Q1U-ing in Paris

Life is pretty sureal at present. I've been travelling for some time and now I am in Slovenia waiting for mt delayed flight to Paris. So with two kids in hand I decided that there is no better way to kill time than to connect my son and I to the Airport WiFi. I gave my son the little OQO and I took the awesome little travel mate, i.e. the Samsung Q1U.

I'll be in Paris for the next week and will make an effort to post some more Q1U-ing on the road. Who knows, maybe you'll hear from me from the Eiffel Tower, or from Disneyland Paris.

I hope you're all well. Speak soon!

Hugo in Europe (and still an MVP)

Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good Evening folks!
Many of you I know have been sending me comments, emails and pinging me non-stop with regards to my whereabouts. I am pleased to say that I am still on Holiday (in fact I extended my Holiday a little) and am pleasantly cruising through Europe! I have not put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) for the blog for some time so today when I got an email from Microsoft I thought it a prime opportunity.
Here is what I received:

Dear Hugo Ortega,

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2008 Microsoft� MVP Award! The MVP Award is our way of saying thank you for promoting the spirit of community and enhancing people�s lives and the industry�s success every day. Your extraordinary efforts in Windows - Tablet PC technical communities during the past year are greatly appreciated.

SO how are thing you may ask? Things are just great. I am with my wife and kid and we are travelling see friends and family. We have a �home base� in a little apartment we rented in Eastern Europe and spend our time travelling in and out of the car park using a 1988 Mercedes Benz a good friend was kind enough to loan me. Apart from dealing with the traffic concerns, and the fact that everyone drives on the wrong side of the road, the journey has been effortless.

With regards to Tablet PC and Ultra Mobile PC you will be pleased to know that as always I am travelling loaded. Before I left I bought a Toshiba R400 and knew that that was going to be my fulltime inking device. Ironically as I left the front door I grabbed an OQO 02 and just before Taxi pulled out of the driveway I ducked back in and grabbed a Samsung Q1U-V.

The response to these devices everywhere I have been is amazing. Europe has so little exposure to these it surprises me and almost makes me feel like everything is new again. The first few weeks I spent showing the R400 and its massive array of capabilities. People always flip when they here is packs 4GB of Ram (although it only sees 3.319 GB). As soon as I flip the screen there is an instantaneous gasp of excitement and adults and kids alike become filled with new drawing capabilities. Kids sketch using InkArt, while adults write using OneNote; either way the response to Digital Ink is overwhelmingly positive.

The OQO has been a clear success. It smaller size and neater form-factor makes people question the entire concept of a desktop at all. Given that most the folks I am visiting are buying desktops for the first time then something like an OQO absolutely fries their brain � and that is a good thing! The Samsung Q1U seems to be the one all the University kids want. With its camera capabilities and it ability to relate to all media formats it seems as though the Q1U also has a home here.

I will start to blog again as I have missed you all. I thank you for your readership and promise you as much fun and play as ever.

Hugo Ortega does Fujitsu U1010

I've pushed the envelope and burnt the candle at both ends this week to bring you, yesterday's "The Shift" video, and today's video of what we lovingly term The Stormtrooper! Both were promised and as such both were delivered.

These videos have been much anticipated so with the burden of your buying decision in mind I have made the humanly impossible, possible. If you pay close attention you will notice that I am in the same attire for this video, as I am for The Shift Video, as I am for the Nova SunPad video - which is no coincidence as I filmed and edited them all on the same day! (Plus currently uploaded my TechED Speech which I will post shortly!)

Read more...

Watch or download the High Res InkShow Video Review (39 minutes, 297MB, Windows Media streaming or direct download)

Visit the Official U1010 Homepage

Nova Mobility SunPad: Rugged UMPC

Not often a product range associated with The UberTablet Blog, Rugged UMPC ar a new force to be reckoned with. Because I had the video camera out and a Nova SunPad in my hand, it would be unfair of me not to put it on camera and let it shine - quite literally.

With the brightest outdoor viewable screen in the industry, and rugged qualities which make Panasonic nervous, the Nov SunPad is worth considering if you are a business or a specialist looking for that tough edge!

Enjoy.

First look: The HTC Shift

Earlier this week I asked "What do Hugo Ortega and Steve Ballmer have in common?" and today I share with you the answer - The HTC Shift! I must admit that I have been blessed many times over in the last few years with the devices that have crossed my path. I still remember being the first to showcase the Raon Digital Vega; and first with the Fujitsu P1610. On this occasion however I have yet to feel more honored than by being given the opportunity to look at what is billed as one of the most anticipated releases this year, i.e. The HTC Shift.

Back in March this year I placed my thoughts down about The HTC Shift. This was more of a virtual wrap-up than anything else as very little information was available, let alone a device to feel and touch. So when I was given permission to take the HTC Shift to TechED Australia as part of my UMPC Awareness Presentation (which was a huge success) you can imagine what I said...ummmm...YES!

I had The HTC Shift for a little over 60 hours and was able to play with many of its great features, which include Pocket PC, HSDPA, Vista Business, Tilt Touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard and more. It is an incredible device with many possibilities, this video will hopefully showcase some of that. I managed to literally squeeze it into a very tight schedule I am running at present and did what I could to cover off some of the burning questions folks might have.

Machine specs (as tested):

• Windows Vista Business (3 hrs battery)
• Intel Santa Rosa A110 Processor
• 1GB DDR2 RAM
• 40GB HDD
• HSDPA (Data only) ready
• Web Cam
• Biometrics
• Windows Pocket PC (over 5 days battery life when used exclusively)
• Qualcomm 400MHz Processor
• 64MB RAM
• and more...

In summary I would have to say that this is one of the BEST Ultra Mobile PC I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with. If I were a manufacturer of a UMPC, or with a UMPC about to hit the market, then I would be shaking in my boots given what The HTC Shift is capable of. "I put my order down right away!"

Watch or download the High Res version (34 minutes, 256MB, Windows Media streaming or direct download)

Visit the HTC Shift Homepage

Speaking at TechED Australia today

I am on a Plane in 90 minutes time and headed to sunny Queensland to Speak at this Year's TechED Australia. It is Microsoft's biggest event, and happens to be the first time I speak there. I am really excited and although I am a seasoned Public Speaker I must admit that this has been bouncing with nerves of excitement!

 

If you're attending TechED come and join my session and say hello!

 

UNC303CT - Ultra Mobile PC Awareness: Is your software business ready?

08/08/2007 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM, AU Meeting Room 7

Speaker(s): Hugo Ortega

The Microsoft Origami Project haled the arrival of a new form factor dubbed the Ultra Mobile PC
(UMPC). With hardware that fell right in between a PDA and a notebook in size, and Notebook and
Desktop in functionality, the UMPC is the world�s most promising hardware revolutions to date.
Becasue they delivery fully capable operating systems in the palm of your hand these device s have
the potentially to increase the richness or the user�s experience virtually overnight. Join Hugo
Ortega, Australia�s only Tablet PC MVP, as he takes a walk through the UMPC idiosyncrasies to
consider when considering this platform. He will cover of past, present and future possibilities and
describe in detail how you might implement UMPC as a strategy for increasing your businesses
profitability while providing a richer working environment for your end user.

Track(s): Mobility, Unified Communications, Windows Client

Level: 300

I'm still on a RAMpage

Since the release of single sticks of 2GB of RAM I have enthusiastically grabbed a handful and attempted to put them in every Tablet PC and Ultra Mobile PC known to man! So in keeping with my theme I am on a RAMpage and not afraid of very much at all.

Here is the history:

• How to: Upgrade Q1 Ultra to 2GB RAM
• Motion LS800 does 2GB
• 2Gig stick and I'm not afraid to use it
• Does your Slate have 4GB inside? Mine does.

 

So who will we add to this growing list? Who else but my new Toshiba R400! Click here to see the results: I'm on a RAMpage.