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Wibrain UMPC: the computer the Macbook Air wants to be
What looks like an old school Univac computer but fits in the palm of your hand like a Sony PSP? It's the coolest new UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC) to hit the market called the Wibrain. Sporting a 1024 x 600 resolution 4.8-inch WSVGA touchscreen and weighing in at just 1.15 pounds, the Wibrain is what you're looking for "after" you've stopped fooling yourself that the Macbook Air is worth the plastic it's housed in.
Powered by Windows XP, the Wibrain has a 1.6 gigahertz processor, a 60 gigabyte harddrive, wifi and Bluetooth capability, and a built-in camera and microphone (Skype anyone?). The device also includes game system-like up and down controls as well as a touchpad with stylus included. Unless Steve Jobs completely owns your soul, there's no way you can deny the power and glory of this device retailing for around $850, if you can find one.
Via Wibrain
By caliopigio at 9:23 AM ON 03/21/08
this look like crap!!!
By xredhead7135x at 5:54 PM ON 03/21/08
850?? maybe when it gets less than 500, but nice going. love the innovation!
By thea at 1:48 AM ON 03/22/08
Where and when CAN I find one? Tell me, because the link tells NOTHING! :(
By Chuck at 11:31 AM ON 03/22/08
Totally agree. I can take my Wibrain B1H places that I would never take an MBA.
I got mine from www.Dynamism.com
By g8rpal at 4:27 PM ON 03/24/08
The Microphone is not built in. You have to plug one in.
Other than that, it is a nice toy.
By Azureskies at 8:28 PM ON 03/24/08
You can find one at www.dynamism.com
By azrock1965 at 3:16 AM ON 03/27/08
Looks like crap? I think not! To each his own but I was immediately struck by the great look!
By W at 5:24 AM ON 03/27/08
All this Mac bashing is rather tiresome, DVICE. Is it not possible to review this product without taking jabs and pot shots at the MacBook Air? Besides, this Wibrain is not the same sort of computer as the MBA, so why are you comparing them at all? They are different devices for different sorts of markets. The MBA, though light and slim, is a full-size laptop, with a 13.3 inch screen and a regular keyboard. The Wibrain does not have a regular keyboard, and the screen is only 4.8 inches! A more relevant and useful review would compare it to other palmtop, hand-held tablet, or perhaps PDA computers.
By AscendedMaster at 5:48 AM ON 03/27/08
My wrists are developing carpel tunnel just looking at this monstrosity.
By moviedemon at 9:00 AM ON 03/27/08
I gotta agree with "W" on this one. I mean, I can care less about the Mac vs. PC thing (which is so tired by the way - geez, give it up!), but comparing this to any kind of a laptop is moronic - just based on the "keyboard" alone.
It has some weird design that splits up the tiny keys on either side of the screen. The trackpad is a nice touch, but nobody is going to be doing any report writing on this thing. Even emails would be a pain.
Like somebody said earlier, it's a nice toy, but that's about it.
By dmerchant22 at 9:32 AM ON 03/27/08
What's with the quotations around the word after? Who are you, Dr. Evil ("laser")? W's comments are right on target. Maybe W should be the one doing the reviews for DVICE as they would be more relevant and, thus, useful.
By leodavinci at 1:20 PM ON 03/27/08
Better that Jobs owns one's soul than Gates or Balmer.
By zelduh at 2:51 PM ON 03/27/08
Agree with W, but MORE IMPORTANTLY . . .
The screen is far too small to enjoy. I'll take MBA over Wibrain any time.
By TheMortgageEliminator at 4:38 PM ON 03/27/08
Just another plot to sepaqrate one from one's money just to remain part of the technoignoranti.
By Gozer the Carpathian at 7:19 PM ON 03/27/08
I agree with W as well. This Mac bashing is really annoying, especially to us Mac users who enjoy swinging by DVICE now and then. Give it a rest will ya? This thing is more PDA or eBook reader than MBA competitor.
By hornboy8d at 8:31 PM ON 03/27/08
DVICE:
1. This thing isn't even a similar product to the MBA.
2. Why would I be interested in a "computer" with a sub-5" screen, wimpy processor, and no usable keyboard (without thumb cramps).
3. This thing is UGLY
4. If you want to remain credible in the Tech Reviewing arena, you would do well to pull your head out of the sand. Macs are excellent computers, as are the better PCs. Most Macs are as capable as superb PCs of the same class and Mac OSX is a superior product to Vista in almost every way I can think of. When you bash either PC or Mac consistently, you only show that you don't know Tech. And why would I want to read reviews by people who don't know what they are writing about?
By Luckyshot at 9:37 PM ON 03/27/08
I think this device is fantastic and would be great as a portable video player/video conferencing tool. I have to agree with the others that I don't get the comparison to the Mac Book Air. I've never owned a Mac, but I don't have any problem with them. I have no idea why anyone would want a laptop with no CD/DVD drive, but other than that the MBA seems like a fine product.
By Luckyshot at 9:43 PM ON 03/27/08
BTW, the product is listed at over $150 below what this article states at the site listed by several others earlier in this string: www.dynamism.com $699 is still high, but getting more reasonable. For those that bought one, how usable is the split keyboard?
By MrScrith at 9:52 PM ON 03/27/08
I agree with the above posts, your jabs at Mac's only show your ignorance, especially for such a simple thing as the MBA's case, which is anodized aluminum, not plastic as you state in the article. Knowledge of simple facts (took me 30 seconds to find on the Apple website) and not needing to bash Mac's would help your credibility greatly.
By BJWMERRILL at 12:37 PM ON 03/28/08
So, Chuck, how do you like yours? Come on, let's get a review....
By tom3232 at 4:06 PM ON 03/28/08
A poorly written review, with incorrect facts (MBA plastic?) filled with obvious bias equals NO review at all. This guy must be getting a kickback from the manufacturer. I'm not reading "anything" by this Bozo "after" his little info-mercial. What garbage. I'll look elsewhere for informative unbiased reviews
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tom3232:
A poorly written review, with incorrect facts (MBA plastic?) filled with obvious bias equals NO review at all. This...More »