Breaking news: ASUSTek unveils the R2H UMPC
Several months after initially announcing and then showing the device, the Asus R2H UMPC is unveiled via a company press release. Let’s recap the official specs of this Origami platform UMPC:
- Intel® Celeron® M ULV Processor (900MHz)
- Genuine Windows® XP Tablet PC Edition
- Onboard 256MB, DDRII 533, 1x SoDimm socket for expansion up to 768MB DDRII 667 DRAM support
- 7" WXGA touch screen LCD, ASUS Splendid Video Intelligent Engine
- PATA 1.8" HDD 4200PRM 20/30/40/60 GB
- Bluetooth® V2.0 + EDR, 3x USB, 1x SD Card-Reader, 1x GPS, 1x Finger Print Reader
- 23.4 x 13.3 x 2.8cm, 830kg
Folks who were hoping for a different processor, say a Pentium M are out of luck. Even more surprising and disappointing in my opinion is the base unit of 256 MB of memory (I’m not a fan of running Tablet Edition XP on less than 512) and upgradable only to 768 MB; a poor limitation considering the other UMPCs on the market are available with 1 GB out of the box or via a DIY upgrade.
Yes, you get a fingerprint reader, GPS, webcam and an SD slot, but I still think some folks will be slightly disappointed. Interestingly enough, there’s no mention of price in the official PR, which you can read here.
Update: with 256 MB of RAM on-board, it looks like the expansion slot of up to 768 MB does provide a combined 1 GB of memory. Sounds like a single expansion slot, so 768 MB might be the maximum. Thanks Frank!
-kct
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Well, for an additional $38, you can get it to 768MB easily. (See http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820218095 as an example.)
So, if it’s still at it’s original price point of $700, that’s still less than half the price of my UX180P, and I would have considered to wait for it. Mind you, the UX180P doesn’t have GPS (which I’m starting to see if a great feature to have), and is maxed out at 512MB, unless the brilliant minds at Pocket PC Techs or some other place can perform 1GB memory upgrade surgery on it.
What a terrible press release. No mention of when the UMPC will be actually available, no pricing info, nothing. I’ll bet it will be about $1200 retail, since it’s basically a Samsung Q1 with GPS added.
Well no i am glad i got the samsung q1 early rather than wait for this!!
Excuse me guys but I do not see any way you can get 1 GB or RAM in these devices. Check what I said here:
http://ultramobilepc-tips.blogspot.com/2006/08/asus-press-release.html
Frank, you’re correct; the PR is fuzzy at best, but it looks as though you can only go to 768 MB with a 512 MB SoDIMM.
I can’t wait till this device is out in the wild. It looks nice, has good features, and is made by a high quality company. Too bad I already have a Q1.
James, the feature list in the press release also left out the built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam. The camera lens is visible just to the right of the “ASUS” logo on the top-front of the unit.
Navigadget caught the typo! The R2H apparently weighs 830 kilos.
http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/2006/08/25/asus-r2h-umpc-weighs-830kilos/
That’s with the optional 4,267-cell battery with the 4 year life. :)
Anyone else notice that the LCD is WXGA (1280 x 768)? Either this is a typo or I may seriously consider picking one up.