A View of UMPC Market

An interesting piece on UMPC’s being a possible new market category for compute devices. One of the telling enablers is WiMax –

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.

The article is a point - counter point style so also read the ‘why not’ piece as well.

But with marketing photos like the above from MWave, there is a decided niche for women. They are lighter, smaller than a standard like the Dell D600 class laptop. These are factors that women favor.

I can think of a few things to add. WiMax of course. But once that chips is in there, circuity for always on capability for supporting VoIP and a bluetooth (or better) capability to link that with the earset.

Linky.