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Cebit: Asus shows smallest-yet convertible - with a proper keyboard
Samsung's Q1 Ultra was not the only new ultra-mobile at Cebit, though it did steal most of the limelight. Ergonomically, I preferred the one (pictured left) on Asus's stand, which is the smallest convertible I have seen. It has a 7inch screen like the Q1 Ultra, but has a proper keyboard rather than the latter's split keypad. As with all convertibles, the screen twists round for use as a tablet.
I've always thought of the old Psion Series 5 keyboard as the benchmark for size because it must be the smallest keyboard on which you can type even half-way normally. But is was too small for comfort, and the larger one on the Asus felt better, though I did not have enough time to try it for long.
It seems Asus has no immediate plans to ship the machine in Europe, though we were told that it had got so much interest at Cebit that this decision could change.
Many of the big companies are still shying away from ultra-mobiles but there where a few other models about at Cebit, including the one from Medion pictured above right. Sorry about the picture quality - this was taken as a visual note in expectation of getting a better look later but I never got a chance.
The keyboard slides out, and from the distance I saw it appeared to have calculator-style keys - definitely a mark-down, if so.
A Taiwanese company called Samwell was showing ruggedised ultra-mobile pictured left, together with a couple of other models.
Posted by Clive Akass on March 20, 2007 | Permalink
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