Anybody heard anything on UMPCs?

[capiche]

Remember the UMPC domain rush several months back? Has anybody heard anything else about them? Seems like news about them has fallen off the face of the earth.
I was at Best Buy several months ago and asked the guy in computers if they had any for sale and he looked at me like he had no idea what I was talking about, even though they sell them on their website.

I have a couple of UMPC names that get some stray traffic, but would be good names if UMPCs were to ever breakout and be popular.

I also wonder if all the talk of .mobi has taken the focus off of them or if .mobi will also somehow be utilized by them?

Anyone know anything?

 

[cache]

I also have a few UMPC names and would like to know the answer

 

[movingconcierge]

Here's the answer...it was a waste of good money There are some good UMPC units out there already (aside from origami / oy - my - money - gone - e) and my names are sitting flat, just like those stupid blooks...stupid trendy threads.

 

[capiche]

Here's the answer...it was a waste of good money There are some good UMPC units out there already (aside from origami / oy - my - money - gone - e) and my names are sitting flat, just like those stupid blooks...stupid trendy threads.

You're probably right. It's hard not to get swept up sometimes. :notme:

 

[GoPC]

UMPC in concept is a great thing... it's the new wave of technology that is still ahead of the curve a bit. The devices that are on teh market today are really concept designs, bug shakers. Give it another couple of years and they will be full on.

I think the BIGGEST issue with the UMPC market is the name... UMPC.

Ultra Mobile Personal Computer is a pretty poor name for the market niche. Something more Personal, Portable, computabile... not UMPC. LAME NAME.

Even so, I also won some UMPC names to hedge my bets.

Until the market niche is properly branded, I don't think you will see a great mental association and marketing campaign surrounding it. UMPC isn't it.... the manufacturers know that.

They need a name that will sink in and brand the entire marketplace, like how IBM is even today known as IBM computers versus Macintosch. IBM doesn't even make them any more but that still 'brands" the marget segment. Like virtually any folded PC is known as a Notebook or Laptop but nobody actually builds a pc called "laptop".

THEN you will see the devices being more heavily sought after.

But will that be the term "UMPC"? Can't say for sure but I don't think so... I think it will be something more encompassing, more brandable.

GoPC

 

[jimmeh]

What is a "UMPC"?

links, please

edit: wikipedia to the rescue

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-Mobile_PC

 

[GoPC]

UMPC is, should be rather, more than just a few creative datapad devices. "Ultra Mobile PC"... what is that anyway? "Ultra Mobile"?

These things are MORE mobile than a pocket PC? More than a Laptop? More than a Notebook? What is so "Ultra" about these devices?

And what about the NEXT product to hit the shelf? Will that then be the Ultra, Ultra Mobile PC? The Super Ultra Mobile PC? Then the Super Duper Mega Ultra Moible PC?

Better start buying up SDMUMPC.com domains! LOL!!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.. this market niche needs a break-out product to define it. Until then, it is nothing more than a novelty.

GoPC

 

[capiche]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.. this market niche needs a break-out product to define it. Until then, it is nothing more than a novelty.

I agree. I just can't believe these companies, esp. Microsoft, would put any kind of money into a product and then just drop the ball. It's too late to even hype these things up for Christmas. I guess if I was making $200,000 an hour I wouldn't be that concerned about it either. :lol:

 

[cache]

I like what you are saying.

UMPC is, should be rather, more than just a few creative datapad devices. "Ultra Mobile PC"... what is that anyway? "Ultra Mobile"?

These things are MORE mobile than a pocket PC? More than a Laptop? More than a Notebook? What is so "Ultra" about these devices?

And what about the NEXT product to hit the shelf? Will that then be the Ultra, Ultra Mobile PC? The Super Ultra Mobile PC? Then the Super Duper Mega Ultra Moible PC?

Better start buying up SDMUMPC.com domains! LOL!!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.. this market niche needs a break-out product to define it. Until then, it is nothing more than a novelty.

GoPC

 

[GoPC]

I agree. I just can't believe these companies, esp. Microsoft, would put any kind of money into a product and then just drop the ball.

You miss the big picture here... MS didn't build the product, they sold a truck load of XP development licenses, developed and sold the Origami "virtual touch keyboard" software package and license to dozens of companies that are now paying out the nose to continue the license as they proceed down the development path.

No, MS didn't waste anymoney nor have they dropped the ball.

Rather, they created a market niche by developing something they could sell to the would be niche holders. Their job is done. Money has changed hands long ago. Now it's all about the support dollars they will earn for the next 100 years.

MS is no fool... it's these companies that are eager to feed at the MS teet while not having a real idea of what they really want to accomplish with the product.

The first mistake was letting MS brand the niche... ironically, that is the first remedy to launch the niche into the mainstream user market. Get RID of the "UMPC" and embrace a new branding campaign that personalizes and properly identifies the brand and the use of the product in the niche.

GoPC

 

[capiche]

Good points. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see if someone will take it in a new direction.