What Does Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) Mean?
Techopedia Explains Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC)
- Screen size: 5-7 inches
- Screen resolution: 800x480 minimum
- Weight: No more than 2 pounds
- Display orientation: Portrait or landscape
- Battery life: No less than 2.5 hours
- Standard input method: Touchscreen or stylus
Initial versions of this device type were simple PCs that ran on Linux or a modified version of Microsoft’s OS for tablets. First-generation UMPCs only offered a battery life of two to three hours, an issue immediately addressed by developers. By the time the second UMPC batch was introduced, these devices were designed to consume less electricity, significantly improving battery life.
Over the last few years, other manufacturers like TabletKiosk, OQO and Wibrain have released UMPC devices with better capabilities. The latest generation UMPCs feature up to 2GB of random access memory (RAM) and 160 GB hard drive, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/3G connectivity and sufficient processing power to support Internet browsing, as well as video, audio and gaming activities.
Even with improved specs, however, the UMPC category is quickly losing its market in favor of popular tablet devices.
