Say goodbye to the weakling Ultra Mobile-PCs (UMPC) of old and say hello to a new breed courtesy of Chinese PC maker Haier. The new Haier X6 UMPC features a Core 2 Duo processor, Windows Vista and the 945GU chipset for Aero Glass support.

Reg Hardware managed to snag some more details and specifications of the unit which include a 6.5 inch 800 x 480 display with built-in 0.3 Megapixel webcam, 1GB of DDR2 memory, a 30GB 5400RPM hard drive (unusual faster drive for a UMPC) and requisite Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options but tosses in an extra amenity, a GPS antenna so you don’t get lost. It also has a slide out keyboard, small touchpad and standard mouse button keys for ease of use.

You even have a choice of a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo L2500 processor or 1.66GHz L2400 processor. My guess is the L2400 will use less power for extended battery life and that’s what I would aim for, you really don’t need a powerful processor in a UMPC but it doesn’t hurt. A Core 2 Duo at 1.66GHz should be sufficient for UMPC needs.

The included battery will power the X6 for 5 hours on the outside. Prices start at $1,163 which is not bad considering all the hardware that Haier managed to pack into the X6. I remain doubtful we will see this hit US shores. It will be up to other companies to produce a UMPC to rival the one from Haier and I can hear the assembly lines at Dell getting revved up. Be it Dell, HP, Lenovo, someone will produce a UMPC like the X6 for the US market, just you wait and see.

So what are you waiting for, replace that bulky laptop with the Haier X6 when it becomes available in your market. Or buy both a laptop and the X6, that way you can’t lose.

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Entry was posted on Friday, April 20th, 2007 at 6:40 am under Intel, Technology, Vista.

Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.
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