Early Sub-Notebook and UMPC Adopters

This last January I bought an ASUS EEEPC (how are you supposed to say that, anyways). It has been a great device for me, allowing me to accomplish work in a lot more places than I have normally done. Plus, it fits in my gadget bag, which is always a plus.

The only problem for me is that sometimes I feel I adopted too early. Of course, this isn't to say that I haven't gotten great use out of my 4GB EEE PC, it's just that it drives me crazy sometimes how limited I am with my current model. One of the biggest problems I have is the underclocked processor which the current model has, and the fact that a significant portion of my laptop's lid is occupied by speakers, as opposed to a larger lcd screen.

The price of the generation of sub-notebook that I bought was a good one. So, in the long run, I am very satisfied with what I have, but I would suggest that people wait and see what is on the way if they are looking to buy something small to carry with them most anywhere they go. With intel's new atom processor the newer generation of sub-notebooks and UMPCs will heavily out-perform the mini-sized laptops that have existed until now.

But, I don't think that CPUs will be the only area where UMPCs and sub-notebooks are going to get a boost. As more and more people start buying these devices, the demand for them to do more and more will also increase. Handheld gaming has proven to be a huge market with devices like the Nintendo DS and Sony's PSP, and with a larger group of users who would like some gaming on the go for their new small laptops, we may find more and more technology like the one here going into sub notebooks.

Don't get me wrong, though, as I don't ever see sub-notebooks replacing their larger relatives, especially not the desktop. But, as the market for sub-notebooks and UMPCs increases, their capabilities will certainly grow, and after some of the more standardized tech specs are established the buyer will benefit from great selection and more versatile devices than are currently available.