Will UMPCs make headway in education? (In K-12 and college/university settings?)?

Question

I'm writing an article for a big chip vendor on how UMPCs might eventually be used in education. I'm curious if folks think the devices fill a niche that's not already filled by smart phones, i-Pods and laptops. Is the touchscreen a killer app? Or the opportunity for rich media? Or, is this an affordable option that will allow students to consolidate their other mobile computing and communication devices? Let me know if there are any thoughts. I'm especially interested in folks willing to be "on the record." That is, quoted in my article. Thanks. Oh, and deadline is Sept. 4, so I'd need to hear from you soon.

Answer 1

While I question the validity of your statement, I am yet inclined to answer but if you knew about hardware already then most of what I am going to say, you should know or if you want another opinion, well that's okay to.

UMPCs are overpriced and underpowered they are neither cost effective, feature rich or very affordable. Most UMPCs come in at around $2000 and you can get a more feature laden laptop for around $800, albeit not with dedicated graphics. Laptops in the $1100 to $1500 range offer, it's like comparing a super computer to a calculator really, there is no comparison. Laptops simply crush the UMPCs on cost effectiveness, performance and usefulness. UMPCs however are very portable, but not very durable, less durable than a laptop as a matter of fact. Though, you shouldn't bang around a laptop either.

UMPCs are a joke and unless the price comes down to around $800 they will continue to be so. Not to mention all the hardware issues that they have been having with them, the Sony UMPC has 3 hours of battery life, my Core Duo based laptop with all the bells and whistles has 3.5 hours of battery life and is far more powerful.

UMPCs were designed to fulfill every roll offered by every other portable device, they do everything poorly and nothing well. I don't like them, I don't think they will ever be mainstream and they are just too expensive for the features they offer. Unless you want something that is very portable, avoid them like the plague. They make the "top ten most useless devices" in my opinion.