April 18, 2007 8:03 AM PDT
Put a McCaslin in your pocket
(Credit:
HTC)
Ultramobile PCs, or UMPCs, such as the OQO model 02 or the Vulcan FlipStart, are pocket-sized computers that look cool but haven't been all that useful yet. Intel's been planning a new, more practical platform for ultramobile devices for a while now, and today the first official details about the new spec--dubbed McCaslin--were revealed.
Officially named the Ultra Mobile Platform 2007, these new handheld systems will have Intel's new A100 and A110 processors (code named Stealey) and a 945GU Express Chipset--all designed to run with very little power. Linux support is also a highly touted new option.
Expect to see new systems from Asus, Fujitsu, and Samsung this summer. The first sneak peak we got was a few weeks ago, with the HTC Shift.
New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. He hosts the weekly Digital City podcast and the New York edition of Editors' Office Hours. Dan's new album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now. E-mail Dan. 
