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Remember the UMPC (ultra-mobile PCs) that were probably the biggest buzz and then upset of this past year? It all began with Microsoft’s big viral/teaser-ish marketing campaign dubbed Origami Project, only for us to find out that they really had nothing to do with the new devices. Intel and other manufacturers, including Samsung and TabletKiosk, really led the charge on these, eventually to be follow-up by alternative variations like the Sony UX. While the concept for the 5-7” widescreen, touchscreen portable PCs were very good, the reviewers biggest complaints fell in the battery department. You just can’t sell a ultra mobile device and then need to plug it into the wall every three hours.

Microsoft has come out themselves and announced that the devices would switch over to Vista in the near future. Now we have sources that are saying that this will happen at CES in two weeks and the hardware already has the capability to support Microsoft’s software. The major hurdle for these devices are to get over the negative stigma of the tablet PC. The size and benefits are not too far apart to convince consumers that these will take off any more than the tablet, maybe Vista and some low power chip sets can help.

Read [Only UMPC]

The EVO Tablet Arm is a floating docking station for tablet PCs and notebooks, allowing the user to create an ergonomic computing station at his/her primary desk. A gas spring arm “floats” the computer above the desk for comfortable viewing, with quick attach and release for work on the go. A full-size keyboard and mouse can be used to recapture the comfort of a desktop PC.

The EVO Tablet Arm is of particular value for tablet PCs, which can be awkward to use, particularly from a seated position—the user must either lay the screen flat on the desk, or cradle it in one arm while writing with the other. The EVO Tablet Arm solves this problem by allowing the user to suspend the screen in a comfortable viewing and writing position. Or, if used with a separate keyboard and mouse, the tablet can simply be used as a monitor.

The EVO Tablet Arm is a product line extension of the EVO LCD mounting arm that was introduced last CES. Winner of the prestigious 2006 red dot design award, EVO levitates flat panel monitors above the work surface, enabling intuitive fingertip adjustment of monitor height and position.

Read [Innovative Office Solutions]

Over the past week we have had a bunch of new stories that seemed to compete against one another, so we decided to fight it out. At the completion of our PTI-like podcast Doug walked away with a black eye, Adam has a broken nose, and Greg our sound guy...well let’s just say that his mother was not happy. OK, not really but it got heated. Checkout the lineup below. This podcast was once again sponsored by GoDaddy.com.  Head over there and get 10% off any domain or hosting order courtesy Gadgetell and GoDaddy.

• Treo 700p vs. Motorola Q


• AIM Phoneline vs. Free Skype Out calling


• Site redesigns (Yahoo and Flickr) vs. Change is bad


• Sony VAIO UX vs. Origmani vs. Sidekick III vs. Tablet PCs vs. Nokia 770


• XM vs. RIAA


• MacBook vs. iBook


• Apple Stores (specifically the cube) vs. other CE company stores (Samsung, Sony Style, Dell)


• Treo 700p out on Sprint vs. Verizon

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, select save as).
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Hosts: Doug Berger, Adam Berger
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Dvir Tzadok
File size: 29.7MB
Length: 00:43:20

Sponsored by GoDaddy.com:
As a listener of The Gadgetell podcast, enter code GADGET1, that’s G-A-D-G-E-T and the number 1, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

Interested in sponsoring the podcast or advertising on the site? Please check out our advertise page or send an email to advertise (at) gadgetell .com.  We are specifically looking to get the resources for some sweet podcasting equipment (microphones, a mixer, cables, etc.).

Feedback is much appreciated. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please email us at gadgetell (at) gmail.com.  Thanks for listening!

Why go out and spend all that money on a tablet PC when you can instead just get a digital notepad. The DigiMemo 692 Digital Notepad allows your to ‘record’ everything you write, sketch, and draw on the pad. It uses regular ink and paper so you do not have to alter your Picasso-like techniques but captures the writing via a sensor under the paper. It syncs with your PC, files are shareable via email, pages can be stored as an e-Book, and is compatible with most handwriting software. The DigiMeno 692 is available for $89 here.

Read [The Gadget Blog]

And the first UMPC to hit the market is… drumroll please… TabletKiosk’s new “eo” UMPC v7110.  The device features a VIA C7 NaNo 1.0GHz processor, XP Tablet PC edition, 30GB disk, 7-inch 800 x 480 TFT touch LCD, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, and 256MB RAM.  With the recent push of the UMPC concept, one would assume that they would do everything in their power to hit their target pricepoint of 500 bucks, right?  It would even be worth it to sell at a loss to get them in people’s hands.  Apparently they’re not going for this concept as the will introduce the “eo” at $900.  Not a big deal TabletKiosk, only TWICE what we were expecting.  The UMPC will be available in the last week of April… so look out for it.  I think I’ll wait until they actually get down to the between-handhelds-and-laptops pricepoint.

Read [GottaBeMobile]