Daddio's Profile

There are a number of items in this article that make it patently absurd and is obviously more Microsoft bashing than well reasoned. If Microsoft made it then it must stink, if Apple made it then it would be cool. You say it has a lousy interface without mentioning how it works or citing videos demonstrating the user interface. The "facts" listed in the article are heavily biased to argue against the device instead of giving fair treatment, for example: You price an iPod at $100, I paid $300 for mine. You price a PDA at $100, I paid $600 for mine. I read books, watch recorded TV shows and movies, use a couple simple but essential spread sheets, play a couple simple but addictive games on my PocketPC type PDA. I just love the thing but there is one wish: a larger screen. The UMPC appears to be aimed at someone who wants a media player on the go -- it will function well in playing videos easily recorded off TV or ripped from your DVD collection, at a very nice size for personal viewing. It is aimed at those needing an e-book reader, and the form factor quite honestly is ideal for that and there are some excellent programs such as uBook to help fit this bill. It is aimed at someone who wants some of their favorite games that don't require supercharged systems to have with them, say, on a trip. You know what? That's a pretty nice sized screen for GPS, and that is one of its intended uses. Etc. I'm a Mac devotee. I don't like Microsoft. But as someone who has tasted the high-end uses of PDAs I can see many many good things about the new UMPCs and very few drawbacks. Taking into consideration the utility of the device and its portability -- a "man bag" might be in order but I already carry one -- and compare the price to devices that attempt and fall short of similar functionality then you have a very respectable product. It has full-blown XP with a touch screen interface. It is a multimedia playing workhorse. With a foldable keyboard you can have an excellent portable wordprocessor. Not the best game machine but far from the worst as well. It is not a question of whether the UMPC is right for a great many people but rather a question of whether they can be brought to realize it. For a great many -- maybe even the majority -- it is quite honestly all the computer they will ever need and more -- and it's damned easy to take with you to your friend's house. I just hope Apple answers this soon as Microsoft beat them to the punch with this one.