Will Philip Berne buy anything, or is there really merit to the UMPC form? Our Editor talks about the future potential for this "t'ain't a laptop, t'ain't a PDA" device category.
Also read: Point / Counterpoint: Why I would not buy a UMPC
The appeal of the UMPC is in an experience that has yet to be fully realized on the device. Once real ubiquitous wireless internet access is the norm, I think that these devices will really catch fire. It isn't that the market has been clamoring for a 5-inch tablet with WiMAX, but that's exactly my point. I think that people aren't used to the idea of having a good broadband internet connection on a portable, though not tiny, device. Soon, though, I think we could see these everywhere.
Why, oh WiMAX
The Internet will always be second-rate on a phone, due to the small screen and lack of processing power. Once phones start catching up to desktop browsers for flash and AJAX, new technologies will emerge and leave phones behind. But having the Web available on a portable device is becoming a popular idea, and both consumers and companies are seeing the potential in a mobile Web. I think that Web will be a much better experience on a more powerful device with a larger, more interactive screen.
If it seems a frivolous notion to expect a desktop Web experience on a portable device, remember how much the iPhone changed expectations about what a Web browser on a phone will be. In the same way, I would like to see a Web browser reinvented for the UMPC. A browser that can work with the UMPCs GPS and telephony capabilities to extend the mobile browsing experience. But again, we're talking real power here. So, if you're curious about a movie that's playing at a theater you're walking past, you can download a high-quality preview quickly. If you want to find a good Italian restaurant, you can browse Zagat, make a reservation on Open Table, and then GPS will help you get there easily. And if you want to videoconference with the friends you'll be meeting, that will be no problem either.
Can't you do that on a phone?
Yes, all of these things are capable on some phones, but the experience is so tiny, so cramped, that I really think people will find the larger UMPC experience refreshing. There will need to be a couple changes first, of course. The devices will need to be thinner and lighter. And, we could use some fresh input ideas. HTC's Shift might be an interesting attempt, but it's much bigger than we'd like. Let's think multi-touch and gestures instead. But the paramount addition will be fast networking. EV-DO and HSDPA might be fast enough, but today's Web sites really demand something faster, like WiMAX, assuming Sprint's trials of Xohm in motion come off without a hitch.
So, maybe I wouldn't commit to a Samsung Q1 Ultra or an OQO O2, but I still buy into the idea of a powerful, mobile internet-enabled device with a 5-inch touchscreen and a real desktop OS. I think it's a device category whose time will come, and soon, as early smartphone and iPhone users look to replace their devices with something bigger and brighter.
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