friendly as possible for as many people as possible. So what would be a good solution? Touch screen?

This article suggests the Eee will support Skype -- my dream come true!

What! You mean it will support some kind of networking, have a microphone and speakers, and will let you run the software of your choice?! :D

Kidding aside, a fellow freelancer on the project team I am now on complained the other day that Skype took up a good 80 MB of his memory, so apparently it is quite a feat to get it running on such a small footprint.

Truth to tell, I don't really like the touch pads all that much either (though I don't have the accidental use issue with them :shrug: ), they're just not much use for delicate work. I'm hoping that the Tablet form-factor will make a difference there.

I don't know the techno behind touchpads but sometimes my fingers won't even register on them, or they'll do it part time...arrrgh! I'd rather have a micro trackball, or better yet a micro mouse. I have one that's about 2" by 1.75". It's real easy to find it some space.

It's an induction change approach, I believe.

I actually had (come to think of it still do, it's in storage somewhere) a laptop from the early '90's ('92~'93) that had a built in mini-trackball ... it didn't work all that well. The rollers (pre-optical, so it had rollers like an old mouse) gunked up pretty quickly, and it was a bit hard to control finely due to its small size, not to mention collecting bits and fragments of mystery substances. I don't know if adding optical technology would improve matters or not. :shrug:

The touchscreen on my PowerBook works ok as long as my hands are dry. :shrug: I tried one of those eraser things on a laptop my employer provided, a while back, and noticed tendon strain almost instantly, so I stopped using it. I also used to bang into it while typing, so I had to disable it. But this clearly varies for different people.

What! You mean it will support some kind of networking, have a microphone and speakers, and will let you run the software of your choice?!
Yes. It has apparently been a hassle to get Skype running on various portable devices. When I traveled to the Great West this April, I wanted to buy a Nokia N800, but they hadn't gotten Skype running on it. Perhaps it works now on the N800 and the Pepper Pad 3 and more. Where I live, VoIP is a very handy thing.
I actually had (come to think of it still do, it's in storage somewhere) a laptop from the early '90's ('92~'93) that had a built in mini-trackball ... it didn't work all that well. The rollers (pre-optical, so it had rollers like an old mouse) gunked up pretty quickly, and it was a bit hard to control finely due to its small size, not to mention collecting bits and fragments of mystery substances. I don't know if adding optical technology would improve matters or not.
I had one too. It was called a SubNote. Very nice to use, but it got gunked up fairly quickly and the trackball finally quit working altogether. I have an optical Logitech Trackman Marble that is flawless. It never needs cleaning -- always works well.
The touchscreen on my PowerBook works ok as long as my hands are dry. I tried one of those eraser things on a laptop my employer provided, a while back, and noticed tendon strain almost instantly, so I stopped using it. I also used to bang into it while typing, so I had to disable it. But this clearly varies for different people.

You are right. There is strain with the eraserhead, and the glide pad gives me fits. I have never used a touchscreen on anything but my Palm devices, but I intuit that reaching up to the screen frequently would give me bursitis. I would have to hold the screen to use it.

I favor the eraserhead over the touchpad, because I was constantly hitting the touchpad when I typed.

OTOH, if I've got any choice in the matter, I plug in a USB mouse.

Thanks for the comparision table! I just want to see more hard data on the Foleo. The screens on the other two are too small for my tastes.

As discussed in the Eee thread here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11346&page=6), there will be a Eee 1001 with a 10" screen - probably for $299 and perhaps available as early as November. Pay extra to upgrade to at least an 8GB flash drive, and still come out ahead price wise. There may be some unique software on the Folio, but any OpenSource Linux software would most likely run equally well on both providing the Folio has an x86 compatible CPU (as all the others in the table do). If it has an ARM CPU (say) then there will be significantly less pre-compiled Linux application software available.

As discussed in the Eee thread here (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11346&page=6), there will be a Eee 1001 with a 10" screen - probably for $299 and perhaps available as early as November. Pay extra to upgrade to at least an 8GB flash drive, and still come out ahead price wise. There may be some unique software on the Folio, but any OpenSource Linux software would most likely run equally well on both providing the Folio has an x86 compatible CPU (as all the others in the table do). If it has an ARM CPU (say) then there will be significantly less pre-compiled Linux application software available.

The comparison matrix in the wiki (http://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/Ultra-cheap_sub-notebook_matrix) has been updated. The CPU is reported to be a 900MHz Intel Dothan based Pentium M.
http://image.ak.outpost.com/art/product/box_shots/4927191.box.GIF
BTW, Fry's carries a USB flash drive called the Kaser Portable Vault. They are about the size of an American cigarette package but half as thick and an inch longer. I bought the smallest one, 15G, for US$65. It is easy to carry and would be a good companion for the Eee. Here (http://shop3.outpost.com/%7BWoQ6xL35ohtlaZtZ-CtJLw**.node1%7D/product/4927191;jsessionid=WoQ6xL35ohtlaZtZ-CtJLw**.node1?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG) is a page on the 30G version which has the same physical dimensions. Here (http://shop3.outpost.com/%7BWoQ6xL35ohtlaZtZ-CtJLw**.node1%7D/product/5058925;jsessionid=WoQ6xL35ohtlaZtZ-CtJLw**.node1?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG) is the 20G version. In the ads they don't express that this is a solid-state flash device. There is apparently a www.kaser.com, but I can't bring it up.

Hate those darn pads also... And Get frustrated with the joystick ones also.

I always recommend to clients getting a new laptop splurge for a small mouse and a pad... They usually say they are glad they did that.

There is apparently a www.kaser.com, but I can't bring it up.Try: http://www.kasercorp.com/ :nice:

Boy am I embarassed :smack:

After following the link NatCh provided, I saw my Portable Vault drive on the Kaser website. I had wondered why people were describing this device as a mechanical drive. Kaser does too, and they make the drive. Maybe they know something. So I did an error-check on the drive and held it to my ear. Click click click. I think that is a major clue!

This is actually a 1.8" hard drive. It is very light, and quiet enough to fool me for two months! And to think I only paid $65 for it!

Try: http://www.kasercorp.com/ :nice:

Not a bad price.... :grin2:

May want to add this... You can get a 2.5" hd case for around 20 from frys... Add in a cheep drive from Frys, Geeks Newegg and can have at least 80 for around the 30 price... Would probably require external power... They also have a premade unit 80GB for 99..

Any specs on power requirements??? Max via USB is around 1/2 amp at 5 volts.. And some of these take a bit more.

Boy am I embarassed :smack:

After following the link NatCh provided, I saw my Portable Vault drive on the Kaser website. I had wondered why people were describing this device as a mechanical drive. Kaser does too, and they make the drive. Maybe they know something. So I did an error-check on the drive and held it to my ear. Click click click. I think that is a major clue!

This is actually a 1.8" hard drive. It is very light, and quiet enough to fool me for two months! And to think I only paid $65 for it!

Probably the same drive in a A2 or iPod style player...

Are there any info on power consumption...

Kaser doesn't show any such specs on their site, but I sent them an email.

I was surprised to see a flash drive so big so fast and so cheap! I guess you're one year ahead of us mogui.

Say! do you see a $200 flexible A4 colo(u)r eink device in that time zone of yours?:grin:

Kaser doesn't show any such specs on their site, but I sent them an email.

Thank you... ^_^

I wondering since the batpack in the Asus is a 2 parallel 2 serial configured... Not sure how long it can run at 1/2 amp { max USB } draw.

Be nice if it can handle the newer SD HD modules... Just caught a 16GB one...

Any specs on power requirements??? Max via USB is around 1/2 amp at 5 volts.. There are not very many 1.8" drive vendors. Tom's hardware has a recent review (http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/05/22/1-8_hard_drives_hit_100_gb/) of the Toshiba 100 GB drive, and about a year ago they reviewed (http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/04/28/small_is_beautiful/) 30-40 GB drives from Hitachi and Toshiba. Power Draw (Max/Active/Idle/Stand-by) is about 1.8/1.1/0.4/0.07 W.

There are not very many 1.8" drive vendors. Tom's hardware has a recent review (http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/05/22/1-8_hard_drives_hit_100_gb/) of the Toshiba 100 GB drive, and about a year ago they reviewed (http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/04/28/small_is_beautiful/) 30-40 GB drives from Hitachi and Toshiba. Power Draw (Max/Active/Idle/Stand-by) is about 1.8/1.1/0.4/0.07 W.
Since they normaly run at 5v that about

I = P/E

MAX: 360ma
ACTIVE: 220ma
IDLE: 80ma
SB: 14ma

Thank you for the information! ^_^

I was surprised to see a flash drive so big so fast and so cheap! I guess you're one year ahead of us mogui.

Say! do you see a $200 flexible A4 colo(u)r eink device in that time zone of yours?:grin:
Lest I be accused of having been gulled, I should qualify my purchase decision. I was wandering the floor of Fry's with cash in my pocket. A dangerous situation. I had intended to buy the largest thumb drive I could find. Thumb drive, USB key, flash drive and so on -- we call them a you pai in China, pronounced yo pie. It is easier to remember you pai than to have to choose from all the English synonyms.

I asked a clerk where the you pais were. Of course I used an appropriate English synonym. He led me to a dim section of the underlighted store. I was wishing for a flashlight. Preferably head-mounted. The 8 Gig you pais were $90. Right next to them were these Kaser Portable Vault drives. I made the unquestioning assumption that they too were flash devices. Since they were very light and compact and the smallest one was almost twice the capacity of the largest you pai for almost $30 less, well, it was an easy choice. In fact I bought two of them because one of the ladies in my household is a computer science major.

Now about the A4-sized eReader. Of course they are all over the place here but they only display upside down in Chinese. They are in every supermarket right next to the synonym rolls.

There are not very many 1.8" drive vendors. Tom's hardware has a recent review (http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/05/22/1-8_hard_drives_hit_100_gb/) of the Toshiba 100 GB drive, and about a year ago they reviewed (http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/04/28/small_is_beautiful/) 30-40 GB drives from Hitachi and Toshiba. Power Draw (Max/Active/Idle/Stand-by) is about 1.8/1.1/0.4/0.07 W.
I also asked Kaser in my email if the drives time out and spin down when not being accessed. This is an important consideration for those of us who wish to avoid torque pollution.

I also asked Kaser in my email if the drives time out and spin down when not being accessed. This is an important consideration for those of us who wish to avoid torque pollution.

USB by def's has a shut down feature built in... Be interesting if it does have it.

The drive in the Kaser Portable Vault is a Toshiba MK1504GAL. From Toshiba's user manual:
INTRODUCTION – MK1504GAL (HDD1285)
General Features
• 1.8" sized drive
• 1 Platter
• 15 Gigabytes*
• 5mm High
• 15ms Average Seek Time
• ATA (2 - 5) Interface
• Ultra DMA 100
• 512KB Buffer
• Rotational speed of 4,200rpm
• MTTF 300,000 Hours

SPECIFICATIONS – MK1504GAL (HDD1285)
General
Model MK1504GAL (HDD1285)
Interface ATA-2/3/4/5
Functionality
Formatted Capacity 15.0GB*
Rotational Speed 4200rpm
Avg. Rotational Latency 7.14/ms
Spin-up Time 3.5sec (typical)
Buffer 512KB
Seek Time Average Maximum 15 26
Internal Transfer Rate 125.5 ~ 253.1 Mbits/sec (max)
Host Transfer Rate Ultra DMA mode PIO Mode 100Mbytes/sec 16.6Mbytes/sec
Interleave Factor 1:1
*Toshiba defines a megabyte (MB) as 1,000,000 bytes and a gigabyte (GB) as 1,000,000,000 bytes.
Internal Drive Characteristics
Number of Disks 1
Number of Data Heads 2
Track Density (TPI) 3,039 (77.2k)
Logical Cylinders 16,383
Logical Heads 16
Logical Sectors/track 63
Bytes per Sector 512
Logical Blocks (LBA) 29,297,520
Reliability
Preventative maintenance None
Non-recoverable read errors 1 error per 1013 bits read
Electrical
Voltage 3.3V 5%
Power Consumption
Start 1.2W typ
Seek 1.4W typ
Read/Write 1.4W typ
Sleep 0.08W typ
Energy Consumption Efficiency 0.027W/GB avg
Shock
Operating 1,960m/s2 (200G)(2msec)
Non-Operating 9,800m/s2 (1000G)(1msec)
Physical
Height 0.2" (5.0mm)
Width 2.13" (54.0mm)
Depth 3.09" (78.5mm)
Weight 1.8oz (51g) typ

The drive is very close in size to a PCMCIA card. This model drive is used in the iPod.

Also use in a few other units...

Nice work! ^_^

Has anyone added Kohjinsha to the list yet? Seem to be a good choice.

Has anyone added Kohjinsha to the list yet? Seem to be a good choice.

1000 USD makes it cheap, but ultra-cheap?

Has anyone seen anything else mentioned about Microsoft SideShow (http://texyt.com/Microsoft+handheld+Windows+SideShow+PDA+Ricavision +00109) devices?

Has anyone seen anything else mentioned about Microsoft SideShow (http://texyt.com/Microsoft+handheld+Windows+SideShow+PDA+Ricavision +00109) devices? There is an existing thread: More E Ink: Ricavision eReader for Vista is introduced (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10933).

I have cooked up a crew paper model of the 701... Its in Publisher format.. Very crude but really helps in making up your mind....

Would any one like it???

Could try to convert it over to 4 Jpeg's. It takes four 8.5 x 11 sheets to make it.

I know the clip is about the FIC version but intresting to see it working...

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/clips/600-via-nanobook-umpc-video-tour-269960.php

Has anyone seen anything else mentioned about Microsoft SideShow (http://texyt.com/Microsoft+handheld+Windows+SideShow+PDA+Ricavision +00109) devices?

There must be an error here. I refuse it to be a Microsoft product, there is a zero missing... or two.:grin:

There must be an error here. I refuse it to be a Microsoft product, there is a zero missing... or two.:grin:

Ned to dig but dosent it need to be connected to a host device? Both the Asus and FIC ones are stand alone. If so. I would just call it a cheep low powered PDA at best...

The VIA Nanobook has been released in Europe as the Packard Bell Easynote XS for 599 Euros. A similar model is expected in the US from Everex. See the article on umpcportal (http://www.umpcportal.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=855) and the PDF press release (http://www.packardbell.com/NR/rdonlyres/BF6A283D-35F5-43A2-8A82-872A1C4909F0/1005/PR_XS_FINAL.pdf).