HTC Advantage X7500 Windows Mobile handheld

The UMPC may be dead in the water for the time being, but manufacturers aren't abandoning the idea just yet. Intel has already announced its plans for a reboot of the UMPC and now smartphone supremo HTC has revealed its take on the concept in the form of the Advantage.

Despite appearances though, the Advantage isn't actually a UMPC, since it runs Windows Mobile rather than a full version of XP or Vista. This makes it a bit of a throwback to the days when Windows CE-powered clamshell handhelds ruled the world, but there's certainly nothing backwards about the Advantage's design.

As you can see from the photo on the right, the Advantage may mimic a clamshell design, but the screen and keyboard are actually two separate components. When not is use, weak magnets clip the keyboard to the screen (where it doubles as a screen protector) and another set of much stronger magnets clamp it to the base of the screen for typing. When assembled in this way, the angle of the screen is a little too steep to use the Advantage comfortably on a desk for long, but try holding it in both hands for two-thumbed typing and the screen will topple off the keyboard if tilted back too much.

Fortunately, HTC also provides a high-quality leather case that solves this problem and with both screen and keyboard clipped in place, the leather is stiff enough to support the screen and connected keyboard at any angle. The case also means that there's somewhere to hold the keyboard if you don't want to use it -- you can just leave it to dangle disconnected while you prod the touch-sensitive screen with the stumpy stylus. The whole arrangement works surprisingly well and the only letdown is the keyboard itself. The keys are more pocket calculator than personal computer and while they're fine for poking out emails with two fingers, their miniscule travel and near total lack of tactile feedback makes them useless for much else.

The Advantage's screen, on the other hand, is a joy. Crisp, bright and measuring 5" across, it transforms Windows Mobile from a small-screen novelty into a genuinely useful tool - or at least it would, if the full 640 x 480 resolution was recognised. As it stands, Windows Mobile just treats the screen as a standard 320 x 240 smartphone display and scales everything up accordingly. This is great news for anyone with failing eyesight, but everyone else is better of installing the free MvRTrueVGA utility that turns the Advantage's screen into a true VGA display.

With 128Mb of memory, the Advantage is particularly capacious by Windows Mobile standards, but the inclusion of a built-in 8Gb Microdrive alongside the usual miniSD card slot should mean that storage space will never be an issue. HTC also pre-loads the Microdrive with TomTom Navigator 6, so there's a use for the built-in GPS receiver from the get go. Wi-Fi and 3G make mobile browsing a breeze, but the Advantage's size makes it a poor substitute for a mobile phone. No surprises then that HTC limits it to use as a speakerphone unless you connect a hands-free headset.

If you're looking for a mobile device that's more capable than a smartphone, but smaller than a laptop, the HTC Advantage may fit the bill -- as long as you're prepared to put up with Windows Mobile. £635 is a lot of money for an unlocked model, but you can pick one up for around half the price with a mobile phone contract.

HTC Advantage X7500