OQO Model e2 UMPC now available in Europe

OQO formally announced the Model e2 UMPC today, the first of its range to be available in Europe. Although it has about the same desktop footprint as a postcard when closed, the e2 runs either Windows XP or Vista and is powered by a Via C7-M processor (1.5GHz or 1.6GHz) with 1Gb of RAM and with a variety of hard disks and SSD drives.

The e2 weighs 450g and uses a sliding design to accommodate a calculator-style Qwerty keyboard under the 5" 800 x 480 display. It also has 802.11g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, but there's no built-in support for 3G data access. There is on-board HDMI and VGA via a supplied port replicator, and the e2 can drive an external monitor at resolutions up to 1920 x 1200.

Battery life with the extended battery (9000mAh) is reckoned to be around 6 hours of continuous usage and 3 days of standby, so the supplied standard (4500mAh) battery is probably good for around three hours' use.

Prices start from £994 for the base model with a 1.5GHz processor, 60Gb hard disk, 1Gb RAM and Windows XP Pro ( SKU-1050103-EU), right up to £1.579 for the top-of-the-range model with a 1.6GHz processor, 1Gb of RAM, 32Gb SSD and Windows Vista Business ( SKU-1080108EU). Optional extras include a small desktop dock with integrated CD or DVD writer and a stylus for use with the electromagnetic touch-screen.

After the brief amount of hands-on time I had with the OQO e2, the impression was of a well-made (it has a magnesium alloy chassis), well-thought-out device that is certainly the best realisation of the UMPC concept so far. It's still much more expensive than we think any UMPC should be, but the price certainly compares favourably to the ultra-portable laptops that it's capable of replacing.

Holding the e2 in both hands leaves your thumbs poised comfortably over the keyboard, but this is best-suited for typing emails rather than lengthy word documents, since the keys aren't much bigger than that on many smartphones. The built-in track-point pointing device works well though, the screen is excellent and the external monitor support is impressive. So this may be a tempting option for anyone who needs a laptop for email, PowerPoint and the odd other bit of Office work, but for little else.

Look out for a review in a future issue of Mobile Computer.

OQO Model e2 available from Expansys.

[ OQO]

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