Viliv S5: Are UMPCs lost between Netbooks and smartphones?

Ultramobile PCs have always found themselves to be the tweeners of the mobile world: too large to be easily pocket-size, yet too small to be usable as full-fledged computers. While the landscape just a few years ago was marked with products ranging from Samsung's Q1 to the OQO, often costing way too much money, now cheaper smartphones and Netbooks have crowded in on either side with portable power to spare.

The Viliv S5, currently an import-only product, returns to the scene of the crime with a lower-cost Atom-based touch-screen device that runs full Windows XP, has Bluetooth and GPS compatibility, and even pulls up its own haptic-feedback on-screen keyboard. You'll need it, since the 4.8-inch screen's extremely fine resolution gets a little hard to manage. While a physical keyboard would have been nice (as would an SD card slot), the bulk of the S5's thickness goes towards a battery that boasts impressive life.

Read the rest of our review of the Viliv S5 UMPC.

And would you ever buy a handheld UMPC as opposed to a Netbook or an iPhone/Pre/Android phone? Sound off below.

[hafenbrack]

You might as well just get the Sony P series lifestyle "notbook" which seems to be a much more refined product.

[msalsbury]

Scott, put simply, no. I wouldn't buy any of the current UMPCs I've seen (including this one) rather than a netbook or smartphone.

I have an iPod Touch, which is as close as I'll get to an iPhone while it's on AT&T's network. It's a nice little device and I carry it wherever I go, but it's not a substitute for a netbook or notebook when it comes to my particular needs... so I still have, need, and use my netbook.

My netbook is by no means pocket-sized, so I can't take it everywhere I'd like to. However, because it's a fairly inexpensive device, I'm more willing to take it places where it might be lost, stolen, or damaged than I would my $1,500 notebook. The netbook's no speed demon, but it does run the operating systems and applications I have wanted to run away from home. And I'm not limited to Apple's App Store and what they deem appropriate for me to have, unlike the iPod Touch.

But a UMPC isn't a good fit for me. It's too small to be a comfortable replacement for my netbook. It's too large to be a comfortable replacement for the iPod. I'm sure there must be some segment of people for whom it's "just right" but I'm not in that group. I'd much rather have a netbook with a physical keyboard, decent-sized screen, and more expansion options. And given the price listed for this particular device, my netbook and iPod still cost less in total.

[forever4now]

When these devices start supporting cell phone calls, SMS/MMS, etc. (positioning them as a sort of high end smartphone), then they might be something to consider. In fact, mobile operators might even start to promote them, since they would be able to generate revenue from cell phone calls, SMS/MMS, etc., in addition to basic data contracts.

The guitar pick stylus definitely has to go, as well. In the age of the iPhone, who wants to interact with a "smartphone-like" device like that.

[rmh3]

Well, I picked up an S5 and I love it! Anything I can run on a desktop, I can run wherever I happen to be. I feel netbooks are just too much like crippled laptops, and I need better resolution and power than a smart phone will likely ever provide. It also kept me from needing to buy a separate GPS device, as it has that built in. This is everything PDA's promised 5-10 years ago, but couldn't quite deliver. No longer am I confines to mobile versions of web pages, or viewing only half of the page; at 1024 x 600, pretty much every page I hit looks great.

And for those knocking the stylus; try it for a day. I got the accessory pack when I bought mine, which includes a case with standard PDA-like extendable stylus. I expected that would be what I use, but the guitar pick actually feels more comfortable in my hand for pointing and clicking.

[cbi132]

Consider the handicapped. I have two friends who are in bed, restricted movement. one can move right arm and hand. THe other can move an arthritic hand but can't push the right key. What device approach would you think would work for them?

Charlie
[e-mail]

[dave_p_1]

I have an old OQO and am looking to upgrade. The Viliv would be tempting if it had 3G built in.

UMPCs that can run Windows are indeed expensive but the advantages of a computer that you can take with you anywhere and use anywhere should not be underestimated. Windows gives it the capability to run corporate applications (unlike smartphones or lesser MIDs). Pocketability gives it the capability to be carried everywhere as a matter if course (unlike larger netbooks and notebooks). The form factor also gives it the capability to be used without finding a place to rest it on (also unlike netbooks or some of the clamshell UMPC designs).

That said, there are two problems with the Viliv design. First, the on screen keyboard limits the amount of typing you will want to do - a slider design with a hardware keyboard would make it much more useful for typing out comments such as this one. Second, I worry that the touch sensitivity of the screen will not lend itself to inking. The ability to take notes in meetings using Windows inking was an under advertised and hence underutilized capability of the OQO. Especially impressive was the capability of delivering a PowerPoint presentation and capturing the comments on the slides as they were displayed and then emailing them to the participants at the conclusion of the meeting.