UMPCs are small and portable computing devices that bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops. They have a screen size of 4 to 8 inches and can use traditional PC operating systems. UMPCs vary in design and connectivity options, but have not been widely adopted due to high cost and poor battery life. They continue to be produced as niche devices.
An Ultra-Mobile Personal Computer (Ultra-Mobile PC or UMPC) is a type of computing device designed to offer a traditional PC-style experience in a very small and portable package. There is no widely accepted definition for the types of devices that fall into this category, but UMPCs are generally smaller than a laptop and larger than a smartphone, with screen sizes ranging from about 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20cm). They often come with a traditional PC operating system and may use a keyboard, touchscreen, or both for input.
The Ultra-Mobile PC category was created in 2006 by Microsoft and several of its hardware partners to bridge the size and performance gap between smartphones and laptops. Like laptops, UMPCs are capable of a variety of different purposes and have a lot in common with a desktop PC. Many use slightly modified versions of traditional PC operating systems. Similar to many smartphones, UMPCs can sacrifice features like performance and ergonomics in the interest of maximum portability.
There’s no standard metric for what exactly constitutes an Ultra-Mobile PC, although most come with a touchscreen between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 cm). Early devices marketed under the term had screens approximately 7 inches (17.8 cm) in diameter, but both larger and smaller devices have since been released. The size of UMPCs can overlap with other types of computing devices; Very small UMPCs can be roughly the same size as a smaller product known as a Mobile Internet Device, while larger products can look similar to tablets and netbooks.
One feature that can distinguish Ultra-Mobile PCs from other devices is the ability to use traditional PC operating systems. While smartphones, tablets, and other devices often run on specially crafted software platforms, UMPCs generally run the same type of operating system found in laptops and desktop PCs. Early devices marketed under the term used a version of Windows® XP with additional software to facilitate touchscreen input, while more contemporary UMPCs may run Windows Vista®, Windows® 7, or a version of Linux.
The design of UMPCs varies widely; the only common attributes generally are a small footprint and light weight. An Ultra-Mobile PC might use a touchscreen, keyboard, pointing device such as a joystick, or some combination of these for input. They may feature a smartphone-like sliding keyboard, mini-tablet design, or clamshell configuration found in traditional laptops. Most have internal memory of some sort and a wide variety of standard connectivity options such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports and Wi-Fi® networking.
While the Ultra-Mobile PC idea was met with initial enthusiasm from industry commentators, the actual products met with a lukewarm reaction. Critics have pointed to the high cost, relatively poor battery life, and difficulty of use as the main barriers to mass market adoption. Beginning in late 2008, the Ultra-Mobile PC began to be overshadowed by netbooks, tablets, and other devices. UMPCs continue to be produced as niche devices, but have never captured the attention of mainstream consumers.
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