The umpc brigade

The second of the three-part series on 20088217;s best options deals with ultra-mobile PCs. Take your pick

Wouldn8217;t you love to be online all the time, everywhere? But given the constraints of carrying a bulky laptop and the limited speeds that GPRS/EDGE connections offer on cell phones, it8217;s a difficult proposition. A wireless-enabled cell phone is an option, but I8217;m not a big fan of convergence. The obvious choice then is to move to the ultra-mobile PCs. Here are some options waiting for you in 2008.

HTC Shift: HTC became very popular in India with its Touch phone, and is now set to announce its HTC Shift in January. Expected to hit the shelves in the UK in mid-January, it won8217;t be long before it comes to India. Featuring an 800 MHz processor with 1 GB RAM and 40 GB of hard-disk space, running Windows Vista, with a 7-inch screen and light at about 900 gm, this will be a good alternative to the heavy laptops that high-end executives tend to lug around. It also features notification LEDs, which are becoming common in cell phones, built-in speakers and a microphone, so you can use Skype and chat. For video chats, there8217;s a VGA camera, though a 1.3-megapixel one would have been better. As security is a key concern for most people, it has a built-in finger-print reader as well.

OQO Model e2: Available across the globe but yet to come to India, this device is for those serious about their computing needs. Its price could be steep but the features will more than make up for it: 1.6 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM and a 120 GB of hard-disk space. The screen is only 5 inch, which can be a problem for large spreadsheets, and the keyboard makes it look like a Palm, but the e2 is pretty handy. But with its power, battery time of eight hours and weight of 500 gm, this tops my best buy list in mobile PCs. Another good thing is that the e2 comes with Windows XP Professional not the Windows Vista and has a unique ball mouse reminiscent of the BlackBerry Pearl. There8217;s no video communication on this one as there8217;s no camera, but the built-in speakers and microphone will make up for its absence.

Nokia N810 Internet tablet:
Chances are you will not find this tablet on the Nokia India site and the product only in the black market. But it should be available through legal channels next year. It8217;s a great device if you are open to using a Linux-based machine and should cost around Rs 25,000. It has 2 GB storage, which can be expanded to 8 GB by using SD cards, but the processor specifications are not given. This is not a PC replacement, but if you want to go online on Yahoo or Gmail messengers, make a Skype call from home, but did not want to boot from the PC, this device is for you. It also has a brilliant GPS built into it, especially now that Google and other maps are available in India. With a 4.13-inch screen and weighing just 225 gm, it comes with a built-in keyboard missing in N800 and a stand to keep it on your bedside table.

Asus Eee PC700: Last week, when Asus announced the Eee PC, the entire industry sat up to listen. After all, a laptop or a laptop lookalike with 2 GB storage also a 4 GB option, running Linux and with 256 MB RAM for the price of a PC, made it an interesting device. With a weight of 900 gm and a 7-inch screen, it8217;s a good device if you want a laptop lookalike without spending for a laptop. But it hasn8217;t been reviewed by the tech world yet, so the final word on it is not out. However, for students who want a light machine and have all their information stored on sites like the Google Documents, it makes a lot of sense. Still, at just 256 MB RAM, I8217;m a bit sceptical.