Sony's VAIO UX390 has a handy slide-up keyboard, and we liked the multiple input options (keyboard, touch screen, and pointing stick), as well as the solid state hard drive. The device as a whole, however, is expensive, offers limited battery life and is a little too big for easy toting.
The OQO model 02 is slim and attractive, but the battery life is very short and actual performance is somewhat sluggish compared to other UMPCs. Good job on the outside, time to work on the inside.
The Vulcan FlipStart, the long-delayed UMPC from a company started by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, looks almost like a shrunken laptop. The blue clamshell design offers protection for the screen and keyboard, but you'll need big pockets to lug it around. It did, however, have one of our favorite features--a tiny 1.5-inch touchpad, which turned out to be the easiest way to manipulate the mouse pointer on any of these UMPCs.
The Asus R2H is closer to portable media player. It has a massive (for a UMPC) 7-inch screen, but lacks the most basic input device--a keyboard.
None of these systems is quite there yet, but hopefully the next generation of UMPCs will combine all the features we liked, and eliminate some of the more persistant problems.
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| Product name |
Sony VAIO UX390 |
OQO Model 02 |
FlipStart 1.0 |
Asus R2H Ultramobile PC |
| Review date | February 08, 2007 | April 23, 2007 | April 17, 2007 | January 29, 2007 |
| CNET editors' rating |
Very good |
Very good |
Very good |
Good |
| Users' rating |
Good (
from 9
users)
|
Very good |
Spectacular (
from 1
users)
|
Good (
from 4
users)
|
| Buying choices |
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| Product videos | Watch video | Watch video | Watch video | |
| Review summary | The pocket-size Sony VAIO UX390 makes solid improvements over the first generation of UMPCs, but its target audience is unclear. | The OQO model 02 is a well-designed, attractive UMPC. If not for its slow CPU and short battery life, it would be a clear category leader. | The most laptop-like UMPC seen to date, the clamshell Vulcan FlipStart E-1001S offers welcome features including a touch pad, but it's still not the real-world practical UMPC we've been waiting for. | The Asus R2H is too big to be truly ultramobile, but its relatively large screen and decent battery make it good for on-the-go Web surfing and media playing, even if the onscreen keyboard is a chore to use. |
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| Basic Specs | ||||
| Product Description | Sony VAIO UX Premium UX390N Micro PC - Core Solo U1500 1.33 GHz - 4.5 in TFT active matrix - with Port replicator | OQO Model 02 - C7-M 1.5 GHz - 5 in TFT active matrix | FlipStart 1.0 - Pentium M 1.1 GHz - 5.6 in | ASUS R2H BH059T-3 - Celeron M 900 MHz - 7 in TFT active matrix |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 5.9 in x 1.5 in x 3.7 in | 5.6 in x 3.3 in x 1 in | 5.9 in x 4.5 in x 1.3 in | 9.2 in x 5.2 in x 1.1 in |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs | 16 oz | 1.7 lbs | 1.8 lbs |
| Platform Technology | Intel Centrino | Ultra Mobile PC | Info unavailable | Ultra Mobile PC |
| Windows Vista Certification | Windows Vista Capable | Windows Vista Capable | Info unavailable | Windows Vista Capable |
| System Type | Ultra portable PC | Ultra portable PC | Ultra portable PC | Ultra portable PC |
| Built-in Devices | Speaker , Bluetooth antenna , Wireless LAN antenna | Speaker , Wireless LAN antenna | Speaker , SideShow LCD Display , Wireless LAN antenna | GPS , Speaker , Wireless LAN antenna |
| Embedded Security | Fingerprint reader | Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip | Info unavailable | Fingerprint reader |
| Processor | Intel Core Solo U1500 / 1.33 GHz Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) | VIA C7-M 1.5 GHz Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) | Intel Pentium M 1.1 GHz Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) | Intel Celeron M 900 MHz Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) |
| Cache Memory | 2 MB - L2 cache | Info unavailable | L2 cache | 512 KB - L2 cache |
| RAM | 1 GB (installed) / 1 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 400 MHz - PC2-3200 ( 1 x 1 GB ) | 1 GB (installed) / 1 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 533 MHz | 512 MB DDR SDRAM | 768 MB (installed) / 768 MB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz ( 1 x 512 MB + 256 MB (soldered) ) |
| Card Reader | Card reader | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Card reader |
| Floppy Drive | None | None | Info unavailable | None |
| Hard Drive | 32 GB | 60 GB - 4200 rpm | 30 GB | 60 GB - 4200 rpm |
| Optical Storage | None | None | None | Info unavailable |
| Optical Storage (2nd) | None | None | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Storage Removable | None | None | None | Info unavailable |
| Display | 4.5 in TFT active matrix 1024 x 600 ( WSVGA ) | 5 in TFT active matrix 800 x 480 ( WVGA ) | 5.6 in 1024 x 600 ( WSVGA ) | 7 in TFT active matrix 800 x 480 ( WVGA ) |
| Graphics Controller | Intel GMA 950 - 224 MB | VIA UniChrome Pro | Info unavailable | Intel GMA 900 |
| Audio Output | Sound card | Sound card | Sound card | Headphone |
| Telecom | Wireless cellular modem | None | Info unavailable | None |
| Wireless Broadband (WWAN) | EDGE - AT&T | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Networking | Network adapter - Ethernet , - Bluetooth , - IEEE 802.11a , - IEEE 802.11b , - IEEE 802.11g , - Fast Ethernet | Network adapter - IEEE 802.11a , - IEEE 802.11b , - IEEE 802.11g , - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR | Network adapter - Ethernet , - Bluetooth , - IEEE 802.11b , - IEEE 802.11g , - Fast Ethernet | Network adapter - Ethernet , - IEEE 802.11b , - IEEE 802.11g , - Fast Ethernet , - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR |
| Wireless NIC | Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Notebook Camera | Integrated | Info unavailable | Integrated | Integrated - 1.3 Megapixel |
| Input Device | Keyboard , Touch-screen , Pointing stick | Keyboard , Digitizer , Track stick , TouchScrollers | Keypad , Jog Dial , Touchpad , TouchStick | Mouse , Stylus , Thumb stick , Touch-screen , 4-way navigation button |
| Battery | Lithium ion | Lithium polymer | Info unavailable | Lithium polymer |
| OS Provided | Microsoft Windows Vista , Microsoft Windows Vista Business | Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition | Info unavailable | Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition |
| Bundled with | Port replicator | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty | Info unavailable | 2 years warranty |
| CNET Labs Battery Drain Test: DVD Playback (min) | 212 (Using Labs' External DVD Drive) | 84 | 211 | Info unavailable |
| TV Tuner Type | Info unavailable | None | Info unavailable | None |
| Run Time (Up To) | Info unavailable | 3 hour(s) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Voltage Required | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | AC 120/230 V |
| Product name | Sony VAIO UX390 | OQO Model 02 | FlipStart 1.0 | Asus R2H Ultramobile PC |
| Full specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications | Full Specifications |
| Price range |
$1100-1360 from 3 stores |
$n/a from store |
$n/a from 0 store |
$950 from 1 store |