UMID promised a new MID for IDF 2009, and they’ve delivered on that promise. The UMID mbook M2 – seen here in pre-finalised prototype stage – gets a choice of faster 1.2GHz or 1.6GHz Intel Atom processors, together with 1GB of RAM (the M1 had just 512MB) and standardized ports.
Video demo after the cut
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It comes as no surprise that UMID are delivering the first look at their second-generation mbook MID at next week's IDF - after all, they revealed those plans back in August - but the big news is that they're promising a US launch for the new device by the end of the year. That could mean the UMID M2 discussed back in February.
Kohjinsha have announced their latest MID, the PM-series, and if you’ve followed the scene in ultracompact PCs over the past few months then you’ll be quick to recognize it as the UMID mbook M1. Freshly rebadged and on sale in Japan for 59,800 yen ($646), the Kohjinsha PM keeps the mbook’s Atom Z510 1.1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM but seemingly lacks an integrated 3G option.
Importer Dynamism have announced that they will be selling the matte black version of UMID’s mbook M1 MID, with preorders kicking off today and deliveries expected to begin from August 25th. The compact clamshell has a 4.8-inch 1,024 x 600 touchscreen, together with the same Intel Atom Z520 1.33GHz processor as in Viliv’s popular S5 and X70 MIDs, and will retail from $599.
UMID’s M1 mbook MID has fallen of the radar over the past few months, having made plenty of headlines and even clinched the title of “best UMPC available” from at least one reviewer. Over at UMPC Portal they’ve been talking with the Korean company, who apparently are yet to reach quantity shipping due to LCD shortages; that milestone should be met in September this year, with both white and black models produced in bulk. They’ve also dropped a few hints about upcoming model refreshes.
SlashGear has been hanging out with Google this week, at the I/O 2009 conference. You can read our first day and second day highlights for the full details, but perhaps the most interesting news was Google’s Wave demo for iPhone and Android, and Andy Rubin’s confirmation that there should be 18-20 Android handsets on the market by the end of the year. One of those is expected to be the HTC Hero; make sure to check out the promo video for the chin-heavy smartphone.
Fresh UMID mbook M1 news this week, with both the range of importers set to double (yes, to two) and the range of models to increase, including the long-awaited integrated-3G version of the MID. Dynamism have confirmed that they’ll be offering the M1 from $599 from June 15th; meanwhile, existing importer Justek have revealed that they’ve a shipment of all-black models with integrated 3G also expected in June.
It’s now got a whole lot easier to pick up UMID’s mbook M1, as exported Justek announce that they’re shipping the clamshell MID to anywhere worldwide. Rather than having to go to Korea, then, you can now order the Atom-based mini-notebook online; prices start from $659, and both Linux and Windows XP versions are available.
The UMID M1 mBook’s keyboard prompted no small amount of discussion among MID-lovers, primarily as to whether it was of sufficient size for reasonable typing. We even recorded our own typing video demo to get a better idea. Simmering in the background, though, was a more aesthetic concern: UMID’s decision to pair every case color with the same white keyboard. Now, the company has seemingly listened to reason, and offered up an all-black version of the M1 mBook.
If the UMID M1 has shown us anything, it’s that no one device can be everything for every person. The 4.8-inch touchscreen clamshell MID has come in for praise over its compact size, speedy components and lengthy battery, but concerns over keyboard usability and build quality have left some uncertain. Over at UMPC Portal, our friend Steve has been summing up the M1
Seven-minute UMID M1 overview video after the cut
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