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HTC Shift UMPC At A Price |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Wednesday, 23 April 2008 |
Comparing the ASUS EEE, the HP Mini-Note and the HTC Shift UMPC may at
first seem tempting. If you do the high price of the HTC device may
shock at first. It's four times the cost of the EEE and more than twice the
RRP of the Mini-Note, but for that you get a Windows device that
not only runs Vista Business, it converts from touchscreen tablet to
clamshell laptop and from Windows Vista to a smartphone interface.
Though the Shift, made by HTC which is better known for
its Windows Mobile smartphones, doesn't work as a phone it will accept
a 3G HSDPA SIM card to allow it to connect to wireless broadband, the
device is equipped to handle data rather than voice. There is a 1.3
megapixel camera and the unit will do VoIP and video conferencing if
you are signed up to a suitable data plan.
The Shift has a 7-inch display which slides up and then tilts to reveal
a small QWERTY keyboard with an angles screen, or it can be used as a
touchscreen tablet if you prefer to keep the unit closed.
Capable of sitting on standby for up to two days, the shift features an
instant access function called HTC SnapVUE which is an an "always-on"
mode that provides instant access to emails,
calendar, SMS messages and contacts, without the need to fully boot up
the device which helps conserve power and extend battery life. The
device receives instant e-mails with Microsoft Direct Push technology.
Very portable, the Shift weighs in at 800 grams and measures just 207 x
129 x 25mm, but don't let the small package fool you. The shift is
powerful enough to run Windows Vista Business and reportedly has a
separate processor to handle the smartphone interface.
In addition to the HSDPA connectivity the Shift is
equipped with Wi-Fi (b,g) and bluetooth 2.0. A full sized USB 2.0
connection, SDIO, earphone /microphone plug as well as VGA out round out a healthy list
of ports. A finger print reader provides security and a miniature mouse
pad and dedicated left and right buttons provide an option to the
cursor pen.
The HTC Shift is a great looking device, but it isn't in the same
league as the EEE and HP Mini-Note. Reviewers have compared the device
to the Fujitsu U1010 and the Samsung Q1 and the HTC device is similarly
priced with an RRP of $1,999 which is maybe a little more than you will
pay for those devices.
      
Processor and Chipset
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Intel Processor A110, 800 MHz
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Operating System
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Windows Vista® Business
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Memory
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RAM: 1GB DDR2 microDIMM RAM for Vista + 64 MB for SnapVUE
ROM:
128 MB for SnapVUE
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Hard Disk
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1.8-inch 40 GB or 60 GB hard disk (manufacturer's option)
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Dimensions
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207 mm (L) X 129 mm (W) X 25 mm (T)
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Weight
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800g with battery
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Display
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7-inch, 800 X 480 TFT-LCD display with adjustable screen
angle and touch-sensitive screen
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Network
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HSDPA/UMTS: Tri-band 850, 1900, 2100 MHz
HSDPA: Up to 3.6Mbps
for download and 384kbps for upload UMTS: Up to 384kbps for
download and upload
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Quad-band 850, 900, 1800,
1900 MHz (The device will operate on frequencies available from
the cellular network)
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Keyboard
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Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
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Mouse Control
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Left/right mouse buttons and microPad
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Wireless Connections
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Bluetooth 2.0 Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g
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I/O Ports
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1 USB 2.0, VGA out, and 3.5mm stereo audio out with microphone
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Card Slots
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1.8/3V USIM/SIM card slot
SDIO slot with hotswap functionality
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Security
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Fingerprint sensor
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Web Camera
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Color CMOS VGA camera for videoconferencing
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Audio
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Built-in microphone and dual speakers
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Battery
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2700 mAh rechargeable Lithium-ion polymer battery
Vista
operating time: Up to 2 hours
SnapVUE standby time (push
e-mail enabled): Up to 53 hours
SnapVUE standby time (push
e-mail disabled): Up to 10 days
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AC Adapter
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Voltage range/frequency: 90 ~ 265V AC, 47/63Hz
DC output:
12Vdc, 3A max.
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