At Intel's CES 2007 booth, "Cool Ultra-Mobile Devices" were placed right next to the make your own commercial area. The high traffic area allowed for easy access to these UMPCs. Intel displayed units that are shipping today, such as the ASUS R2H and the Samsung Q1, as well as several prototypes.

Intel's bright sign read, "Cool Ultra-Mobile Devices".

Intel's display area for UMPCs held a wide selection of shipping models and prototypes.

Other side of Intel display case. You can see the ASUS R2H and Samsung Q1. Prototypes in the display case include the Education UMPC prototype, Pony UMPC, and several others with slide keyboard designs.
Prototypes included UMPCs targeting kids and schools. Intel showed orange and blue "Education UMPCs", which Intel says they hope will start shipping from OEMs by 2008. Yes, the plan is for an affordable price too. An Intel representative said that this particular UMPC is being designed specifically for elementary and middle schools. The prototypes were working and we had a chance to try them out.

Education UMPC prototype with a bright white and orange design. Shown with a soft-touch keyboard, the UMPC also has a touch screen, buttons, and stylus for navigation and entering information.

The Education UMPCs on display ran Windows XP Service Pack 2, and eventually will run Windows Vista.

Behind the case, an Education UMPC in bright blue and white colors.

Intel also had a couple UMPC models that it hopes to have OEMs customize for teenagers. The "Pony" prototype has a keyboard that attaches to the UMPC with magnets. The prototype keyboard snaps right onto the display and detaches when needed with a firm pull to separate the two pieces. Another idea is that potentially the keyboard could act as a wireless remote control to the UMPC for entertainment purposes.
Color and appearance are not finalized yet. These are just prototypes. Nevertheless, the Pony UMPC is quite an interesting experiement in design.

Intel "Pony" UMPC prototype. They keyboard snaps to the PC with magnets.

Elizabeth from Neek Talk holds the Pony keyboard. The wireless keyboard could potentially double as a remote control for entertainment purposes on the UMPC.

Intel also had several other prototypes on display, including those for personal navigation. They had dash board mountable UMPCs and portable ones that you could carry in and out of the car when you need it.

In-car navigation UMPC prototype. Imagine this in a dashboard.

Navigation UMPC prototype with slide out keyboard.

Kim from NeekTalk is holding the Navigation UMPC prototype. The prototype is small and ultra-portable. They keyboard slides behind the PC for compact travel.

Other Navigation UMPC prototypes.
The range of specialized UMPCs on display at Intel's booth was great to see. Entertainment, Education, and Navigation UMPCs are all on the horizon. Thank you, Intel, for giving us a special look at these concept products.
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