Take a look at these new Gigabyte

[Guest]

[fixup]

Available now:

http://www.tegatech.com.au/products/umpc/Gigabyte_M528_3G.htm

Be sure to open that UMPC Spec Sheet in Pdf:

http://www.tegatech.com.au/reseller/download/Gigabyte_UMPC_MID_Apr08.pdf

They all have GPS built-in, similar size to oqo. I like the M700 very much - 1000x600 screen with a soft thumb keyboard and built-in TV.

[JCC]

The A$ is approximately on par with the US$. So, I'm going to treat them as equal for the moment.

$1299 for the regular M528. $1549 for the version with 3.5G. They currently have "special introductory pricing" of $999 and $1199 respectively? Yikes.

In terms of specs, these are like the Nokia N810 except at twice or three times the price. The main difference is chipset. (i.e., Intel based, rather than some sort of ARM based.) Given the utter lack of substantive data, I won't speculate on which chipset is more computationally powerful.

The M528 comes with Linux. However, you can likely install Windows on the 8GB SSD if you wanted. With an 800MHz Atom and 512MB of RAM, though, I don't know if anyone will enjoy the Windows experience on this device. I don't think running Windows is the intention here. This means it doesn't actually compete specifically in OQO's niche. Still, given the similar form factor and the x86 processor, comparisons will be inevitable.

Everyone (including me) complains about the cost of OQO products. However, the OQO is downright competitive against these prices, especially the regular, not special introductory, prices. Are computers just plain more expensive in Australia than they are in the US? (i.e., is it incorrect to treat A$ as being on par with US$ for this purpose?)

[jptherrien]

Not bad if you are OK with a Linux-based device, my requirements however include Windows.

I agree this is more aligned to the N810 market.

[3goldens]

I think their on the right track.  Nice designs, including touch screen on some models.  Every one of them has a stylus built in,
HINT HINT OQO!!!!

[Stormbringer]

LOL, what a gadget. It got lower specs then the OQO 01+, it got Linux on it and you pay a higher price.

[jptherrien]

I agree at that price the specs seemed to be insanely low.

[Tekara]

Lol, well Aussie's do always pay a premium for tech, the pricing will probably be lower elsewhere.

[fixup]

The only thing I hate about oqo is the propitiatory AC adapter and short battery life put salt on this cut. If the M528 uses a standard 5V DC jack, I'm going to get it. It is also lighter, thinner and narrower (longer though) than OQO. I think the Nokia N810 does not have miniPCI slot for a 3G modem and it cannot run Windows.

If the M528 has no CPU fan and can pan to 800x600, then I'll definitely get it!

Hopefully we'll see a review on the details:

Can the resolution go virtually higher than 800x480 like OQO?
Can the battery run over 3 hours?
Is the 3G antenna internal or at least non-extruded?
Is WinXP drivers provided?
Is the DC jack standard 5V?
Is the CPU fanless?

If all above things are done right, it is priceless. But if any one of above things is missing, it is still crap.

Just saw on UMPCportal: the price will possibly be $750 USD.

[safeway]

im waiting to get one of these.

only 3/4 of a lb
and the 800 mhz atom cpu with its L2-512k of cache should be equvalent to the
samsung q1 ultra and fujitsu u810 in terms of cpu speed so it can definitely run windows xp.

this thing is much more powerful than nokia internet tablet.

they estimate it to last up to 4hr on battery which probably means 3hrs at best.

i hope it retail for under $800 in the us.

[Bungee]

Is the 3G antenna internal or at least non-extruded?
Is WinXP drivers provided?

From what I've seen on the videos online, the Gigabyte M528 appears to have an external HSDPA add-on on top of the device. Also there is no mention of Windows compatibility. It looks like it's destined to be a touch-screen Linux-only implementation. I too agree that this (and 'MID's in general) are in the same market space as the N810.
I recently purchased an iPod Touch (tethered to my WM6 phone for 3G access) to scratch the itch I have in that niche 

[stuartguthrie]

Are computers just plain more expensive in Australia than they are in the US? (i.e., is it incorrect to treat A$ as being on par with US$ for this purpose?)

Yep, at least for Apple Macs anyway. It's cheaper to import a Mac from the U.S. than to purchase one locally - esp. the MacBook Airs. My family saves a truckload by purchasing all our Mac software directly from Japan - note: this is original software not the pirated Bali kind of stuff.

Stu

[fixup]

I too agree that this (and 'MID's in general) are in the same market space as the N810.

No, the N810 is garbage, its hardware is only Windows Mobile compatible. The M528 is PC hardware, even better than OQO, should be no problem to run windows.

[Bungee]

No, the N810 is garbage, its hardware is only Windows Mobile compatible. The M528 is PC hardware, even better than OQO, should be no problem to run windows.

As the M528 doesn't yet exist outside of trade shows, I'm not going to argue with you whether it more closely resembles a MID, UPMC or Pocket PC (btw, you can't run Windows Mobile on the N810). The lines between these devices are blurring and there are already enough MID vs UMPC debate and confusion as it is.
IMO, Nokia, Intel, Microsoft, ASUS and manufacturers like Gigabyte are still trying to figure this space out. Gigabyte has a product kit for FOUR whatever-you-want-call-these-things and it will be interesting to see how they attempt to market and differentiate each.

My own definition is simply that if it runs Windows out of the box and it small enough to pocket (trouser, jacket, whatever) it is a UMPC. If it doesn't run Windows, it isn't a UMPC, or a PC for that matter. Doesn't matter to me whether the hardware is "PC hardware" or not. Heck, some crazy folks I know are running Leopard on "PC hardware" OQOs! 

FWIW, I think the M528 is a fascinating product and the verdict is still out on these (for lack of a better definition) non-Windows, non-cellphone, stand-alone mobile devices. I respectfully disagree that the M528, with its 512MB ram and 4/8GB SSD, has better hardware than my OQO e2.

[safeway]

the benchmarks for the atom cpu are well faster than the via c7 chip
at the same clock speeds.
http://www.eeepcnews.de/2008/04/18/intel-atom-benchmarks-via-isaiah-vergleich/

1 of the reasons is the atom has 512k L2 cache
while via-c7 only has 128k L2 of cache.
although the via isaiah chip has 1mb of L2 cache so
it will be faster than the atom at the same clock speed.
the 800 mhz atom should be the same or slightly faster than
1.6 via c7.

I can accept linux ubuntu mobile (depends on how good it is)
 with this but it would be nice if they had an xp version too. maybe it will be like asus eee----
linux at first then they supported xp later.

I guess u could say this device is the lightest device that
can run full pc applications and full internet browsing(including
all flash and java) which are what is important to me. as
well as a sub $1000 price.

I don't think nokia n810 can do this
with its texas instruments cpu.

my bad on the formatting im on a pda.

[Bungee]

Besides hoping Gigabyte will support M528 in Windows, you can also consider the Melow based LG XNOTE B831 (on Vista):

"As I used Gigabyte M528 and OQO 02 same day as LG XNOTE B831, I can easily say this felt the best.." JKK

Check out the specs and video at http://www.umpcportal.com/products/product.php?id=161