Doug

But – the “Information Manager” market segment that Michael and I researched when we worked together at Palm represents 12% of the population – and for most of those people a Tungsten X would come closer to satisfying their desires than any UMPC I have seen.

But neither really nail it at all.

The “ideal” information manager needs to be small enough and light enough that you can painlessly carry it with you all the time. The usage model is instant-on, enter a scrap of information, turn off. Instant on, look up some information, turn off. Lots of 3 second to 5 minute snips, mixed with some occasional hour-long reading/browsing times.

Your Wallet application is an ideal app for information managers. An information-centric users would love to be able to reach in a pocket, pull out a device, look up a pin, and put the device away. Ideally the total time should take 5 seconds, and be one-handed.

Windows XP on a UMPC does not embrace a super-simple data-lookup / data-entry UI at all.

I hope to see the UMPC evolve – but for now it seems to have a very long way to go. But since PDA’s have stopped evolving, the market is wide open….

– chris

Doug

“The price needs to be cut in half.”

$450? $600? The iPhone is going to cost $499 and I’m betting it will sell. I agree that the price needs to go down but I think half is more than is needed (although I wouldn’t complain if I could get one for $400). Now it does sound like the UMPC isn’t right for you so for YOU to buy one I imagine it would have to be quite a bit less. If a device isn’t something you really want, then you’re less willing to pay for it. That’s normal.

“It needs to go a few days (ideally a week) between charges”

There isn’t a Pocket PC on the market that will do this with heavy use. Same with laptops. I’d LOVE to see this but I think saying the UMPC requires this to succeed is to set an unreasonable demand. Yes. Battery life is crappy but let’s look for realistic battery times.

“And most importantly – the UI is totally wrong and overly complex.”

It’s Windows XP. It’s the exact same OS millions of people sit down in front of every day of the week. Could the UI of Windows use an update? Sure. But one could argue that the UI is just as good as (or better than) Pocket PC since it doesn’t require the user to learn a new OS. And as a personal note, I find the UMPC XP easier than desktop because of the touch interface. I now tend to tap my monitor on my desktop all the time because I’m so used to that option on the UMPC.

“But for the time being – I’d much rather have a Tungsten X than any UMPC made today.”

It sounds like the Tungsten really fits your needs. It doesn’t fit mine though. Web surfing on a Tungsten is hugely unsatisfying. It won’t let me run my Access databases. It won’t run a large number of programs I like on my desktop. Memory is sorely limited. BUT…

…it’s a great device at what IT does which is not the same thing as what the UMPC does.

And that was the point in my post (and the point of Michael’s article in fact). Each market has different needs and different devices will serve those markets differently. For you, the Tungsten serves your needs. For me, it doesn’t. Fortunately for me, the UMPC exists!

“The only disagreement I have is in regards to Information Management devices. I think they have continued to evolve and that the uber-device for these users already exists. It’s the UMPC.”

The UMPC may be it – someday.

But it isn’t even close now.

The price needs to be cut in half.
It needs to go a few days (ideally a week) between charges.

And most importantly – the UI is totally wrong and overly complex.

We always used to point out that it would be easier for the PDA to evolve into the perfect information manager than it would be for the PC to shrink. But now that PDA’s have stopped evolving, maybe the UMPC has a chance.

But for the time being – I’d much rather have a Tungsten X than any UMPC made today.

– chris // http://www.radven.net

I wish! The size of the OQO is really incredible. I’d love to get one myself!

Also, the point about pricing made over at Just Another Mobile Monday was a good one that I missed. I think a $600-$800 price point would make a HUGE difference in sales for the UMPC (and is necessary in the long run.) Right now you can get a Tabletkiosk for $899 but other than the occasional referb on WOOT the $1000-$1400 price tag is still pretty high.

Again though…I believe this is simply a “new technology” thing and that just as battery life will improve, prices will go down. Anyone else remember when people were paying $400-$600 for a non-connected Pocket PC?

I think one of my biggest gripes (much as you mentioned) with PPCs is the complete lack of ability of these devices – especially Stupid/Smartphones. I really want a MOBILE computer with me all the time. But at the same time I want one in my pocket …

The nice thing about my BlackJack is its considered “cool” by people and I don’t get laughed at by the guys I work with for being a geek. The bad thing about it is the complete inability of Pocket IE to render any web pages … if you’re not looking at a basic html page with limited images on it – don’t plan on looking!

Anyway – as I said, nice write up. I guess the next chance I have I’ll be sure to check out a UMPC for my mobile needs. Here’s to hoping its what I’ve been missing.

You guys fouldn’t happen to have a spare OQO2 laying around I could “borrow” would you?