SlashGear

Ultra Mobile Life, Via’s UMPC blog, has been busy with their graphics tablets again, producing this mighty fine concept of what a Modular UMPC might look like.  Consisting of a central core unit, complete with full-front touchscreen, which can then be augmented by a snap-on keyboard accessory creating a layout not dissimilar (though far cooler looking) to the Pepperpad 3.  UML see this as your portable VOIP speakerphone, presentation-giving multi-purpose filofax killer, and they could just be right.  Be sure to check out what they have in mind for those desktop powerhouse moments, after the cut…

When you’re in need of some major screen estate and a conventional keyboard, the Modular UMPC slots into a notebook-style chassis which gives easy access to DVD drives, external hard-drive backup, scanners, printers and more.  Because the core unit is used in each scenario, when it’s time to hit the road you’ll know that all your data is up-to-date.

Of course, it’s just a concept right now, but given Yahoo!’s partnership with Intel it’s looking like UMPC is definitely heading mainstream, despite the critics’ barbs. 

The Modular UMPC [ultramobilelife.com]