Hewlett Packard planning first UMPC?
updated 04:30 pm EST, Mon February 18, 2008
HP May Launch 1st UMPC
Hewlett Packard is believed to be breaking into the Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC) market with an entry due by the spring of this year, a recent report from CNET proposes. The news reportedly stems from a conversation with HP management over an informal dinner. No specs or hard numbers were gleaned, but a low price of entry is likely; battery life and other gripes associated with such devices will be above average or otherwise near the top of the class, according to the claim.
HP staff also let it slip that the device is suitable for use by professionals and enthusiasts alike, hinting its appearance will be customizable via skins. If it comes to market, the mini PC is expected to be no longer than 10 inches, similar to the recent Flipstart UMPC. No timetable for a release has been made available, however.
The American firm is no stranger to portable devices, having built numerous PDAs, handheld GPS units, cellphones and digital cameras. HP has previously converged these technologies into a single device, the Windows-based iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion, which features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities alongside its core GPS mapping feature.
