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June 13 2008

jabancroftlinkblog
03:54

Gigabyte MID specs, price set

Shared by Josh Bancroft
Ouch. They've GOT to get the prices down on these things...
5-12-08-m528.jpgIntel's Mobile Internet Device (MID) spec was once said to be a distilled, consumer-oriented version of pricey ultramobile PCs (UMPC). The notion's wandered sort of back toward "expensive" since then: Gigabyte's M528 MID, with an 800MHz Atom CPU, 8GB flash drive and 3G modem, comes in at $750. In Taiwan money, that is.

That this is more expensive than some UMPCs should not really come as a shock to you. It's a case of plus ça change when it comes to trying to sell pocket PCs: just slap a new name on the pig every three years and you don't even have to bother with the lipstick.

The best case scenario, perhaps, is that it comes out like a kind of ballsy meld of an iPhone and a UMPC's best characteristics. In a poll at UMPCPortal—a site that attracts those inclined to buy such devices—most respondents said they wouldn't pay more than $500 for it. And why should they? In a few weeks, an iPhone will set us back a mere $200.

Perhaps software will make all the difference.

Gigabyte M528 MID Update: Official pricing and availability info. [UMPCportal, pic from Engadget]