ViewSonic VPC08 Windows XP MID-phone caught in wild

ViewSonic might not be the first name you'd associate with a smartphone, but then the ViewSonic VPC08 isn't your typical handset.  It's actually a voice-enabled clamshell MID, running Windows XP on an 800MHz Atom Z500 processor with a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, while there are also external dialling controls and a 2-inch display.

Other specs include a somewhat paltry 512MB of RAM, 8GB SSD, WiFi and a 1,200mAh battery, which also seems on the small side.  Ports include a 3.5mm headphone jack, miniUSB and microSD, and there's a 2-megapixel camera on the back.  To give you an idea of scale, there's a shot of the VPC08 next to a Nokia N97 mini in the gallery below.

Along with the touchscreen there's an optical mouse for navigating while you're holding the MID with both hands.  Apparently you can power on the phone aspect of the VPC08 independently of the MID side, so that should eke out a little more runtime.  No word on pricing or availability as yet.

[via Pocketables]