UMPC or MID, will we ever settle on a definition? at Micro PC Talk

UMPC or MID, will we ever settle on a definition?

Its that time of the year again, CES 2008 is on in full effect and with it Intel has come to the show floor with many MID/UMPC prototypes but the terms are used interchangeably with no apparent trend. It would be nice if we could say that a UMPC is a small handheld device running a full desktop OS, and an MID is a small handheld device running a lite, touch optimized OS wouldn’t it? Unfortunately it seems like the OEMs can’t even make up their mind on how to define this new genre of device.

First of all we have plenty of “MIDs”, Intel essentially claims all the products that it brought to CES are MIDs, and they are running on the Menlow platform. However LG has a Vista equipped device, using the Menlow platform, and it is calling this device a UMPC. HTC is apparently no longer classifying the HTC Shift as a UMPC, and one company is calling its product an MiND for Mobile Internet Navigation Device. On top of all of this it seems like Intel and some of it’s OEM partners can’t even get along, a Melow based device made by Toshiba is being shown off in Intel’s “MID” section, but Toshiba is calling it a UMPC.

I’m sure there will be more confusion in the weeks and months to come as many sites are claiming 2008 to be the Year of the MID [UMPC?]. Will consumers or companies ultimately define which term refers to what type of device? Maybe MID will consume the term UMPC, or maybe MID will be a sub section of the UMPC. Only time will tell.

Published by Benz145 January 9th, 2008 in Micro PC

4 Responses to “UMPC or MID, will we ever settle on a definition?”

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1 1 Alan Jan 9th, 2008 at 3:25 pm

Whom really cares about the labeling of the devices? What is more important is that finally people have realized the the MS vision of a 7″ bulky non keyboard device is a flop. A December 2007 Forbes article cited IDC’s numbers of only 350K umpc sold in 07′.

The real issue to me is the form factor of not being small enough to be carried in a jacket pocket so that they are differentiated from sub/notbooks. Also the reality is that everyone still prefers a touch type keyboard no matter what techies want to hope for.

If some of these new devices solve those two issues they will gain mainstream adoption and we will not worry about what we label them, we will just use them. I hope to see a modern version of the old Psion 5mx/Revo, or HP Jornada form factors being adopted by some of these next new type of mobile computers.
2 2 Jim Feb 9th, 2008 at 12:46 am

I agreee what we really need is an updated clamshell computer that runs windows
3 3 Patty Mar 25th, 2008 at 11:14 am

Alan, I agree!!!

What part of clamshell, touch screen, keyboard, pocket sized do these manufactures’ marketing people not understand? They should be making this for business people, not aiming at game playing kids. What I am waiting to buy is an updated Jornada 720 with the same touch screen & full keyboard, but with at least 40GB HD, 1.0 RAM, USB2.0 ( preferably 2 ) running full windows ( Preferably XP ). Want it to easily fit into my purse and for the screen to be protected. HP are you listening?? Pull out that 720 design and update the thing and I’ll be first in line. I am still using my second Jornada 720; wore the first one out.