Thanks for checking on the memory Marcel.

I don't think the camera would be too useful anyway, except for video conferencing (which I don't do)......it would be more useful if it could be rotated. A lack of blutetooth is unacceptable though......I thought that would be standard on all UMPC's.

In terms of memory, I need to be able to run Visual Studio, so I would like to have as much memory as possible.

Cheers
Neil

Vent:

In terms of memory, I need to be able to run Visual Studio...

Neil, mind if I ask why you would need to run VS on a UMPC?  Surely i'd like to be able to run VS, should I invest on a UMPC.  However I think it's been long since drilled into our heads that a UMPC is a secondary computing device, and as i'm sure some may have noticed lacks a keyboard which comes in quite handy while using VS.

-Matt

propstm:

Neil, mind if I ask why you would need to run VS on a UMPC?  Surely i'd like to be able to run VS, should I invest on a UMPC.  However I think it's been long since drilled into our heads that a UMPC is a secondary computing device, and as i'm sure some may have noticed lacks a keyboard which comes in quite handy while using VS.

-Matt

Not at all :)

One of the reasons I am purchasing a UMPC is so that I can update/fix the app we use at work on-the-move.

I understand that these are meant to be secondary machines, but some members of this forum do use theirs for VS, so I know it can be done. With that in mind, I don't want to purchase a UMPC that can't do this effectively. Admittedly, at the moment, I use the express edition of VB (stop sniggering at the back), but may eventually persuade work that we need the added functionality of VS ;)

As for the keyboard, I will be able to use an onscreen keyboard for little tweaks, and use an external one for bigger problems.

Cheers
Neil

Ah ha!  It all makes sense now!  Honestly, I'd love to do that very same thing with VS, but the way the specs have been rolling out lately I'm beginning to think that unless I really want to spend more than I can afford, I may have to give up the ability to use VS (with moderate ease).

Right now i'm standing around waiting to see if the ASUS model is all it's cracked up to be, and hopefully maybe a little cheaper than the competition so it would be a bit easier to afford.

propstm:

Right now i'm standing around waiting to see if the ASUS model is all it's cracked up to be...

Me too. I'm seriously tempted by the i7210, but I want to see how that pans out too.

The Q1b sounds nice, but I think they've removed some of the nice features, and they still insist on not implementing a trackpoint (or whatever they're called) of any kind. I know they've added a mobile data connection, but that's no good to me anyway, unless I want to keep swapping my SIM between my phone and UMPC.

Cheers
Neil

VS will work in these UMPCs, no doubt about it. I'm using it in a v7110 with a weaker processor. My only recommendation for using VS in these devices is to get as much RAM as you can. 1GB of RAM is a must have if you want VS.

propstm:

Vent:

In terms of memory, I need to be able to run Visual Studio...

Neil, mind if I ask why you would need to run VS on a UMPC?  Surely i'd like to be able to run VS, should I invest on a UMPC.  However I think it's been long since drilled into our heads that a UMPC is a secondary computing device, and as i'm sure some may have noticed lacks a keyboard which comes in quite handy while using VS.

-Matt

You can add a USB keyboard if you need to code a lot. But if you are just adding small changes to an existent project the UMPC is perfect companion and you don't need any USB keyboard for that. Like I said, I have been using my eo for all the latest updates I have done to all my projects.

Vent:

propstm:

Right now i'm standing around waiting to see if the ASUS model is all it's cracked up to be...

Me too. I'm seriously tempted by the i7210, but I want to see how that pans out too. The Q1b sounds nice, but I think they've removed some of the nice features, and they still insist on not implementing a trackpoint (or whatever they're called) of any kind. I know they've added a mobile data connection, but that's no good to me anyway, unless I want to keep swapping my SIM between my phone and UMPC. Cheers Neil

Vent. Thats exactly how I feel about the Samsung. No trackpoint = serious disadvantage. Built-in cellular data = no advantage if you a) only have one sim card 2) are allowed to teather your mobile data modem via bluetooth.
I'm wondering weather you'll see the Q1b turning up in Carphonewarehouse/vodafone etc soon though with 24 months data only contracts. Could be interesting to pay $250 Euro for the device and then 30 Euro per month. This would be great for UMPC's if this (financial) model was taken up.

My feeling is that the ASUS is going to be on par with the Amtek T700/e0 v7110, Q1 on battery life and around the same price (as the current pricing) but you'll see the Q1 and T700/eo drop right down in price. In the US we've already seen $100 discounting on the T700 (AGOPC) and in the UK, Expansys are undercutting all other retailers. I think the Q1 could drop $150  and the eo another $200 over the next 4-6 months as it becomes out-dated. (but still useful. The T700 is a great device.)

Steve.

Steve you mention the potential price drops and you and I have had this conversation before, it seems that if the devices come down in price, maybe even as little as $100-$200  I suspect that we would see a much larger consumption of the product by a wider base of customers for the simple reason that price will be becoming less of an issue.

You mention that the devices may become "out-dated" but I think that if, and as long as the devices are "Vista Ready"  they should be perfectly fine for staying within the curve of useable, and not outdated computer hardware.

Hi Propstm

I totally agree. The T700 is a great device now that they fixed the battery problem on the early devices. The ergonomics of the device are very good indeed.
If you think about how many people are selling this device now, the production line is probably well funded. There could be scope for some nice discounts for resellers.

Steve.

It would be nice if Asus just made a Umpc Barebones unit, set it up for atleast a core solo chip (now how much battery life will that boost?) and allow for your own choice of ram amount and your own choice of HD size. That would be pretty interesting, and they could meet the $500 price mark... okay and monkeys might fly outta my ......

 

Wow... this thing is sensitive to context in speech too

Today I received the ASUS R2H... Yippie!

I was pleasantly surprised; it's very complete with a foldable Targus keyboard with auto-rollup cable, a desktop stand, a nice bag to hold it and lots of cables, books and CD's.
There's even an USB netlink cable included!

I said earlier the Dutch version doesn't have Bluetooth and the Webcam. It does however have Bluetooth so only the Webcam is missing.