I thought the 7 inch screen which is standard on the Origami/UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) was small enough, but Fujitsu has taken the system down to pocket size -- if you have big pockets -- with its new U Series. These have 5.6 inch widescreens (1024 x 600 pixels) and weigh only 580g (20 ounces). Battery life is 4 hours, or up to 8 hours with a high-capacity battery, according to Fujitsu's press release.
The operating system is either Windows XP Pro or Vista Business. The processor is the 800MHz Intel A110 (Stealey chip, McCaslin platform) announced last month in Beijing to compete with Via's C7-M. Intel's new low-power architecture (Silverthorne chip, Menlow platform) is not due until next year.
Since it's a convertible, you can either use it as a stylus-operated Tablet PC or a conventional notebook with keyboard. Fujitsu says:
With its combination of go-anywhere portability and ease of use, the new U Series is expected to elicit strong demand as a popular second computer for users who work away from a desk, such as salespeople, who always need to carry a PC in the field for customer presentations, and repair technicians.
If the Japanese price became the UK price (144,000 yen is about £600) it might sell to a wider market, though not a mass market. However, it will probably cost rather more, unless you're buying by the hundred.
WinFuture has seen a sample at WinHEC and has more pictures with its German text.
