These are essentially laptop computers although at half the size. Although the article talks of Windows XP Tablet Edition, virtually any Windows OS, including XP home and even XP Pro can be installed on them. The form factor is small because of the lack of a big screen and a full sized keyboard. The devices usually contain a thumb keyboard which has to be used with both thumbs. Of course, external keyboards can be attached because the devices do contain USB ports and other connectivity options like Bluetooth.
Theoritically, Jaws and WindowEyes should run on these devices without any problem. I can imagine conflicts occuring in the keyboard handler part but these kinds of problems can be solved quite easily. Infact, GWMicro, the makers of WindowEyes also sell an ultra mobile PC. The hardware is the same as OKO UMPC but they rebrand it and increase the cost. Oh, I also forgot to mention that these devices have a touch screen to make it easier for sighted folks to enter data and navigate. I see good potential in these devices. They can almost do all that a laptop can and yet be portable. And if the screen reader manufacturers are serious in adapting their products to support this platform, they can make real good use of the touch screen too. You can divide the touch screen into a number of easily identifiable blocks and assign various functions to them. But for FreedomScientific, supporting UMPC will have a direct negative inpact on the sales of Pacmate, and so they will go real slow on it. Watch out for companies like Code Factory though. Regards, Kiran. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Aruni Sharma Sent: Wednesday, 20 September 2006 8:50 PM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: Re: [AI] Austek, Samsung Ready Ultra Mobile PCs Hi list, I would be interested in the UMPC devices that this article talks about. Somebody throw some light on this please. Which screen reader will support these devices and how would these be different than the PDAs and smart phones? I think the GPS systems would ultimately benifit the visually impaired too. Regards, Aruni. Vikas Kapoor wrote: > Austek, Samsung Ready Ultra Mobile PCs > > Sep 19, 2006 > > Asustek Computer will begin selling its first ultra mobile PC, the R2H, worldwide by the end of this month, while Samsung Electronics is readying one that > eschews Intel microprocessors in favor of Via Technologies chips. > > Asustek's ultra mobile UMPC is designed with all the functions of a laptop, including a folding typing pad, as well as other devices, such as a global positioning > system (GPS) so it can sit on the dashboard of a user's car to map the way home. > > The R2H runs Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition OS on a 900MHz Intel Celeron M microprocessor. It measures 9.3 by 5.3 inches, about half the size of a > laptop, and weighs just under 2 pounds. The OS allows touch navigation with a stylus on its 7-inch screen, but the models on display Monday at a news conference > in Taipei were difficult to use. Company representatives said the display models were for testing only, the reason for the sluggish performance. > > Like > most UMPCs , > the R2H is an Internet device, connecting through 802.11b/g Wireless LAN, and supports Bluetooth. For security, Asustek added an infrared fingerprint identification > system to keep users' data safe from thieves. > > Although the suggested retail price of the R2H bound for the Taiwan market is $1117, it will come in different configurations users can choose from, so > prices will be flexible. Asustek will offer models with different sized hard drives, ranging from 20GB to 60GB in capacity. The standard edition will also > come with just a two-cell battery, for about two hours of use before needing a recharge. Users will be able to select a four-cell battery as well, at an > added cost. > > The device is Windows Vista compatible. > > The company also launched a new tablet PC, the R1F, and expects to produce a total of 3000 units of the two devices each month, said Benson Lin, head of > sales in the Asia Pacific for Asustek, at a news conference in Taipei. > > Samsung's next gen > > Samsung Electronics, of South Korea, is readying a new UMPC with a 7-inch screen that uses a 1.0GHz Via C7 microprocessor, but hasn't set a launch date. > > The device, dubbed the Q1B, will come with 40GB of storage space, WLAN and Bluetooth, and will weigh 1.7 pounds, according to > Samsung's Web site . > > The Q1B will come with a better battery than the R2H, a three-cell battery offering up to five hours of life before needing a recharge. Samsung is offering > an upgrade to a six-cell battery at an additional charge. It follows the Q1 > launched in May . > > The company is also offering additional peripherals similar to Asustek's, such as an organizer bag, optical disc drive, and typing pad. > > http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127153-pg,1-RSS,RSS/article.html > > Vikas Kapoor, > MSN ID: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Yahoo ID: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Skype ID: dl_vikas > Mobile: (+91) 9891098137. > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. 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