jkOnTheRun

I miss the Sony U, what's next?

The past couple of weeks I've been really missing the Sony U71 (don't worry Ron, I'm not going to ask for it back).  I have spent quite some time trying to figure out why, after all I have no shortage of cool gadgets to play with use productively.  I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing more useful for me than the ability to pick up a device in my hand, head out the door and still have a complete computer to do anything I might need to do while I am running around.  That need was filled very well by the Sony U and I miss that portability.  I find that even UMPCs are too big for that kind of mobility, I really need a handheld device.  Based on my thinking I have been looking around to see what device(s) are out there currently that might work.  Sadly, I haven't found any.

Happy birthday to us- Geekapalooza #5- win a Sony U71!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR ENTERING!

Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us, happy 3rd birthday jkOnTheRunnnnnnn, happy birthday to us.

Can you believe it?  Three years ago today jkOnTheRun was born, with us never anticipating how far it would come in such a short time.  What began as a simple place to talk about mobile technology has grown into a site that hundreds of thousands of people come to visit each month.  I get seriously humbled when I think about that.  You folks are the best readers on the web bar none.  It's only fitting that our next contest in the Geekapalooza series should be starting on this our Blogiversary so we're throwing out all the stops!

This special contest has you playing for not one prize, not two but a whole mobile kit.  First up is the smooth leather Vaja Messenger Bag that you saw in this jkOnTheRun review.  This is one of the nicest gear bags you'll ever see, much less touch.  MSRP $380.

Next up is something that we know you're going to love putting in that Vaja bag and hitting the road.  This prize is a device I consider to be the original ultra-mobile PC and one I used as my only computer for over a year.  Yes, the winner of this contest is going to walk away with my beloved Sony U71!  This device has been lovingly used by yours truly and is in perfect condition and even though it's almost 3 years old the specs still rival those of some UMPCs today:

• Intel Pentium M 1.1 GHz
• 512 MB memory
• 30 GB hard drive
• Docking cradle (USB ports, Firewire ports, VGA out)
• Headphones with remote control
• CF slot
• WiFi
• Bluetooth (with included Billionton CF card)
• Touch screen (5") 800 x 600
• Note that the Sony USB folding keyboard is not included

Heck, rather than list everything it's got just go through all of the articles I've written about (often using) the Sony U and see for yourself.  MSRP- Priceless  :)

This prize package is already one of the best you'll see anywhere but we can't stop there, no siree.  We can't give out a Sony U71 without throwing in some cool accessories to fit in that Vaja bag.  First up is the Sony carrying case with integrated stand which makes using the U with a keyboard very nice.  MSRP- who knows?

One case for the Sony U is not enough so we're throwing in the PDAir leather case for stylin' with the Sony.  MSRP- originally a lot.

Last but not least you may have seen my articles about the Sony U as part of one of the smallest desktop PCs when used with a Bluetooth keyboard so we just have to throw in that keyboard.  This is the original Stowaway Bluetooth keyboard that complements the Sony U perfectly.  There's something special about this keyboard though, it's been autographed by Kevin and I making it the official jkOnTheRun Bluetooth keyboard and hopefully adding the personal touch to this prize package.  MSRP- can't be bought at any price (mouse and phone not included).

Last but not least the lucky winner is going to snag an external Sony slimline DVD burner (DDR3) that connects to the Sony U dock.  The burner will boot the U and draws all needed power from the dock connection and originally retailed for $400.  Sorry I forgot to take a photo of the drive, it's the smallest external drive I've ever seen though.

So there you have the total prize package and I think you'll have to agree it's a doozy!  The winner is going to be one lucky person and since it's such a good package you're going to really have to work for this.  Read on after the jump to see what you have to do for this prize.

Perfect Portable Media Player

Reader Michael Connick sent me this picture of the perfect Portable Media Player (PMP).  I tend to agree with him.  :)

Some thoughts on screen resolution and ultra-portables

I am a mobile type of guy and when I use an ultra-portable device I really use it, often for hours at a time.  I may use it held in my hands or I might use it with an external keyboard and mouse, whatever fits what I am trying to do at the time.  I have been giving screen resolution on handhelds a lot of thought recently since I had the awesome opportunity to use a TabletKiosk eo UMPC, Sony U71P, and a Sony UX50 Micro PC.  All three devices have totally different screen sizes and resolutions and observing the differences among them has been eye-opening (pun intended).  After you work with all three devices for a while you realize the screen resolutions are backwards.  The largest screen has the lowest resolution and the smallest screen the highest.  Using the devices for any length of time drives this point home.  Read on to see my impressions of working with each screen.

-jk

More Sony UX info from the manual

I flipped through the Sony UX Micro PC manual in Japanese and found some interesting things previously unknown about the UX.  The UX ships with a detachable and collapsible stand that slides into the back of the device like so:

 

Sony is also shipping the UX with an interesting carry pack for the AC adapter and accessories:

 

It's clever touches like this that make Sony so good at producing small devices.

-jk

Sony UX Micro PC user's manual available

It’s in Japanese but in typical Sony style there are many pictures that explain the Sony UX in great detail.  The manual is a huge PDF file (264 pages) so it will take a while to come in.  Amusing notes from the manual– things not to do with the UX:

   

 

 

So there you have the inside scoop– you cannot do the following things with a Sony UX Micro PC even at that expensive price:

1. Use it as a TV stand
2. Smother it with a pillow
3. Touch it with a screwdriver and make threatening hand gestures at it (or you die)
4. Have tea with the Sony (coffee’s OK)
5. Use an electric towel anywhere near the Sony
6. Pour water onto the UX, even if you are wearing protective gear.

-jk

expansys is very proud of the Sony UX Micro PC

All you peeps complaining about how much the Origami devices are selling for should hop over to the expansys site and see how much the Sony Vaio UX Micro PC will cost you in the UK.  It’s only available for pre-order but if you choose to do so expansys will hit you up for GBP 2,699.95 .  I checked on Google and that’s only US$5,050!

Get your order in now, that price will only go up as shipping dates near. 

(via reader Paul Phillips)

-jk

If you’re in the UK and you want a Sony UX so badly I suggest you drop by the Dynamism site as I believe they ship outside the US.  And I’ve got a feeling they’re a bit cheaper than this price.

Digital World Tokyo reviews the Sony UX

This is some actual "hand-on" time, which lends more credence to "reviews" that are simply based on specs, pics, or two-minute mauling before having a device pried from your hands. Digital World Tokyo spent some decent time with the Japanese version of the new Sony UX and I really don't see any surprises.

While the device is very portable and usable, the small keyboard and screen limited the reviewers usage time as a standalone device. There's no question in my mind that this device is an engineering masterpiece, but it's clearly not for everyone. Then again, I don't know of a single device that is, 'cept maybe for an iPod.

-kct

Windows XP in 9.165 square inches: screen size of the Sony UX series

Interested in running Windows XP on a small screen? How does XP in 9.165 square inches sound? We were just chatting about the screen-size of the Sony UX handheld computer on the MobileTechRoundup podcast and lucky for us: we've got a listener that lives a hop, skip and a jump from Sony's Tokyo showroom. Massimo dropped us a note and offered to get the exact dimensions of the screen, so here goes...

Preview of the Sony UX50 now available

Digital World Tokyo got a chance to fondle the Sony UX50 Micro PC in Japan and have published a brief overview.  They reported that although the high resolution of 1024 x 600 makes things tiny on the 4.5 inch screen they were able to see everything.  The zoom buttons on the right of the screen can be used to instantly blow things up when the screen gets too crowded.  Their impressions of the small thumb keyboard were mixed, with the flush keys not providing a lot of tactile feedback, but they admitted they were able to type with no errors.  There are some other good nuggets of information in the article so check it out if you are interested in the new Sony.  My favorite observation from the article:

It's difficult to hold the UX50 in your hands and not be impressed with the amount of technology crammed into it. It compares favorably with Samsung's Q1 ultra mobile PC, which is based on the recently launched Origami platform, and will definitely draw looks when you use it in public.

At Tuesday's launch Sony said there's also a second version on the way. This will use flash memory in place of a hard-disk drive so it's likely to be a little lighter and more expensive. That should launch in the middle of this year.

A flash memory version of this device would be a killer feature, and should make for faster performance with less battery drain than the hard drive version.  Does anybody know what the largest capacity flash drive is currently available?  The only down side I can see to this is if the drive is smaller than the 30 GB drive in the current version.

-jk

Dynamism has the Sony UX Micro PC in multiple flavors

The good folks at Dynamism are all over the soon to be released Sony UX Micro PC and in typical Dynamism fashion have several different configurations available for pre-order.  There are three different models offered, two Japanese models and one American model.  The Japanese models are converted to English by Dynamism, a solid process they have employed on many different Japanese products they sell in the US.  The three models break down like this:

UX90S– 1.2 GHz Intel Core Solo, 512 MB RAM, 30 GB HDD, Intel Graphics 128 MB shared memory, 4.5” screen @ 1024x600, external resolution up to 1600 x 1200, Memorystick Duo slot, CF slot, 1 USB port, dock, 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, integrated keyboard, battery life 4.5 hours, AC Adapter, dock, soft carrying case, stylus, VGA/LAN adapter, strap, Windows XP Pro Home

UX50– same as above except with a 1.06 GHz Intel Core Solo

UX180P– same as above except native English with 1.2 GHz Intel Core Solo, integrated EDGE via Cingular SIM, no CF slot.

The two Japanese models (UX50, UX90S) have a Sony release date of May 27th and the American model (UX180P) has a Sony US release date of mid July.  Dynamism has a number of packages some of which include a DVD+RW portable drive.  If you just can’t wait until mid July to grab a Sony UX in the US you don’t have to wait, just get one from Dynamism.  I have dealt with them for years and their customer service and support is top notch.

-jk

Is the Sony UX Micro PC a UMPC?

All together now, repeat after me:

The Sony UX Micro PC is not an Origami/ UMPC as defined by Microsoft and the OEMs.  It does not come with the Tablet Edition nor the Touch Pack software.  I intend to call the UX what I have always called the Sony U devices– ultra-portable PCs (UPCs).  This may confuse some but I didn’t name the Origami the UMPC, which is not really a name to begin with but a genre of computer.

OK, I feel better now. 

-jk

Sony VAIO UX-Series Virtual Tour video

Looking for a virtual hands-on 360-degree tour of the new Sony VAIO UX-series? I did some digging on Sony's Japanese UX pages and found quite a dandy here.

The video is interactive and allows you manipulate the device via moving the hand with the stylus. Some of the takeaways I got from playing with the video demo:

• The device supports screen rotation, which will make it great for reading digital eBook and magazine content.
• The device does NOT have any HDMI ports as some folks are claiming. There's no mention of HDMI in the official specs from Sony and why would you want HDMI anyway? You won't be pumping any 1080p video or 7.1 digital audio out of this.
• There is a single USB port as well as a CF slot. These appear for non-U.S. models; the Sony specs indicate 3 USB ports and do not mention a CF slot. - Thanks Jeff!
• It appears that this device is well vented; there are grille slots on the top, bottom, back and one side.
• Some stylus or pen-gestures are included: swiping the pen from right to left activates a "back" command in the browser; likewise, a right to left swipe is a "forward". Up and down swipes control the device volume.
• The Sony UX works with an optional GPS receiver (shown); in the video demo, you can see a web browser open to a map that is tracking the device in what looks to be real time.
• The camera on the back of the device will capture full motion video. (You have to see this in the demo as a person in a bear costume walks behind the camera and waves. Quite funny!)

You probably won't make out most of the text in the video, (unless your Japanese reading skills are up to par), however, the interactive video is intuitive enough to easily navigate around.

- kct

Sony UX Micro PC is Vista capable

Sharp eyed Kevin Tofel noted:

Sony UX Micro PC- OQO we hardly knew ya

Now that the details of the new Sony UX Micro PC have been released two things are clear.  First this device is NOT an Origami/ UMPC device since it doesn’t meet the requirements of that device and it does not have the Tablet Edition nor the Microsoft Touch Pack installed.  It runs Windows XP Pro and comes bundled with ritePen, just like the U750P.  Of course, it won’t be long until the early adopters install the Tablet Edition on the device and others will just wait for the release of Vista which will include the Tablet bits.

The second thing that is clear to me is that the UX Micro PC (UXMPC?) is a total OQO killer.  If I worked at OQO I would be shaking in my boots right about now.  Why do I say that?  Genuine Intel Core Solo processor.  Backlit keyboard.  Dual camera, one for web camming and the other for taking photos.  Integrated stand on the back of the Sony for easier use with an external keyboard.  WiFi, Bluetooth and EDGE.  While EDGE is not as fast as EVDO having it integrated right into the device will make up for the speed difference.  Totally connected anywhere.  Vaio launcher, Sony’s answer to the UMPC Touch Pack.  Fingerprint reader to make corporate security types happy.  Real dock with ports and everything.  Joystick and mouse buttons on the front of the device.  Super scroll button.  $1800.  Almost the same size as the OQO.  SVGA.  See ya, OQO.  We hardly knew ya.

-jk

Sony Vaio UX Micro PC- it's official

Sony has the official press release available and a bunch of videos of the Vaio UX Micro PC in action. previous reports of a 7 inch screen running at 1024 x 600 were totally incorrect as the UX sports a 4.5 XBRITE running at 800 x 600. It works on the Cingular EDGE network and also has WiFi and Bluetooth. The slide-out keyboard is backlit making this a real OQO killer.  The official UX website is on Sony Japan.

-jk

CNET previews the Sony UX180P

CNET has published a preview of the Sony UX180P and surprisingly there is not much information that hasn’t already leaked.  They claim it has a 4.5 inch screen running natively at 1024 x 600 which we have heard before but that is going to be too small to use for any length of time I’m afraid.  Text is going to be extremely tiny on this screen so I will have to see it for myself to see how usable it will be.  The CNET article also says the screen is 3.5 inches in one place so who knows what the final dimension will actually be.  There is a stylus as I figured there must be even though some have reported there is no stylus which makes no sense for a touchscreen.  All in all this device looks really sweet, although the EDGE integration is not going to be fast enough for true power users.  Other than that the specs are very impressive and match what has already been reported.  I should point out though that contrary to what CNET is reporting with Windows XP Professional this is NOT an Origami/ UMPC.  This is going to get confusing very quickly.

 

More Sony UX pics

A jkOnTheRun reader who wishes to remain anonymous just sent me these photos of the secret Sony Vaio ultra-portable.  When I blow up the first photo I see that this baby has Bluetooth, WiFi and WWAN!

The second photo reveals that Sony just won't give up on the Memory Stick media that everyone hates.  It also has an interesting "Capture" button.

The next photo shows the new Vaio with the QWERTY keyboard extended and a couple of zoom buttons on the right side of the screen.

This last photo shows the device from the front. Notice what appears to be a square joystick nubbin on the upper right side. The slider switch on the lower left is a wireless on/ off switch.  This device is getting more interesting by the minute.:)

This last photo shows the docking station which appears very similar to the Sony U dock with VGA, Firewire, and USB slots.

UPDATE:  Sony has just updated the teaser site and it now ends with a question "is it red, green, or blu?"  Could this be implying Blu-Ray support of some kind?  It says all will be revealed on 5/16.

-jk

Sony viral marketing campaign hints at a new Sony U ultra-portable

Sony has borrowed a page from the Origami marketing campaign and has been running a teaser video for the past few days.  They are adding a little bit of information each day and it has certain segments all a-twitter at the possibility of a new Sony ultra-portable device.  The teaser URL indicates the campaign is a “AR_UX teaser” which is interesting as the UX model designation was the same as the now defunct Sony Clie PDA line.  The flash video states “New from Sony VAIO” so whatever this device is will be from the Vaio product line and a lot of people are buzzing about a new Sony UX device.  The device in the video snippets has a fingerprint reader and Motion Eye and looks to be a small slate device of some sort.  I will keep an eye out on this campaign and let you know how it unfolds.  Interestingly, the teaser is in English and the teaser is running on the Sony US web site so this is aimed at the US I would think.  Here are some screen captures from the video but you need to watch it to see the image of the fingerprint reader and front of the screen.  Someone posted on a user’s group that the UX has motion eye, a flash hard drive, slide-out keyboard in addition to the biometric fingerprint reader.  A flash HDD indicates a PDA rather than a full ultra-portable PC but I guess we will soon know.  The sketch below shows the sliding keyboard.

-jk

Most popular articles on jkOnTheRun

jkOnTheRun will be coming up on its two year anniversary in just a few weeks and it has been a wild ride.  The readership has grown astronomically during that time and it never ceases to amaze me how many people come to the site each day for a mobile tech fix.  Since there are new visitors almost every day I thought I’d publish a list of the 10 11 most popular articles (based on page views) on jkOnTheRun in case anyone missed them.  These articles run the gamut from mobile tech (of course) to some more personal ones that I have written.  I think all of them are just as pertinent today as they were when published.  Enjoy them as much as I enjoy writing for jkOTR. 

UPDATE:  I don't know how I missed one of the articles that got Slashdotted so I've added it and changed it to the top 11.  The added article is the second on this list.

Sony U-70 review- is that a PC in your pocket?

FCC pics of the IBM Thinkpad Tablet PC- First look at the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet PC

A typical day for jkOnTheRun– a glimpse in a work day with a VGA Pocket PC as the main tool

A typical day with the Sony U70– updated look at a work day with an ultra-portable PC

From the Heart– my chronicle of emergency open heart surgery from the patient’s view

The Untapped Tablet PC Market– call to OEMs and Microsoft for a mini-Tablet PC

How to easily copy music from your iPod to your Windows iTunes music library– just what it says

Windows XP Recovery Console- the ultra-portables best friend– recovering from OS problems without an optical drive

Triple jkOTR Review- Complete desktop in your pocket– not the smallest desktop anymore but pretty darn close

Sitting down with DualCor Technologies at the CES– still not released yet but a nice machine

jkOTR review- Sharp Zaurus SL-C3000– Linux-based PDA with a hard drive

Origami peripheral options

I first wrote about my "smallest desktop" almost a year and a half ago and the amazing thing is it hasn't changed much:

The Sony U71 is still a good workhorse for me and when I need to do serious writing requiring a keyboard with full-sized keys the ThinkOutside Stowaway still works like a champ.  The other two pieces to the small desktop I wrote about earlier have been replaced by the IOGear Bluetooth mouse and the Palm Treo that provides EVDO connectivity most everywhere I roam.

Rob Bushway, Tracy Hooten, and Warner Crocker have been thinking about how to get more mobile with a Tablet PC and for me the Origami might be the perfect solution for them.  These peripherals I am using with the Sony are perfect for the Origami devices soon to appear for those who would like to take them on a trip for instance, yet still want the comfort zone created by having a good mouse and keyboard with them.  A setup like this is a real laptop replacement for most of the work likely to be done and prospective owners of Origamis (UMPCs) should not overlook them.  While the keyboard stand in the photo won't support the weight of the larger Origamis, as I mentioned before it is great that at least some of the OEMs are integrating stands right into the back of the units.  Here's a couple more photos of my setup (just imagine your dream Origami device in the photos):

How does the UMPC stack up against the jkOnTheRun Mini-Tablet?

Long-time readers will tell you that I have been calling for a Mini-Tablet PC for a couple of years. One of the most popular articles on jkOnTheRun, The Untapped Tablet PC Market, was first published on October 14, 2004 and is one of the most read posts on this site. That article is an open request to OEMs and Microsoft to look at the mini-Tablet form factor and to help convince them if they built one it would sell. It would be appropriate to thank the companies involved in the Origami project as it seems they were listening, or at least thinking along the same lines as I. Now that the Origami/ UMPC has been announced and the first units are going to appear soon it seems like a good idea to see how the new devices stack up with the Mini-Tablet PC concept I described in that article. If nothing else it should be fun so here goes. The desired specifications from the original article appear in italics, followed by what we know about the UMPCs that should soon appear.

Screen

A six to eight inch screen with an active digitizer like those found in standard Tablet PCs would alleviate the note-taking problem I have now on the Sony. This screen would also provide for a small enough form factor that will control the overall size, weight, and thickness of the Mini Tablet. This will keep the size of the Mini Tablet down to a perfect size for mobility.

The UMPC falls right in line with my conceptual design with all of the first units so far coming with a 7 inch screen. While UMPCs by design all use a passive digitizer, or touch screen, I think this is a good move to make them easier to use by hand. As long as it is possible to take ink notes on the touch screen of the UMPC I am happy with this design choice.

CPU

An Intel Dothan CPU operating at >1.5 GHz would make the Mini Tablet as powerful as any Tablet or laptop and would be more than adequate for virtually any task. The Dothan is a very power stingy processor that will aid in stretching the battery as long as possible, while keeping the heat down. This CPU would work with Intel's integrated WiFi providing 802.11 a/b/g for mobile connectivity.

Most UMPCs that have been announced to date are using either a Celeron 900 MHz, a Pentium M 1 GHz, or a Via C7 1 GHz and fall a little short of my desired CPU. I think these CPUs are probably a good compromise between performance and battery life, but it would be nice to see a little more speed. So far all announced UMPCs include integrated WiFi which is mandatory in this day and age of mobile connectivity.

OS

Full Windows XP Tablet OS 2005 should be standard. The Mini Tablet must be a full Tablet PC in function, if not size. It is important for users to be able to install any Windows XP program they want and take it with them. I cannot overstate how big a benefit this has been to me with the Sony. A stripped down version of the OS, something between Windows XP and Windows CE .NET, would not work. That would likely provide watered down software solutions that turns people off. You want to be able to use all your programs on the Mini Tablet that you currently use on your big system. No learning curve is important to win new customers. You must be able to work with all your documents with no compromises, and no synchronizing necessary.

All UMPCs hit a home run in this category with the Tablet Edition part of the reference design standard by Microsoft. The addition of the Touch Pack with DialKeys gives the edge to the UMPC over my concept. Good job here.

Memory

At least 512 MB of memory is needed to fully use multi-tasking in Windows XP and this should be the minimum. A gig would be better and a good option if space allowed.

The first UMPCs to be announced will ship with 256 MB - 512 MB of memory, with some offering upgrade options to 1 GB. I personally would not want to run Windows XP with only 256 MB of memory so hopefully these upgrades will be offered at a reasonable price, in keeping with low price standard of the UMPC.

Joystick

One of the most useful features on the Sony U-70 is the trackpoint style joystick on the upper right of the computer. This feature coupled with two mouse buttons on the upper left makes it easy to pop the computer out for quick tasks without grabbing the pen. This is a huge time saver and the Mini Tablet can also benefit with the inclusion of this. The Sony also has a hardware button configured to instantly rotate the display from landscape to portrait (and back) which is crucial for the Mini Tablet. Many functions make better sense to do in portrait orientation and I suspect most note taking would be done in portrait. All hardware buttons should auto configure (user controllable) depending on screen orientation so they are always optimal no matter which way the screen is pointing. They rotate with the screen which makes sense. The Sony does this too very nicely.

UMPCs are shipping with a D-Pad type of control which is similar to the joystick on the Sony. There are also two mouse buttons to aid in manipulating the interface by hand which is good. Some of the units I have seen in photos show the D-Pad and mouse buttons are on the same side of the screen and that seems like it would be more difficult to use, especially since the UMPC is to be used with two hands by design. I'll have to try these myself to see if this configuration works OK.

It is not clear if the screens will rotate on the UMPCs, although a photo of the Samsung Q1 showed a menu item to rotate the screen so here's hoping they all will do so. The Tablet Edition software allows screen rotation by design and most current graphic controllers provide the ability so we'll see. I do hope the hardware buttons rotate as mentioned or they will lose most benefits they provide.

Page UP/DOWN rocker

This should be on the side of the Mini Tablet in portrait mode to make it easy to read ebooks and scroll vertically while web browsing. The Mini Tablet would be a perfect platform for reading ebooks and magazines and the inclusion of this simple feature would make that experience quite pleasurable.

I haven't seen any rocker switches on the side of any announced UMPC but they all seem to have Page Up/ Page Down buttons on the front which is good. Those 7 inch screens are just crying for a good ebook reader.

Hard drive

The hard drive needs to be at least 30 GB. The appearance of 0.85 inch drives should make this very easy to do and require little space and power. Toshiba expects to have a 60 GB version of their tiny drive by the end of this year which would be perfect and offer plenty of storage space.

I have seen hard drives advertised for UMPCs from 30 GB - 160 GB so I don't expect this area to be a problem. The more storage the better, of course.

Bluetooth

The Mini Tablet needs Bluetooth to make it easy to work with cell phones for connectivity, and wireless keyboards and mice when mobile.

I don't think I have seen a single announced UMPC that doesn't have Bluetooth, which is great.

Output jacks

Headphone for MP3 playing during down time or when reading ebooks.

UMPCs have a plethora of connection options including headphones and in some cases headsets. They are by design good audio and video players and perfect for use on airplanes (or virtually anywhere else).

Microphone

A good internal microphone is important to allow speech dictation as provided in the Tablet OS. It's also important for recording meetings and interviews. The Sony lacks an internal microphone and it is sorely missed.

All UMPCs have microphone jacks and at least one announced unit has a dual-array microphone which provides noise cancellation good enough for VoIP and speech recognition applications. That is excellent news and extends the usefulness of the device on the go, which after all is the intended purpose.

CF/ SD slot

A CF Type II slot for using with Microdrives, I/O cards like GPRS. The CF and SD slots will make it easy to transfer information from digital cameras.

I don't believe any of the first announced UMPCs claim either a CF nor a SD slot. They all have at least one USB 2.0 slot so this might not be a factor, although currently the only high speed modem options are either PC Card (which no UMPC will have due to size constraints) or CF. Hopefully we'll see some of the pre-announced USB 3G modems become available soon. It would mean an ungainly cable to tote around and use, though.

Standby button

One of the most used buttons on the Sony is the Standby button, which does exactly what it says. The Sony will go into Standby within 2 - 3 seconds after pressing the button and the Mini Tablet needs this too. The power button should be configurable to go into Hibernate instead of power off if the user desires.

Windows XP allows you to configure what you want to happen when you hit the power button, either turn off the device, go into Standby, or enter Hibernations so this should be a non-issue on the UMPC. An additional Standby button like on the Sony U would be welcome, but not a requirement by any means.

USB 2.0

At least one USB port for connecting peripherals is crucial. It will likely be the only way to back up the device while traveling. A Firewire port would be nice to have, too. You need the ability to boot from an optical drive when traveling for emergencies whether via USB or the Firewire port.

All of the UMPCs I've seen so far have at least one USB port and some with at least two so this is a win. Hopefully we will be able to boot from external optical drives if there is a problem that requires some serious repair work.

Dock

It is important with mobile devices that a dock be standard. The dock should be as small as the Mini Tablet is wide in landscape, and have all the requisite ports for hooking up USB and Firewire peripherals, keyboard, mouse, external monitor, and a CD/DVD drive. The dock should be a "smart" dock in that it makes it a simple matter of popping the Mini Tablet in and instantly connecting to all peripherals and the monitor. It would be nice to have a slot on the dock for charging an extra battery along with the Mini Tablet. Since the Mini Tablet configuration I've outlined here is "full-figured" it would be nice if the dock would drive two external monitors for a dual head setup. Consumers will pay a premium for a portable device if it can become their only system when docked. I predict one of the biggest hurdles that UPCs will face is the cost. Users find it hard to justify a full computer price for a portable computer that can't become their only system. The Mini Tablet when docked should do anything a bigger system can do and do it well. The Sony does all of that now with the exception of driving dual external monitors which would be nice. It will drive the internal screen and an external monitor simultaneously, however the small internal screen doesn't add much utility in this mode.

I have heard a lot of people mention UMPCs being put into a dock for extensibility and charging but I can't recall a single OEM claiming they will offer one. A good dock with lots of ports is critical in my view to increase the benefit of the UMPC by allowing the user to dock it and have a full suite of peripherals automatically connected. This can turn the UMPC into a fully functional desktop system and something I consider very important.

Carrying case

The size of device I have described is perfect to fit in a zip up case that protects the Mini Tablet and carry anywhere. The case would be the size of daily planners that many people carry around anyway and would be easy to handle. It is important to make sure the Mini Tablet can be removed easily from the case for using in the hand like a standard Tablet. There should be a pop-up stand that props the Mini Tablet up in the case for using with a wireless keyboard and mouse while mobile.

There are already some innovative cases with integrated stands appearing from third party OEMs and I am confident there will be a wide range of cases to fit anyone's particular need. Several UMPCs have stands on the back of the unit which I think can be pretty useful and alleviate this particular need in a case.

Conclusions

It is easy to see why I am so excited about the UMPC. Most of the functions and features I wrote about two years ago seem to be included in the UMPC and I think it I will be quite happy working away on a UMPC. The things I find critical to keep me productive while mobile are pretty much all there in the UMPC, and I think I could be a mobile workhorse with one in my mobile arsenal. As we see the prices begin to fall with the inevitable hardware costs decreasing over time this will be a very exciting product line to keep an eye on. Where do you want to write today?

The Sony U- the original UMPC?

A funny thing happened to me late last week that is quite ironic and timely at the same time. I visited a new tech blog, sleekgeek.com, and noticed they had a contest underway to celebrate the site launch. The first clue for the first prize giveaway had just been posted and it seemed to me that it was pointing to the Sony U that I know so well. Lo and behold, a short time later the site owner contacted me via email and informed me I had won a Sony U71 complete with accessories. Wow! Talk about surprised! The Sony U arrived yesterday and let me tell you, picking it up and powering it on felt like coming home again. I have missed the U for months and the liberating mobility it offers that I haven't found in any other device.

It is only appropriate that my good fortune happened when it did. Origami and UMPC are all over the web right now and rightly so. I have yelled from the treetops for so long that full computers that fit in your hands can open new horizons for everybody. You have to experience watching a streaming video on the web, capturing a screen from it along with the link to the video, and blogging it from a baseball game to fully appreciate the rich mobility that UMPCs can deliver. There is no substitute for having your full computer with all applications and documents literally at your fingertips. With the official announcement about the Origami/ UMPC expected tomorrow at CeBIT, we are entering a new age of mobile information that will ultimately affect us all, and in our lifetimes. It is a very good time for mobile computing.

The Sony U is the device I consider to be the first real UMPC with its sleek and small form that conceals a full laptop replacement. I find the similarities between the hardware interface of the Sony U and the leaked pictures of the Origami device to be quite interesting. See for yourself:

Sony U71 Origami concept

My original Sony U-70 on ebay

I noticed a large number of referrals to jkOnTheRun coming from an eBay auction so I headed over and took a look. It turns out this is an auction for what is reported to be the original Sony U-70 ultra-portable that I used over a year ago. I don't know if this is authentic as this auctioneer is not the person I sold the unit to but it's pretty cool if so. Here's a snippet from the ad:

You are bidding on a used Sony VGN-U70P plus many, many accessories. This is one very special unit - it is the original Sony U70 that James Kendrick blogged about extensively on his site. James has perhaps done more than anyone in promoting the Tablet PC, and his blog continues to be invaluable for Tablet and mobile power users. Here is a link to his blog, which details his entire journey with this unit:

http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/sony_u507071750/index.html

As to the condition of the unit, James used it without a screen protector. When I got it, the screen had a number of blurry blotches on it which could be seen when the unit was turned off. None of them were visible with the screen on. I have managed to clean up most of the blotches, but the screen does not look pristine with the unit off. However, it does look quite good (see the picture), and it simply is not a factor at all when the unit is on. The screen has no dead pixels and looks just like any other new Sony U when it is on.

I can say that the accessories are the same as the ones I sold with the Sony so this is most likely the one I sold. I wonder if this increases its value at all?

Sony updating the U series?

Handtops.com is reporting that an anonymous source claims Sony is working on an updated version of the Sony U series ultra-portable computer.  The source also claims the new device has a swivel screen indicating a convertible type form factor is being designed.  As with all rumors we will have to wait and see if this rumor has any basis in fact and especially since tight-lipped Sony is involved.  I'd sure love to see a convertible UPC.

The Gadgeteer reviews the Sony U71P

Julie of The Gadgeteer has reviewed the Sony U71P and has included a lot of photos in the article.  She took the Sony on a vacation trip and gives us a complete overview of the device and how well it worked for her.  She wishes the screen was a little bigger but overall has good things to say about the Sony.  Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Mini-Tablet vs. the Tablet PC

Comparing the Sony U750 with the HP tc1100

I have been talking about a mini-tablet for quite some time and the notion of a small tablet stoked a lot of people's imaginations when Bill Gates demonstrated the Haiku mockup at WinHEC earlier this year.  A lot of the discussion I have seen since this demo has centered around two distinct areas- are there usability issues with a very small Tablet and how well does the Tablet Edition of Windows XP run on a passive digitizer (touchscreen).  There have also been hints dropped by Microsoft that future Tablet devices might have either a touchscreen or both an active and passive digitizer so it is important to analyze usability issues on a touchscreen.  I am in a unique position to take a look at both of those areas since I used a Sony U750 with the Tablet Edition installed for quite some time.  I used the Sony full time for months and have a very good perspective about the usability limitations of the small form factor.  I have been asked by many people how I would compare the Sony U Tablet experience with that of the HP tc1100 Tablet PC I now use.  This article is intended to hopefully answer some of those questions.

MindManager may work on the Sony U

Quite some time ago I tried to use MindManager on the Sony U ultra-portable computer and had some trouble that I thought was due to the touch screen on the Sony U.  MindManager has been totally Tablet-enabled and I was eager to give it a go on the Sony (with the Tablet OS installed) but could not get some of the ink to "stick" to the screen.  I conversed with Mindjet about this and our joint consensus was that the touchscreen of the Sony was not compatible with the Tablet functions of MindManager.  I have been getting into MindManager heavily since getting the HP tc1100 Tablet PC and now that I am familiar with the way the pen functions work in MindManager I believe what I thought was an inability to work on the Sony was in fact just the way MindManager works on the Tablet PC.  Sony U owners who would like to use MindManager on the UPC (with the Tablet OS installed) should download the demo version of MM and give it a try.  Pay special attention to the use of gestures in MM which gives it all the Tablet functionality and please report back if it works for you.

UBoard for the Sony U now released

The cool onscreen keyboard for the Sony U that I reviewed a while ago has now been released.  UBoard is a user configurable keyboard that can be operated as an onscreen thumb board  ad the author has decided to make it available as donation ware. The nice folks at Greyhat, producers of the definitive FAQ for the Sony U series computers, have graciously agreed to host the UBoard program with the author's permission.  If you don't have it yet then go get it, just go to the FAQ and search on UBoard.

Linux touchscreen drivers now available for the Sony U50/70/750

I have been in correspondence with a company that has been working on getting a working version of Linux on the Sony U. The problem they immediately ran into was the lack of a Linux driver for the Sony touchscreen, so they did what true geeks do, they wrote their own.  I.D.E.A.L. Technology has posted the configuration files needed to get Linux with touchscreen support running on your Sony U.

Sony U750P for sale- getting a Tablet PC

Frequent visitors to jkOnTheRun are aware that I recently have received the honor of an MVP award from Microsoft in the Tablet PC category.  The award is greatly appreciated and one I take very seriously, in the spirit in which it was given.  Receiving MVP status has created a personal dilemma for me because I do not have a (real) Tablet PC, which makes me uncomfortable.  Finances being what they are I have decided to sell my Sony U750P and the extras I have purchased so I can purchase a Tablet PC.  I would like to sell it here to save eBay fees so if you are interested in a great UPC this is a good opportunity.  Here are the specifics on the Sony U750P and the extras I am selling as a package (I will not sell items individually):

Sony U-750P- 512 MB RAM, 1.1 GHz, 20 GB HDD, standard battery (3.5 hours) 

• Fin stylus
• Carrying case for U
• PDAir leather case (fits standard battery only) ($50+ item)
• Carrying case for folding keyboard
• English folding keyboard
• Dock- 3 USB, 1 firewire, ethernet, VGA out
• Ethernet/ VGA dongle
• Headphones w/ remote control
• Extended battery (5.5 hour- $300 item)
• PCGA-DDRW3- CD/DVD burner (bootable in the dock) ($400 item)
• VGP-CKU1 case with integrated stand
• Billionton CF Bluetooth card and s/w (will work with any Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and cellphone as modem)

This is an excellent opportunity for someone to pick up a Sony U750 (which are very difficult to find) that runs perfectly and has been properly maintained from someone you know  will be around after the sale.  Overnight shipping is $90 and the sale will go through PayPal and I will ship it once the transaction is verified (US only). If you are interested please email me with an offer for the above.  I am looking to sell it quickly so you can have a Sony U750 in just a day or two if your offer is the right one.   I intend to immediately get a Tablet PC when the sale is complete, probably an HP tc1100.

PDAir leather case

Comparing Gates' UM PC with the Sony U750

If you watched the video of Bill Gates demonstrating the Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) at the WinHEC keynote address like me you probably oohed and ahhed at the thought of such a mobile Tablet PC.  What is not clear from the demonstration (since his UMPC is just a mockup) is whether the proposed specs would include a full implementation of the Tablet OS or not, among other things.  I've given this device a lot of thought since watching the video and thought I would compare this UMPC with the Sony U750 I am currently using.  I run it with the full Windows XP Tablet Edition operating system so it's a fair comparison, I think.

The UMPC is certainly thinner than the Sony and that is very appealing when taken in conjunction with the low proposed weight.  The UMPC is reported to be around 500 grams (1 pound) in weight while the Sony weighs in at 1.2 pounds.  Looking at battery technology today and advances that have been made in the last few years I can't see any battery deliver the hopeful 8 hours of UMPC battery life and maintain that svelte form any time soon.  The battery will have to cover the entire back of the UMPC to have any chance of extended battery life, just as the Sony battery does now.  The Sony gets 3+ hours on a charge which is pretty decent but the battery is probably half the weight of the entire device.

Here are a couple of photos comparing the UMPC as photographed at the WinHEC conference with my Sony U750.  I have tried to give a decent comparison of the screen, overall device size, and the Tablet OS Text Input Panel (TIP).  Please excuse the fuzzy Sony pictures as my Canon S50 died (won't power on at all) and I took these with my daughter's HP camera which doesn't do closeups very well.

      

Left:  UMPC mockup       Right:  Sony U750P running Tablet Edition

As you can see the screen on the mockup is bigger, reported to be a 6 inch screen compared to the 5 inch screen on the Sony.  The additional screen resolution would be very nice I admit but having used the Sony for months I believe the omission of the buttons and joypad controls would be a big mistake.  A mobile device such as these must have the ability to quickly turn it on and check information and then turn it back off, something the Sony does very well due to the controls that surround the screen.  The additional hardware controls make this easy to do without the stylus when it's not convenient to bring the stylus out and interact via screen taps.  Having a full emulated mouse is a big plus as any Sony U owner will tell you.

This comparison should make at least one thing very clear- it is almost possible to build a UMPC right now, as Sony has nearly done it already.  If anyone from Sony is reading this, please make a device like the U750 that has the Tablet Edition OS, a little bigger screen, and the biggest hard drive you can put into it.  Don't worry about the weight as the 1+ pounds of the U750 is not a problem at all.  Don't worry about it being too thick as the U750 now is not too thick for everyday use. Above all else, don't strip down the functionality of the Tablet OS.  Trying to sync two devices is never easy and not necessary if the little Tablet is a full Tablet and not stripped of OS features.  It also means that owners can likely use programs they already own instead of having to purchase a whole set of special versions that would be needed on a device with a non-standard OS.

   

Using Zinio on a Sony U(PC) & Tablet PC

I admit I haven't looked at the Zinio Reader for quite some time.  It must have been over five years ago that Zinio debuted their innovative system for delivering and displaying magazines in digital form and I tried it when it first came out and liked it but quickly determined that using it on a laptop just didn't cut it for me.  It was never comfortable to read a magazine with a notebook computer in my lap so I found it cumbersome to use the Zinio Reader in the times and places I most wanted to read magazines.  I have used it a few times with full sized Tablet PCs and the experience Zinio yields on that platform is quite nice indeed.  When I first got the Sony U I must admit I never considered Zinio since the screen is so small I didn't think it would provide a very good magazine reading experience.  It wasn't until I heard techADDICTION co-host Kevin Tofel mention Zinio in his last Commute-cast podcast that made me think about giving it a try on the Sony.  I am sure glad I did.  Continue on if you want to read what Zinio is like on the small Sony U.

Dave's iPAQ reviews the Sony U71

Dave Ciccone of Dave's iPAQ is usually playing with neat gadgets and always seems to get his hands on cool smartphones and Pocket PCs.  It looks like he's upped the ante and is looking at the Sony U71 and has written a full review of the Japanese UPC.  The U71 is the latest version of the Sony U series released in Japan and sports a Pentium M 1.1 GHz processor, 512 MB of memory and a 30 GB hard drive.  Check out Dave's review if you are curious what using one of these beauties is like.

jkOnTheRun review- UBoard- on-screen keyboard for the Sony UPC

It is easy to interact with the Sony U due to the various ways Sony has provided to enter data and work with the interface.  Even so, there are times when it would be convenient to enter something quickly, say a password, without reaching for the stylus.  Nostram Studios, the operators of the Sony U enthusiast site UAddict, is getting ready to release a simple solution called the UBoard.  UBoard is an on-screen keyboard that is designed with keys large enough that allow typing with the fingers.  The keyboard is attractive and responsive and very easy to use. 

Nostram was kind enough to let me have a sneak peek and I have been working with it for a week or so and I use it so much I have assigned a hardware key to invoke (and exit) the program.  UBoard autosizes to fit the width of the screen and works in both portrait and landscape mode very well.  The keyboard fills a large part of the screen (which is small to begin with) so how do you see what you're working on along with the keyboard?  UBoard has a user configurable transparency level so even though it's filling most of the screen you can see right through it.  This is a clever idea and makes it possible to use UBoard with any program for text entry.  If you are averse to smudging your screen with your dirty fingertips you can enter data on the keyboard with your stylus, just like any other on-screen keyboard. 

Using UBoard is very simple- you start the program by tapping the program icon or as I stated earlier you can assign a hardware button to launch it.  Exiting the program is just as simple, you can tap the program icon (or press the button) again and it will disappear.  There is also an EXIT button to the right of the space bar.  Simple and elegant.  Tapping the SHIFT key changes the EXIT button to a CFG button where you can tailor the program settings to your liking.  You can set where on the screen you want the program to appear (or fill the whole screen), customize the level of transparency, and toggle the key click noise.  The key click is very soft and I prefer to leave it on for feedback.

UBoard should be available in a few weeks and Nostram will be selling the utility for $14.95.  I should point out that even though I am using a beta version it has been rock solid and given me no trouble.  I will follow up with a post when UBoard is available for purchase.

Sony posts U750P drivers

In what can only be described as a most timely move, UAddict today reports that the Sony Support Site has posted the drivers for the US U750P.  The new site also has a lot of support information for Sony U owners and is a must stop for if you have one.  It looks like they haven't posted any of the original applications for those who need to rebuild their U but the rest of the stuff is pretty good.  I don't see the Gunze Touchpad drivers anywhere nor the Sony Keyboard driver so this driver list may not be everything you need to completely rebuild your U.  I am still glad to see Sony get on the ball with support.

Make sure you back up your UPC and Tablet PC properly

My Sony U750P is a brick right now. Yesterday I was doing some partition merging with Partition Magic and it choked in the middle.  I have used Partition Magic for years and never had a problem but my number finally came up.  The process aborted with a file attribute error leaving the C drive inaccessible, which on regular computers is not that big a problem to fix but on UPCs and some Tablet PCs the problem takes on greater complexity.  The Sony U, like many UPCs and Tablet PCs ships without either a floppy drive or an optical drive.  This means that when your system won't boot from the hard drive you have no options for booting the device to make a recovery attempt.  I have an optical drive on the way so I should be in a position to recover or rebuild my Sony soon.

I made a backup of all my documents and important files immediately before attempting the partitioning so I will be able to recover the data once I can boot the Sony.  I am pretty sure a simple CHKDSK will fix the problem Partition Magic has caused in which case I won't need the backup but it's there if I do.  I did not image the whole hard drive on the Sony prior to messing with the partitions for two reasons.  One, I didn't have an optical drive which makes it difficult, and two, in the event of a catastrophe a disk image wouldn't allow me to restore the data onto another computer.  I backed up all the important folders and files onto an external hard drive, an iPod to be exact, so I was able to restore everything onto another computer so I could continue my work.  This backup process got me to thinking about common pitfalls in such a strategy so I thought I'd share it with you.  I use Karen's Replicator for manual backups like this for a couple of reasons- it's free and lightning fast and it copies the files straight across as files and not some compressed special backup format.  This makes it easier to bring to other systems from the external drive but more importantly lets me index the files with desktop search programs.  This way if I choose to do so these backed up files will appear in search results for a specific file.

Most programs put all user created data in a folder under the My Documents tree so backing this stuff up is very simple.  But there are certain programs that by default put data in other locations and it is crucial to remember to back these folders up too.  I'll discuss programs I use that put data in odd places so if you use any of these programs you'll be aware that a normal backup may not capture your important data.

Outlook- everyone who uses Outlook is probably aware that the files it creates are put in special places.  I say places because I have seen Outlook put the PST, OST and other files it creates in two different places.  It is very important to back these files up so you can recover your PIM data and emails if you need to.  The two different folder trees I have seen Outlook use are:

C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

These directory trees are both set as hidden by default and you must set the properties to allow you to see them before working directly with them.  A better solution for backing up and restoring of Outlook data is to use a utility that is designed specifically for that task.  I use OutBack Plus and swear by its ability to back up the entire Outlook/ Internet Explorer/ Firefox environment and easily restore it onto another computer.  Once you restore with OutBack Plus your entire web and Outlook environment is exactly like it was when the backup was made, even on a brand new computer.

Onfolio- I use Onfolio all day long and my data and RSS feeds are important to backup.  The data "collections" are stored under the My Documents tree by default so as long as you haven't changed that you will be OK by simply backing up the My Documents tree.  The RSS feeds are another matter, and unfortunately Onfolio chooses to store them in another hidden folder by default.  If you don't back up the correct folder specifically you lose all your feeds and history information, which for me numbers in the hundreds.  Be sure and back up your feed information in the following default folder (after making it visible in the properties):

C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\Onfolio

Special programs- I use both QuickBooks and TimeTTracker to handle my accounting needs and both of these programs store the data in special locations so if you have programs like these make sure you back up this critical data.  Both programs also allow you to back the data up from within the program and I recommend you do that too.  This gives you redundancy for critical stuff you can't live without.

While this list is by no means comprehensive the purpose of this article is to demonstrate not only how important making backups can be, especially when doing potentially dangerous maintenance on your computer, but also to point out that you must be aware of all the different locations programs store critical data so they can be included in the backup procedure.