The Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs) of old—like the Sony VAIO VGN-UX180P, the Vulcan Flipstart, and OQO model 02—have all retreated into the digital afterworld because of their gravely impractical form factors or too expensive price tag. PC makers haven't given up on the concept, though, as Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs)—handhelds made specifically for surfing the Web and watching videos—are waiting on deck to replace their forefathers. Their mission: To fill whatever tiny space there is left between smartphones and the ever-growing netbook category. One such device, the Viliv S5 Premium ($800 list) is described as a MID, as it lacks a physical keyboard and a big enough screen that would have otherwise placed it in the netbook category. Dynamism is one of the few Web sites that imports this handheld device from Korea. Aside from the full blown operating system and internal 3G (and GPS) capability, the S5 illustrates why MIDs will have to jump over mountain-high hurdles to gain acceptance: The haptic keyboard is frustrating to use, the resolution is too high on a 4.8-inch screen, and $800 is way too expensive for a stripped down netbook.
Yukyung Technologies Corporation
http://www.dynamism.com
- Price as Tested: $800.00 Street
- Type: General Purpose, Ultraportable, Value
- Operating System: MS Windows XP Home
- Processor Name: Intel Atom Z520
- Processor Speed: 1.33 GHz
- RAM: 1 GB
- Weight: 14.4 oz
- Screen Size: 4.8 inches
- Screen Size Type: widescreen
- Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500
- Storage Capacity: 32 GB
- Networking Options: 802.11a/g
- Primary Optical Drive: External
