Me, myself R2H and R1

This is the blog post I've been wanting to write for quite some time. As Australia's Tablet Guy (not pharmeceuticals) I am blessed with "first looks" at almost everything that comes Downunder. On this occassion it's the ASUS R2H and the ASUS R1...no joke:

You could almost expect another cheesy grin from this Australian Exclusive - FIRST IN AUSTRALIA TO HOLD TOUCH SMELL FEEL THE R2H UMPC.

"I love being a geek"

31st October 5pm Update:

It�s with much pleasure that I can report a couple of quick findings:

• The R2H does in fact support palm rejection technology (lean and write),
• GPS is standard,
• The weight is heavier than the Samsung Q1 and yet lighter than the EO V7110,
• The Touchscreen sensitivity is about the same as the EO V7110, in that it requires a good push or a fingernail/pen to mark an XY coordinate. It also means that navigation with finger only is not that pleasurable (another thumb cracker for DialKeys),
• The camera is very crisp at 1.3MP,
• The simple stand is nice but does not support height adjustments � one angle only,
• The pen is very nice as it is adjustable in length and has a nice metal feel about it,
• Not much heat although I did have it on for only 40 minutes, or so.

I think this is a very promising device. With lots of ASUS PCB happiness built-in this device will surely suit road warriors, business corporate types, and geeks alike.

I�ll post a video review shortly although regrettably I could not hold onto this device as it is one of only three in Australia at present.

Innovative or Inconclusive?

I was just sent these photos by Mobile PC specialist, Pocket PC Solutions in the UK. Not only does this get me excited about the concept but I can also see an immediate increase in productivity for my own UMPCs.

What do you think guys? Does it rock or is it a shit idea?

Cheers Glyn, can't wait to get them downunder.

Jordan and Hugo up to mischief in MAC shop

Recently I blogged about Jordan, a student that held me completely responsible for the Ultra Mobile PC being in Australia � so much so that he called his EO�hugo!

Today I received an update and I just think it�s so novel of him that I had to post it (with his permission). I�m a sucker for enthusiasm and boy does this kid sport tones of it. He�s now boasting about a new carry bag that EO hugo is running around town in.

hie email:

Hi Hugo,

Just felt like saying hi and telling what me and my Hugo have been upto. I'v been showing anyone who will listen about the new UMPC's coming into Australia and they all love them!

I just showed two good mates of mine about Hugo and they loved it. Do you know who is the distributor in Qld or Nsw? If you could email me there email addresses so that I can pass them on and hopefully get some more UMPC's out there!

I have been looking for a new home for my eo (Hugo) because the little yellow bag that came with him just isn't cutting it anymore... Anyway I found a great place that sells some great bags for just about anything called Crumpler (crumpler) and Hugo fits great!

have a look at the pics attached...

Ill have to keep you posted on what we get up to as time goes on.
We went around to a few computer shops in Adelaide yesterday and there is alot of interested out there about UMPC's. I went into a Apple Mac shop and even they thought the platform was great! (apart from win XP...)

Well have a great weekend,

all the best,
Jordan

By the way - and in case you're interested - this is my 200th post..."Hi, my name is Hugo...and I'm a blogger." Uh? Houston? Over? Do you copy?

Tablet PC Surgery (Video)

A friend of mine phoned recently � rather sheepishly � proclaiming that he�d dropped his slate and cracked the screen. Oops! That�s the phone call you don�t wanna get. So a few emails, some serial numbers, and a touch screen later, here we are with another session of UberTablet Surgery. The slate is the TabletKiosk Sahara i215, and the gloves are genuine latex baby!

Rather than handing it to someone else I thought it might be a good opportunity to let you into the inner workings of a modern slate PC. Not only will you get to know the intestines, but you may learn a thing or two about just how much glass walks around with you on a daily basis.

Because you want it � here it is:


Download Hi-Res Video - right click & "Save as"

My last pictorial of UberTablet Surgery was this episode of BIOS PHLASH

Ink Desktop - REALLY!

On this occasion I have been graced with the arrival of a brand new Wacom Graphire4 Pen Tablet. The reason: Well the reason is that Wacom has chosen to ride the Vista experience for all it's worth � which includes Tablet enabled Desktops�

A Tablet enabled Desktop is one of the most exciting �next gen� steps towards Tablet bliss. Due to Microsoft Tablet-enabling all of the Vista SKUs (except for Home Basic) what we�re now faced with is a world of Ink Enabled Desktops - REALLY. What does this mean you may ask? It means that Journal, Tablet Input Panel (TIP), Gestures and Ink-on-Office are only but a Wacom away!

So this is me (cheesy as ever) accepting graciously my new Vista Tablet Board � VIDEO SOON! If there is anything you want me to test please drop me a comment.

Hugo Ortega and Dr. Neil (our fourth podcast)

This to me is a special show in that it derives from a comment left by one of my readers. At the end of each show we ask for suggestions and last week Chuck suggested we talk Windows Mobile vs. UMPC - Good call Chuck! This is how it went down.


Dr. Neil's Notes 25

Welcome to Show 25

• Welcome back "UberTablet"
• News
• Where UMPC has gone this week: Vic Police, Country Fire Service
• Dr. NeilWorking on Windows Mobile app development
• The Main show-UMPC and Windows Mobile
• Any other topics you would like us to discuss?

Happy Coding!

Raon Digital Vega in Australia

If you�re anything like me � and I know a few of you are � the smell of freshly pressed Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is considered an absolute turn-on. So when Tegatech Australia, Master Distributors of the Raon Digital Vega, released photos of Australia�s first Vega shipment I couldn�t help but post them on the UberTablet Blog.

What I found to be the highlight, other than the device, was the sexy packaging! It surely looks like OEM�s are getting their act together and releasing shit hot Retailable products � either that or ex-Apple Marketing Execs are getting paid more money (and dealing with less headaches away from Steve J) by getting involved in the UMPC/UPPC market.

Check out one of the batches on its way out here:

matte black boxes - minimilistic

User Manual - in English (how novel)

It only gets better inside - smells like retail

Finally...we have Vega

Since I�ve owned my Vega I proudly reported that I completely avoided the need to buy an iPod. Not that I hate iPod, I do believe that there is little that could ever compete with the look, however, without an Operating System I can�t see the point. The Vega now sits in my car and plays my VLOGS and BLOGS happily, and even simultaneously, and I only need to charge it once a day due to its 5.5hrs batter life (7hrs + if I turn of the screen via hotkeys) ...Apple meet iVega!

SO perhaps Neil was right, these products should be in Retail.