All,
I'm writing an article for an Intel Web site on how UMPCs might be used in education -- K-12 through college. Is anyone willing to offer some perspective on the question?
Thanks,
Geoff


Originally posted on UMPC Buzz

I'm a Pure Math major at university. I use my UMPC for several reasons in school. One of the big ones is weight, I don't have to carry around a heavier laptop. And with weight I get all my text books scanned (for disability reasons) so I further reduce my weight. I love reading books on the ultra mobile. I enjoy surfing, emailing and other daily activities on the device.

I am actually going to order the keyboard so that I can do math editing on it this semester (something I do a lot) and that will not stress the CPU of the ultra mobile too much.

All in all I find it an acceptable replacement of daily activities, but when I get home I use the laptop for the things that need more powere, like doing mathematical calculations and programming. I see that some people do do programming on the ultra mobile, I think I've avoided it more due to space issues on the harddrive.

Which math app are you using?

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I use Scientific Notebook MacKichan Software - The Home of Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, and Scientific Notebook. I have the portable keyboard from Samsung for my Q1 and you really do need a keyboard for this application. But, I can do all the edititing of math equations I want.

I like the idea behind the Xthink application, but it seems so picky about how you write an equation that I find it hard to use.

Howdy, everyone!
My UMPC is like an extension of my brain. I'm hardly ever without it. I know there are folks out there who don't like the form factor for one reason or another, but for me it comes down to this: My Q1 makes it easier to do my job, which is teaching gifted K-7 students. I work at 4 different schools, so I am constantly on the go. I have a complete desktop setup at most of my buildings, which means that when I arrive, I just plug my Q1 into a 17" monitor, a keyboard and a mouse and I'm set up with a very comfortable system for planning and doing things like report cards. When it comes time to work with the students, I disconnect and carry the Q1 to the tables where I work with small groups. All of the students have access to laptops, so right now I have the Q1 all to myself. I am currently teaching a unit on navigation, and I use the Q1 with a Garmin GPS 10 and assorted bits of software. I use a USB temperature probe for experiments inside and outside. I stream videos and do podcasting. I have constant access to email and the internet. I don't have to worry about losing a digitizer pen. I have a stowaway bluetooth keyboard and mouse if I need it (this happens about once a week). I've worked extensively over the years with huge desktop systems, laptops, pocket PCs, Palms, tablet PCs and now my UMPC since December. The Samsung Q1 has made the most difference for me. It's the only piece of technology I have that I really wouldn't want to part with. Now I am trying to convince my school district to include the UMPC in the local technology plan. The biggest problem I've run into so far is the reluctance of other teachers to try it. Heck, some of them still think overhead projectors are new-fangled. Probably small-sized technology won't make into the mainstream until the current generation of Gameboy kids become teachers. Time will tell. Take care, all!
--sdkio

If you consider the cheap UMPC's that look like a laptop, those would be good computers to use in education due to price and simple mainstream input of a touch type keyboard.

The other UMPC's are toys for geeks. Mainstream is not a pen input, nor thumb and adding a bunch of accessories to make it more like a laptop is not cost effective for education. UMPC owners try to sell the world it is the greatest thing but the reality is that most people will never adopt a pen input nor thumb input.

There are a number of those laptop size UMPC's for 3-500 dollars and that seems cost effective and would ready them for mainstream computer use.