The Kohjinsha SC3 series is the company’s newest 7-inch mini notebook line and one of the first Menlow-based ultraportables to begin shipping in the world. Announced in Japan last month and launched on July 11th, the series includes built-in GPS, a swiveling widescreen touch panel, ExpressCard/34 and 3-in-1 memory card slots, upgradeable RAM, a redesigned casing that’s more compact than ever before, and of course the long-awaited Intel Silverthorne (now Atom) processor and Poulsbo chipset pairing.
My new friends at Conics.net were kind enough to send me a best-in-class SC3 for review, and I put it under scrutiny immediately. Let me show you everything, and I do mean everything, I found below.
System Specifications
Several configurations comprise the Kohjinsha SC3 series. My review unit from Conics is the top-of-the-line model (SC3WP06GA), which includes a 2GB memory upgrade (+$73) and has the following specs:
| CPU: |
1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 (Silverthorne) |
| Chipset: | Intel SCH US15W (Poulsbo) |
| RAM: | 2GB DDR2-533 (1GB standard, upgradeable) |
| OS: | Windows Vista Home Premium |
| Storage: | 60GB HDD |
| Display: | 7” swiveling touchscreen (1024 x 600) |
| Wireless: | 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, GPS, 1seg tuner |
| Size: | 7.44" x 6.10" x 1.00"-1.30" |
| Weight: | 1.76 lbs. |
| Colors: | Black or white |
Box Contents
Included in the box with the SC3 is a full set of accessories.
In addition to a standard-capacity battery (not shown), the unit ships with a cushioned slipcase (Velcro closure), white leather strap, AC adapter and power cord, GPS antenna, and 1seg TV antenna.
Japanese manuals/paperwork, Vista Home Premium quick start guide, and GrandMap PC Navi CD (Japanese map software for use with GPS) are also supplied.
Design
Though the Kohjinsha mini notebooks have not undergone drastic cosmetic changes from one generation to another, the SC3 series is by far the most sophisticated and stylish.
Its silvery white casing and silver accents have a light shimmer on them that make the device look much sleeker than previous models. Likewise, build quality is absolutely superb; everything feels really solid and expensive.
Someone I showed it to even asked if it was a new UMPC from Sony. I don’t know how Kohjinsha would feel about that, but I took it as high praise for them, as Sony is renowned for its beautiful designs and top-notch hardware quality.
I don’t care for the rubber nubbins on the top of the unit, but they allow the lid to rest softly on the keyboard when the display is rotated for tablet use.
Size
Even more striking than the SC3′s design, however, is its ultra compact size. For a unit with a 7-inch screen, it’s tiny. I seriously couldn’t believe how small it was when I took it out of the box. It’s significantly smaller than the Asus Eee PC, HTC Shift, Samsung Q1 Ultra, older Kohjinsha devices, and any other 7-inch UMPC/handtop out there.
It’s so small, in fact, that you can carry it around like a handbag!
For a less girly reference, here are some comparison photos of the SC3 with the other UMPCs I have at home.
Kohjinsha SC3 vs. Fujitsu LifeBook U810 (5.6" screen)
Kohjinsha SC3 vs. HTC Shift (7" screen)
Kohjinsha SC3 vs. Sony Vaio UX (4.5" screen)
Display
One of the most noticeable design improvements of the SC3 over its predecessors is the reduced size of the screen bezel. Previous 7-inch-screened Kohjinsha models had thick bezels, which were useful for versatile hardware-control placement but generally detracted from the units’ appearance.
The thinner bezel helps the LED-backlit display seem quite large and makes the design look well thought out. Wider bezels often lead consumers to complain about wasted space and question why a bigger screen wasn’t used instead, so the SC3 has already nipped those gripes in the bud.
As with previous models, the SC3′s 7-inch display swivels and rotates on a sturdy metal base that could actually benefit from being loosened. Consistent with the overall build quality of the device, the hinge is incredibly solid and secure (nothing flimsy or fragile) and feels immune to accidental damage.
The display is rotatable and can lay completely flat either above (for thumb typing) or on top of (for tablet use) the keyboard.
Screen rotation is adjustable through a software setting. Regardless of its orientation, the display is bright, crisp, and easy to read. 1024 x 600 resolution on a 7-inch screen is a great match.
Controls
A consequence of the smaller screen bezel is less space for hardware controls. While earlier Kohjinsha models had mouse buttons and a pointer flanking their displays, making slate and two-handed use easy, the SC3 must rely on its touchscreen when the keyboard is not exposed.
The screen responds to fingernails just fine but because Vista is not optimized for finger use, the included stylus (or any other stylus you have on hand) is a better choice. The SC3′s touch panel is nicely responsive and doesn’t require additional taps or unnecessary force to perform the desired action.
Although there aren’t any navigational controls surrounding the display, the bezel isn’t completely devoid of anything useful.
On the left side of the screen are a 1.3-megapixel web camera and multifunction button that can be set to adjust brightness levels, page up/down, control volume, or zoom in/out. Toggling between these functions is done using the Fn+F9 keyboard shortcut.
Beneath the multifunction button is a port for the 1Seg TV antenna, which is only useful in Japan and works in conjunction with the telescoping antenna built into the top right corner of the display.
At the top of the bezel is a set of indicators that illuminate when the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is enabled and when the SC3 is plugged into an AC outlet.
Completing the tour around the SC3′s display are two speakers located at the bottom of the panel. The speaker volume, though low, is suitable for personal listening.
Other than the keyboard, which is discussed in its own section below, the only navigational control is the touch pad and mouse buttons below it. The touch pad is 2 inches long, which makes it about 80% the size of the touch pad on my 11.1-inch Sony Vaio TZ notebook. Although it’s smaller than most are accustomed to, it’s still usable and responsive. The left and right mouse buttons below it are easy to press and provide good tactile and soft audible feedback.
And that about does it for the Kohjinsha SC3 controls.
Now let’s take a look at the rest of the I/O ports and interfaces on the unit.
On the back are a covered RJ-45/Ethernet port, battery compartment, and power port.
One of two Kensington locks, USB 2.0 port, VGA port, headphone and microphone jacks, volume rocker, stylus slot, and an external GPS antenna port can be found on the SC3′s left side.
An air vent, 3-in-1 memory card reader, ExpressCard/34 slot, covered USB 2.0 port, and the second Kensington lock are located on the right side of the unit.
On the front are a microphone, various LED indicators, power switch, air vents, and wireless radio on/off switch.
Compared to other UMPCs, all that the Kohjinsha SC3 is really missing are a biometric fingerprint scanner, some user-defined buttons, and maybe an optical mouse for better slate-mode navigation.
Keyboard
The biggest benefit of the SC3′s mini notebook form factor is, undoubtedly, the keyboard. Clamshell designs allow a QWERTY keyboard to be almost the same size as the device itself, whereas slider-style UMPCs generally have thumboards about half the size of a gadget’s height and slates either have no keyboard or split keypads.
The size advantage makes data input faster because those with small hands can probably touch-type and others can hunt-and-peck with relative ease. After only a short bit of practice, I was able to type at 63% of my normal touch-typing speed on the SC3 using two or three fingers on each hand. UPDATE: Watch me take a one-minute typing test.
You can see in my mobile device keyboard typing speed chart that this puts the SC3 right between the HTC Shift a nd Fujitsu LifeBook U810.
The 84-key Japanese/English keyboard has a mostly standard US layout that is easy to get used to. Some of the punctuation keys are rearranged, but it doesn’t take long to memorize where they are.
I don’t know the pitch (distance between keys) or stroke (distance a key moves when pressed) of the SC3 keyboard, but neither is problematic. Typing for extended periods becomes uncomfortable, but light to moderate input sessions can be done with little to no ill effect on the fingers, hands, wrists, and/or forearms.
Connectivity
The Kohjinsha SC3 lacks integrated 3G connectivity, but it has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, and GPS. Note that the base configurations (SC3KP06A and SC3WP06A) do not have Bluetooth or GPS.
Wi-Fi signal strength is great, allowing me to connect with ease to my home network from a room that other mobile devices sometimes have trouble seeing the router in. The SC3 uses a Bluetooth chip from Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) that has successfully paired with every single Bluetooth-enabled device I’ve thrown at it (mobile phones, headsets, computer peripherals, MP3 players, etc.).
Since the SC3 is only available in the US through importers like Conics, it does not come with English map software to use with its internal GPS. Instead, the device ships with GrandMap PC Navi (Japanese software), which isn’t useful outside of Japan.
Free and paid GPS software is plentiful online, so I downloaded Infix Technologies’ GPSMonitor to give the SC3′s GPS a try from my high-rise condo. I put the antenna (that square thing in one of the photos) near a window, plugged the other end into the extending port, and launched GPSMonitor. I was found within minutes (eep!).
I haven’t tried using the SC3 in the car, but I suspect that it would perform flawlessly with the right software (GPSMonitor isn’t a turn-by-turn app). My Garmin GPS unit can’t even find me when I’m inside!
Performance
Since the Kohjinsha SC3 series is one of the first Menlow-based devices to become available, many are anxious to see how the previously codenamed Silverthorne CPU and Poulsbo chipset perform under the weight of Windows Vista.
Keeping in mind that my review unit has 2GB of memory installed, Vista Home Premium SP1 runs extremely well on the 1.33GHz Atom processor. I’d even go so far as to say that it’s downright zippy and on par with what I’m used to (which isn’t much). I’ve experienced no disk thrashing, lagging, or slow-loading menu items and icons. Anyone expecting Vista to perform on the Atom the way it did on the A110 will be pleasantly surprised.
The SC3 gets unbearably warm when running on AC power and when in use for about an hour or so. Even when the system is being taxed, though, the unit runs so quietly that I’ve actually had to put my ear next to the air vents to check if the fans were working.
Benchmarks
These don’t mean anything to me personally, but since I know how much you guys love benchmark results, here they are.
Windows Experience Index
CrystalMark 2004R3
The SC3′s 60GB hard drive is partitioned (C: 31.4GB, D: 24.4GB) so I ran CrystalMark 2004R3 on both.
3DMark03
For more CPU and GPU test results, take a look at this updated Kohjinsha SC3 review thread in the new Pocketables Forum.
Video Playback
I don’t watch too many online videos, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t discuss how Menlow gets along with Flash video sites like YouTube, Hulu, Veoh, and Vimeo. Better yet, I’ll show you. Please excuse the excessive background noise (my Handycam’s mic is overly sensitive).
I realize that demonstrating video quality using a video of a video is problematic, but it’s the next best thing to seeing it in person.
UPDATE 8.5.08: QuickTime HD playback video demo now available.
Battery Life
Kohjinsha has given the SC3′s standard li-ion battery (7.4V, 2600mAh) a runtime estimate of 3.2 hours, but my usage (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, GPS off, screen at mid-brightness, web browsing with Firefox 3) returns about 2.5 hours. Unimpressive.
A high-capacity battery (7.4V, 5200mAh) with a runtime of 6.4 hours is available separately. Like with the Fujitsu U810, however, this extended battery will stick out of the back of the SC3 and add some weight to the device. Aesthetics versus function, I guess.
Conclusion
The Kohjinsha SC3 has come such a long way from the original SA1 series from 2006 that it’s hard to believe they’re actually related. Everything the SA1 did wrong, the SC3 does right . . . and then some! It looks fantastic, is more compact than any other 7-inch UMPC around, has an excellent keyboard and a good selection of ports/features, and performs well under Vista. Battery life is a bit lacking and the unit gets very warm after a bit of use, but all things considered, there is very little to complain about.
If this is what we can expect from all Menlow-based devices, then there’s definitely a lot to look forward to.
The Kohjinsha SC3 can be purchased now from Conics for between $900 (SC3KP06A/SC3WP06A – no Bluetooth or GPS) and $1000 (SC3KP06GA/SC3WP06GA). A 2GB memory upgrade (+$73), other configuration options, and accessories are also available.
UPDATE 7.28.08: I’ve decided to buy the SC3 so if you have any questions or requests, let me know in the comments or in the new forum.
Hi Jenn,
Great review!
Now I really want to buy the SC3
Still in doubt over the colour though.
Anything about FireFox 3 and Office 2007 performance?
I haven’t tried Office (let me see if I can find an install disc) but FF3 works without a hitch. You can see it launching in the video above and get a feel for how it deals with YouTube and friends. Is there a particular site you’d like me to visit?
I’m seriously excited now. This is looking fantastic. Possibly my next baby.
Well done and thanks for the review Jenn.
Chippy.
Ah, Thanks… I’m trapped behind the firewall and proxy of work so I can’t visit specific pages and can’t view flash files at all.
That’s the downside of working at a Financial Institute
Anyway, I’ll check when I get home.
If you could, please try to ink using the SC3 in slate/tablet mode.
Also, visiting http://www.taobao.com (a Chinese eBay-like site) might give me a good impression.
The site is horrible and I even maanged to crash a browser/windows with it
Thanks again, but because I am a very impatient person I jsut ordered the SC3 – White 2GB
Now I just need to finish my purchase of the Sharp WS016SH.
)
(Gadget Heaven and Financial Hell here I come
Am I correct in interpreting that its got a soft-touch screen? Many people into on-screen hadnwriting with Vista would probably want to know this.
Regards
Steve.
Is there a way to measure how warm the device get? Also is the bottom part or keyboard, which is getting hot? This problem looks very disappointing for me. Thanks
Awesome review as usual Jenn. Looks like a good unit to pick up.
Nice review and pictures, as usual Jenn…of course, I’ve got a few questions:
Does the GPS have an internal antenna, or does it only work with that external antenna? What is the purpose of that port that slides out, is that an antenna?
How is the weight compared to the U810?
I assume it comes with the full English version of Vista? Looks like it does…
This Kohjinsha is one nice machine, definitely on my list now. I like how it has a nice matte finish, instead of the overglossy black that every manufacturer seems to be pushing on us. Keyboard seems a bit busy, but I guess after a while you get used to it.
Can you tell me if the screen is usable outside in bright sunlight?
How is it for writing on the screen? Is vectoring a problem?
Is the keyboard actually any good for thumb typing on with the screen all the way back?
Is the keyboard backlit?
Thanks in advance.
Wonderful review! I would have liked to see more of you typing on the video you showed. I could barely see the tops of your fingers. I would also be interested in seeing a video where you showed typing on SC3, then switched to typing on some of the other keyboards you showed, such as the Bluetooth Stowaway. Also, some stylus interaction would be helpful. I can imagine it’s harder to do satisfactory video, though, and I am very appreciative of the detailed photo essay as usual!
Wow! That’s pretty impressive, especially with how badly they did last time. I’d be seriously tempted, too, if I could get one without Windows.
That’s about the same performance I get in my old Q1 with a Celeron M at 900 MHz with 2 GB of RAM and running Vista. The old Q1P with a Pentium had the same performance and the same battery life. So in conclusion, we got back the same performance that we had about 2 years ago!
Do not get me wrong! I’m extremely happy to see this. The A110 was a step back that never should had be done.
I’m curious about how hard it would be to swap out the HDD. The Youtube video of doing that with the Samsung Q1UP (Kevin Tofel?) made me want that device so I could install another OS while leaving the original in a pristine state.
Believe it or not, my office balked at the idea of me installing a certain other OS on what would be their property. If I do it on a separate drive, they will overlook it as “research.”
This review is STILL missing the Poulsbo HD H.264 decoding capability.
This is the ONLY feature that set this piece of hardware apart from all the EEEs and Winds and Aspire Ones which use the old GMA950.
What kind of harddisk is it? A 2,5″ or a 1,8″? Is the ram slot reachable for everybody without breaking seals?
Inking
Inking on the SC3 in portrait and landscape slate mode is actually pretty good. The display is a passive touchscreen, but it’s not overly sensitive. It responds to stylus taps and fingernails immediately but will only register fingertaps when done deliberately.
Handwriting recognition through the Tablet PC Input Panel is great. I’m not an inker, so writing on the screen feels unnatural to me. I know there isn’t exactly a “right” way to ink, but I’m pretty sure seasoned tablet folk would notice how awkward I am. Even so, the SC3 recognized every single word I wrote.
Writing directly on the entire screen through Windows Journal is not as great, but still quite good. The screen seems able to withstand light palm touches; vectoring is only an issue with heavy palms and when that sharpish bone right above the wrist taps it.
@ Maarten: Oh my, taobao.com is seizure-inducing! On a full wi-fi signal, the site loaded fully in 13 seconds. Sometimes, though, I just got a “server taking too long to respond” message.
Congrats on the double purchase! I ordered my Sharp/Willcom UMPC as well (free extended battery!), so I’ll see you in Gadget Heaven and Financial Hell. I actually have a timeshare in the latter locale, if you’re interested. It’s a little warm, but they allow you to fan yourself with all the gadget manuals and user guides you’ve collected over the years.
@ martin: My husband has a multimeter somewhere that should be able to measure the temperature. I’ll get back to you on this if he can find it. The heat feels contained to the bottom of the unit. I didn’t notice a change in keyboard temperature, but that could be because I was distracted by the bottom. I’ll watch for it and let you know. Update: After an hour of wi-fi use, the air coming out of the right vent (which blows into your palm if you’re holding the unit in both hands) measured 101.2 degrees. The hottest spot on the underside of the SC3 got to 98.3 degrees, while the keyboard remained comfortable.
@ orbital: I have no idea what the slide-out port is (everything that came with the SC3 is in Japanese, which I can kind of read but generally don’t understand), but I assume it’s an internal antenna (it blinks when turned on). I can’t tell if the external one is absolutely required for it to work but without it, GPSMonitor wasn’t able to find my location. The paperwork that came with the unit shows the external antenna in use when it discusses the GrandMap PC Navi software. I need to do more research on this . . .
It’s heavier than the U810 (1.56 vs 1.76 lbs), but the weight is better distributed because it doesn’t have the Fujitsu’s bulging backside.
Yes, a full English version of Vista Home Premium is included. Conics will also install it free of charge in Portugese, Spanish, German, Finish, French, Italian, Norwegian, Dutch, Russian, Swedish, Hebrew, Japanese, or Danish. Vista Ultimate in any of those languages, including English, costs an additional $208.
@ John in Norway: I don’t know if it’s because of the LED backlighting or what, but the screen is incredibly visible and usable outside and in direct sunlight.
Thumb typing is certainly possible when the unit is held between both hands, but how comfortable it is will depend on the size of your hands and/or the reach of your thumbs. The keys are really easy to press and generously sized, so it doesn’t take much of an effort to reach any of them.
The keyboard is not backlit but the keys on the white model are fairly easy to see in dim lighting conditions because of the color contrast. I don’t know for sure, but I would assume that the same couldn’t be said of the black model.
@ zorg: I’ll try and put together a typing video demo later, maybe of me taking a typing test or something. I’ll use the stylus in the video as well. Update: Video now available!
@ Lolento: What’s the best way to test Poulsbo’s HD H.264 decoding capability? Let me know and I’ll do it for you.
@ Marc: The hard drive is a 1.8″ Samsung SpinPoint N2 HS06THB (4200 rpm). The RAM slot is completely user accessible. If you look in the photo posted in the Battery Life section of the review, you can see a portion of a white compartment with ridges on it. The RAM is under there. The “door” is held shut by a single Phillips screw.
Hi Jane, Thanks for doing the taobao.com test.
It is indeed a horrible website, but a great test for a browser/system to see how it responds so such a mess.
When do you expect the Sharp WS016SH to arrive at your doorstep?
I am really curious about the performance of that little machine with only 1Gig of RAM.
I think the sliding thing is the internal GPS antenna as well. If you’re indoors you might not be able to get a fix with that though? Did you try it outside?
As for playing h.264 video using the chipset’s decoding features, if you get one of the later builds here for example, Media Player Classic Home Cinema supports h.264 decoding in hardware with its built-in filters. http://www.tosei.ru/isoft/mpc/MPC_HC_FS_671.7z
Its a 7zip archive if you don’t have that installed.
Then, play a h.264 video (here’s a good example http://trailers.nerodigital.com/Warner/GetSmart_HD.mp4 ).
The video I linked to is a 1080p video, so it shouldn’t play properly off the CPU. However, I’m not entirely sure it’ll play even if h.264 decoding is working, for a few reasons. But, if its stuttering, the other thing you’ll have to check is keep the video playing, right click on filters, and go to MPC Video Decoder. Then, it’ll either say Not Using DXVA or something about Bitstream Decoding.
I’m not entirely sure if the program needs specific chipset support, or if it should work no matter what, so there’s a chance this might be invalid. Besides that, I seem to remember something about the chipset being speculated to only support decoding 720p video, not 1080p, so that’s another reason it might not work (the test video I linked to is 1080p). Finally, besides that, I’m not entirely sure if you need Vista or not for the program to work, since it tries to use the EVR renderer.
Basically, the test won’t be entirely conclusive but it might be a good start.
Hi Jenn,
can you try to install ubuntu on it? how is the performance?
Hi Jenn,
Thanks for the extensive test reports and all the photos.
Two (obvious) questions:
- Did the SC3 end your love affair with the Shift? Or in other words: if you had to choose, which one would you prefer?
- You are saying that the SC3 is even smaller than the Shift. Your photos seem to prove otherwise. While it is a little less wide (1/2″?), it seems to be almost 1″ deeper than the Shift (which makes really good use of the slightly wider bezel on the left and right).
@ Maarten: I’m not sure when the Sharp will arrive. I’ve been told that it could ship as early as Saturday, but I won’t bank on anything until it’s confirmed. Have you finished ordering yours?
@ 4u4me: I’m definitely the wrong person for that, as I have never installed Linux on anything before. Frankly, I wouldn’t even know where to start! The unit is also just a loaner, so I don’t think wiping off the original OS (I don’t have any recovery discs) is an option.
@ mw65719: Oh, no, my heart still beats for the Shift. Even though the SC3 is a great machine and I understand why others would want one, it isn’t something I would consider purchasing (even if I didn’t have the Shift). I’ve grown weary of the little laptop look and can’t get enough of the slide-and-tilt design of the Shift and Willcom D4 (just ordered!). The SC3 is in many ways “better” than the Shift, but part of my gadget lust is ruled by vanity. And there’s nothing that looks as good as the Shift/D4 to me.
Ah, you’re right about the size comparison. I was thinking only in terms of length for some reason. Placed side by side like in the Shift/SC3/U810 photo, the height difference is really the only thing that jumps out at me. It made me blind to the differences in depth/width and thickness.
Thanks for all the answers Jenn. I’m liking the sound of this machine.
@ Joe: I think you’re right about the internal antenna. I did try it outside, but I wasn’t able to get a fix. I wasn’t in an open area, though, so I’ll try again in the next few days.
Thanks for the video info. The trailer you linked to did play, but it was as though it was in super slow mode. By the time the audio was done, the video hadn’t made it past the telephone booth scene (before Steve Carell popped up). Playback (if that’s what you can call it) was actually kind of smooth. It wasn’t stuttering but I checked the MPC Video Decoder setting anyway and saw the “Not Using DXVA” thing. Any suggestions on what to try next?
@Jenn: Yes I finished ordering my Sharp WS016SH, I’ll let you know when it is shipped/has arrived.
I hope they’ll ship my SC3 and D4 asap
Jenn, how would you compare the inking with the Fujitsu U810? I have the U810 but really need more speed at times and the SC3 seems to have that. If you compare both and write with your palm on the screen which one gives less vectoring. One thing is I do a lot of inking and like the U810 because am able to rest palm on screen. I use to have the Q1P and had to learn not to touch the screen. Also for the Bluetooth is it using the Toshiba Drivers? If not can you create a DUN with your Tilt and let us know if it is easy to create a DUN with phone. Reason is I use my BB Curve as a BT DUN and also with USB cable, am on the road a lot. What would you say the performance is compare to the u810? I’m really thinking about ordering one, but might wait for the SX3.
Hi, thanks for amazing review. I’m going to decide which one to take, to be always with me the SC3 or toughbook R7.The difference in price is almost double.
The important factor for me is graphic capabilities. May I ask you to run GLViewer (http://www.realtech-vr.com/glview/download.html) and publish a log or to publish full picture of 3D Mark Info about graphic capabilities ? Thanks
There’s also this program, which I don’t really know too much about, but I believe it should list all of the types of playback the chipset has support for DXVA for. The homepage is entirely Japanese, but I’ve seen it suggested on other sites.
http://bluesky23.hp.infoseek.co.jp/DXVAChecker_1600.zip
My ATI HD3870 which definitely supports DXVA looks like this.
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5963/dxvapj0.jpg
I forgot to mention. From what I can tell from the japanese page, it appears that on XP you’ll need other programs installed to run it. Namely:
# Visual C++ 2005 SP1 runtimes
# .NET Framework 2.0 (probably already installed)
# DirectX 9 (again probably already installed)
Great review!
7″ Daylight readable screen+GPS+CoPilot Laptop live ftw! And with the Microsoft Live Search cashback deal, it’s even under $1K, a bargain.
At least that’s the story I’m peddling to the wife.
How about fan noise? is it fairly quiet or loud? does the fan kick on often?
Thanks,
-Tyndal
Sorry, I just noticed the comments about the fan.. seems quiet. I searched for ‘noise’ and didnt find anything the first time.
@ HG: The inking experience on the SC3 and U810 are really similar in terms of vectoring. The writing area is bigger on the SC3, though, so it’s more comfortable.
The unit uses a BlueSoleil Bluetooth stack. I was able to set up a BT PAN with no problem, but I’m not sure if BT DUN is supported. Only the following 7 service are shown as active: PAN, serial port, file transfer, object push, basic imaging service, and advanced audio. There’s a DUN icon, but it isn’t lit up.
Performance is better on the SC3, but that could be partially due to the fact that my review unit has 2GB of RAM installed.
@ Ilya: I downloaded GLViewer but every time I try to run the rendering tests, I get some kind of execution exception error that crashes the system. Is there a way to view the graphic capabilities without actually running that test?
@ Joe: The SC3 is running Vista Home Premium, so there aren’t any compatibility issues with the DXVA checker. The SC3′s results are posted in the forum. I don’t know what to make of them, so I’m open to suggestions on what to try next.
Thanks Jenn for the info. I really thinking of ordering one; but might get the SX3 since it does have the 8.9 and DVD drive. Not that I would use the DVD drive, because I have been using the Q1P and now the U810 in the last 1 1/2 and haven’t really needed the DVD drive. I usually download from my Network and also now using the WD World Edition which lets me access my files remotely. I really like how small the SC3 is because I’m always going from job site to job site and really don’t like something big. Any chance Conics would send you a review unit of the SX3 next month? Also one more question; If you compare speed of the SC3 vs Sony TZ, I know the TZ is much faster but is it half the speed? I want to get a feel for the speed. I have used a TZ that I setup for a friend actually have setup about 3 TZ’s for business apps and like the light weight of it, to bad its not a tablet. Thanks
Hi, thanks a lot !!!
Actually the fact that glviewer won’t run on SC3 tells me that OpenGL is poorly supported. Well I’ll take an R7 from conics. Huh never had luck to get a cheaper solution.
But if you are not running the test, does it displays the OpenGL capabilities in the tabs ?
I am *THIS* close to pulling the trigger on one of these (GPS/BT model + 2GB upgrade + extended battery for $1271 shipped) despite the ludicrous cost, but am deathly afraid of the overheating issue.
I had purchased a Vye S37 last year with 2GB RAM, and while I loved the size and form factor, the heat eminating from the device while on AC and after extended use, ultimately caused the machine to be unstable, reboot randomly, or lock up.
I’m afraid of what prolonged internal heat exposure may do to the device over time.
Any thoughts?
@ HG: I haven’t decided if I’m even interested in reviewing the SX yet, so I haven’t asked whether Conics could send me one. I’m really trying to stick to 7″ max devices to keep the site more focused (even though I’ve broken that rule before and will do so again when my Aspire One demo arrives), but you’re not the first person who’s asked about an SX review. The internals are the same as the SC3 (1.33GHz Atom, 2GB RAM option, 60GB HDD, Vista Home Premium), so I guess it would be more a hardware review than anything else.
As for the how the SC3 compares to the TZ, for my needs I kind of find their performance to be quite similar. I’ve previously posted my TZ benchmarks and some other performance-related thoughts. Let me know if there’s something in particular you’d like me to test on both machines to give you a better answer.
@ Ilya: I don’t see any tabs (I’ve got OpenGL version 1.1 and driver version 0.00.000, which doesn’t seem right at all!), but in the Extensions area, I see “Implementation specifics” and “Extension specifics” subfolders within a “Capabilities” folder. Within those subfolders are the following sub-subfolders: Framebuffer properties, Max stack depth, Various limitations, Texture formats, Texture environment, and Texture environment combine.
In the Summary area, it says GDI Generic for the rendered and 0 MB for the adapter RAM.
Not sure if that helps . . .
@ Heavyharmonies: I haven’t encountered any instability issues like that on the SC3 so far. I mentioned this in an update to a previous comment above, but here’s the info again: “After an hour of wi-fi use, the air coming out of the right vent (which blows into your palm if you’re holding the unit in both hands) measured 101.2 degrees. The hottest spot on the underside of the SC3 got to 98.3 degrees, while the keyboard remained comfortable.”
I’m guessing that prolonged internal heat could become an issue for any device, though. My TZ gets really hot sometimes and I can’t help but think about all those exploding batteries. It’s never caused a stability issue, but that could be because I always keep the bottom nicely ventilated.
Thanks Jenn, great review!
There are some problems with the graphic driver!
If I read here, that you are get OGL version 1.1 and the driver version is 0.00.000 I think there is no hardware support yet.
The Poulsbo has an SGX535 core, that is an OGL 2.0 core and support DX9. I am in contact with PowerVR and all I can say at the moment is: “[Poulsbos] performance is not that bad”. This is a comment on your tests with CrystalMark and 3DMark2003.
But there are two things that you can do for us, I have no Poulsbo system at this time, you are the first!
!
Can you trying to run ArchMark on your device? You can find it her: http://www.zeckensack.de/archmark/index.html
And if you would know how good the driver for DX and OGl are, try VillageMark from PowerVR. This benchmark exist in two versions DX and OGL, you can find both version here:
http://www.mitrax.de/?cont=file&id=11
http://www.mitrax.de/?cont=file&id=78
I am not sure that the driver you have will run this, but have a try!
Thanks a lot!
Loewe
Thanks for the review!
I am also interested in high def video, mainly x264 TV but that get smart trailer will do – maybe.
Please download a 480p or 720p trailer from http://www.hd-trailers.net/preview.php?id=get_smart because I think 1080p is just too much to ask for from an Atom.
Please install the latest CoreAVC codec pack trial (1.7) as this help with decoding tremendously: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Codec-Packs-Video-Codecs/CoreAVC.shtml
Then install Gomplayer (my video player of choice: http://www.gomlab.com/eng/ and during install choose high priority (minimize choppy images) then try the get smart trailer(s).
If that doesn’t work, please try this: right click and go to preferences, then the Video Section, and in there under Video Output there is a drop down box, and it is probably set to VMR9 Renderless. Now I don’t know what all the different options in that box do, so I just took a punt and set it to (sytem default settings) and got better video quality.
Thanks!
BTW someone asked about the hard drive – it voids the warranty to switch out the hard drive, which is shame really as I just got a 120GB Toshiba 1.8″ to upgrade my U810 and would love to swap it into the SC3 instead!
@ loewe & Adam: I’ll look into your suggestions soon, but in the meantime, I’ve posted some CPU-z and GPU-z results that may be of interest to you in the forum.
Adam, you’ll see in the linked thread that the SC3 didn’t do well with a 720p HD trailer either. It played back better than the 1080p one, but the video was still behind the audio stream and it still wasn’t using DXVA. I’ll try a 480p trailer and get back to you after I test out your and loewe’s other requests.
Anyone thinking about something with a 7″ 1024×600 screen should really try one out before buying. 1024×600 on a 7 inch screen gives 170 dpi and that means really small type. I’ve been using a U1Ultra for over year and I’ve just given up and ordered a 12 tablet. Yes, you can enlarge the print but on many web sites enlarged print in a box (say a photo caption) will spill out of the box making that and the adjacent text unreadable.
The heat issue is disappointing and I would like to add that my SA1 is my main computer these days I can type as fast on it as a regular keyboard and it hardly ever ever gets even the slightest bit warm.
@Berni Sperling: I am not sure anymore that heat is such a big issue. Many devices get likely hot on the bottom side (for example new Asus eee or Jenn’s Sony Vaio) Maybe Jenn is more sensitive to heat?
to anyone wanting smooth 720p or 1080p video…
Sony Z features 256MB VRAM and a GeForce graphics chip, something like that is what you are going to need…
the Kohjinsha is not designed (or priced) to be a 720p / 1080p player
Horses for courses
@ loewe: ArchMark won’t run correctly on the SC3. It installed with no problem, but whenever I press the “Start” button, the screen flashes for a second and then returns to the main interface. When I click the “Details” button, it launches my web browser and just gives me an error message about the results.
I also don’t see anything to download on the DX and OGL pages you linked to. The main column is blank.
@ martin: I’m actually really surprised by how many people zeroed in on my heat comment! You’re right that many devices get unbearably hot after prolonged use (I haven’t measured it, but I’m pretty sure the TZ’s underside temperature is well over 110 degrees). I wonder if I am more sensitive to heat. The SC3 reached between 98.3 and 101.2 degrees in various places after an hour of wi-fi use, which was enough for me to notice and mention it in the review. Do you think this is within tolerable range? It’s definitely not blazing hot or anything, but I found it really uncomfortable.
@ Jenn: What can I say? We are men… we put our beloved ones onto our lap… of course we are afraid to get burnt
And now little bit more seriously. I am not expert in this area, but those temperatures look quite normal to me. There are laptops with lover temperatures, but also with lite higher ones. I believe the difference with Sc3 might be the position of the right fan… it blows warm air directly into your hand which might be perceived as unbalanced and uncomfortable. Other laptops have vents on the back usually, so you do not get into contact with hot air.
And yes your Vaio TZ seems to get even hotter according to this review http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Sony-Vaio-TZ11XN-Notebook.4358.0.html
(though it is a slightly different model)
Do I dare to have another question, now you have more expereince with SC3. Is the machine still so quiet as you reported in the initial review? Or the fan learnt to kick in and the Sc3 turns into a small aeroplane? For me the only reason to change the current computer is the fact that the fan is turned almost always on and when not I can hear the hard disk at least… Does not matter in office environment, but in the evening while trying to read something before falling asleep it feels distracting.
@Jenn, thanks for your try!
I have expect that Archmark will not run, I am not sure, but I think we have no hardware support in the driver yet.
The other link. If you would like to give a second try, go to http://www.mitrax.de, on the right site you will find downloads and there are VillageMark(D3D) and VillageMark(OpenGL).
@Brett
”
“the Kohjinsha is not designed (or priced) to be a 720p / 1080p player
Thats not right, the Poulsbo incorporate a VXD core from PowerVR. This core is a high quality video core and should easy run videos at 720p and 1080p.
The problem at the moment is the driver intel use here.
@ Adam: The 480p trailer doesn’t play correctly/smoothly either. It definitely improved after I set video output to default, but frames were dropped and the video was still considerably behind the audio.
@ martin: No need to build a landing strip. The SC3 is still running very quietly. Also, not sure if you were including me in your “we are men” comment, but just in case you were, I’m actually female.
Another factor contributing to my perception of the unit’s heat is likely the much smaller surface area. Something like the TZ is big enough to balance on top of just one leg, making it easier to avoid the hot spot. The SC3′s form factor is also part of the “problem.” With slider UMPCs, for example, heat isn’t as much of an issue because of the way the unit is designed to be held between both hands. The warmest part of the slider UMPC, then, is usually not where your hand would be and because of the design, it definitely wouldn’t be sitting on your lap.
@ loewe: Ah, thanks. I downloaded both, but only D3D would run. Every time I tried to launch the OpenGL EXE, I just got error messages.
Is there a way to use D3D without the command line? I thought it would run the benchmark automatically but instead all it does is loop through that 3D town. I initially assumed it was just part of a series of tests, but after I started recognizing all the buildings and signs, I figured it wasn’t really running any sort of test.
@ Jenn: But you, as a female, were somewhat surprised about the amount of heat related concerns
@ Jenn Thanks again!
At the moment we can’t do anything for OGL, the driver won’t support it and we must wait for a new one. Hope we can get a solution from PowerVR if they have seen what intel has done!
Yes you can use a batch file, take this here:
http://www.mitrax.de/files/villagemark.bat
I have set the resolution to 800x600x32. What will your device do if you have 1024×768?
This benchmark run one loop with 1800 frames, I think all results with less then 200 FPS (at 1024×768) is two low for the Poulsbo.
Thanks for your work!
regards
Loewe
Hi Jenn,
thanks a lot for answering all the question. it would be nice if you could answer one more.
what about the vga-out? what’s the maximum resolution you can set? because i want to connect a 22″ 1680×1050 screen to this nice device.
thanks in advance
martin
Hi Jenn,
Thank you for the very comprehensive review. I just own this UMPC. I have a few questions:
1. How to install/re-install OS without the internal CD/DVD drive?
2. Is it possible to install WIn XP OS in this UMPC? If YES, where can I download the hardware drivers to use with Win XP OS?
3. Are there any drivers for the GPS hardware?
4. Which free GPS software is best to use without haveing to connect to the internet?
Thank you very much.
Hi aiman,
1. The easiest way to do this is to connect an external CD/DVD drive via USB. I’ve hooked up three different ones (two Sony, one TDK) with no problem.
2. Windows XP Tablet 2005 has been successfully installed on the SC3. Read more about it here.
I’m afraid I don’t know the answers to your GPS questions, as I only tried GPSMonitor (as shown in the review). I would assume that there are drivers for the GPS hardware, but I don’t know off-hand where you can get them. You may want to post these questions in the Kohjinsha sub-forum.
@ loewe: Sorry for the delay. I just posted the results here (post #21). Let me know if you’d like me to try anything else.
I have one of these Kohjinsha SC3 computers. About the Ubuntu 4.08 Hardy installation, I ran the LiveCD loaded in a Pendrive (the way to create it is in the Ubuntu forums). The loading was good, but at the moment of the install, surprise !! The hard drive could not be detected ! in /dev. The USB pendrive was detected, /dev/sda1. But the hard drive, /dev/sdb had no partition (!!), only /dev/sdb. The fdisk said that the partition table from sdb was not valid. The sound, bluetooth, wifi, touchscreen, could be detected though. The ethernet was not detected, so I couldn’t perform a netinstall. Fedora 9 live CD was the same (maybe fdisk gave more information, two partitions for the hard drive, but with “wrong” partition tables). If anyone has any suggestion, it will be welcome. I hope the the people from Ubuntu fix the problem quickly, I wish to wipe out the windows vista soon.
bugaga. remember toshiba u100 ?
here
my config intel pentium m 1200, 1gb ram, 32gb ssd samsung
i’am run crystalmark 2004r3.
this results
hehe.
Jenn, I just purchased the SC3 yesterday, now for the wait. As I’m looking at comments about the SC3, it seems its not working correctly with the video drivers that come with it. Seems from what I have read is that intel doesn’t have the correct driver for this ATOM 1.33. Would this be because this is the first Intel Atom (Silverthorne) 1.3ghz to be released, or is there another one out that I haven’t seen. Actually now that I think of it the Sharp WillCom D4 has the same Intel Atom (Silverthorne) 1.3ghz. Jenn could you check the video drivers on the D4 and see if they match the SC3? If the D4 performs better with the same 720p video’s that you tried on the SC3 maybe you can install those drivers on the SC3. Thanks
Hi HG. The Willcom D4 shipped with a higher version of the driver (7.14.10.1060 vs 7.14.10.1059), but I already updated the SC3 to version 7.14.10.1064 (developers release). I just put up a video of HD playback on the SC3 using the new driver and QuickTime, which actually made a considerable difference. As you read in some of the earlier comments, even 480p playback was screwy using some other media players. I think it’s almost acceptable with QuickTime.
Which color did you buy? White/Silver or Black? GPS+Bluetooth model? Is it replacing or supplementing another device?
Jenn, I did see the video of the SC3 you just posted, looks much better but hopefully the correct driver gets released. Didn’t intel market this ATOM Chip to be able to play HD Video back in the CES 2008 show? Maybe they weren’t ready for the ATOM to be released.
I have downloaded a video driver from here, is this where you got the video driver you have? [Link]
I got the White SC3 with BT+GPS and didn’t order the 2GB RAM because I have 2GB that I had in my Q1P which was the same specs that the SC3 has. Hopefully it gets here soon. It will replace my U810 if the SC3 performance is much better then the U810. I see enough difference which by your review it does, then it will replace the U810 which I like for the battery life and size; which by your review showing the two side by side and was able to see how small the SC3 really is for having a 7″ screen. At one point I was thinking of getting the SX3 but, I’m always on the road for my job so this made since to me to get the SC3. I rarely need to burn CD’s or DVD’s on the road and if I do I just copy to a 8GB Sandisk USB flash drive then burn them on my Macbook Pro or at office.
Hopefully the video driver issue gets fixed soon, as I will also have a SC3 to join the crowd.
Hopefully this didn’t post twice lost the first reply.
Yep, that’s the same driver I downloaded. I actually just rolled back to the old one to see how it fares with PowerDVD, which I’m getting ready to install.
Congrats on the new purchase! Feel free to share your first impressions and experiences in the forum.
Sure will keep us posted on you rolling back the video driver.
I just paid to get one after reading all this review – from Direct from Japan dfj-store.com: Bluetooth and GPS, 2GB memory, one extra large battery, with free 1GB bootable SD card – free shipping – total $ 1,271.00
hi patrick… i ordered mine (white gps/bt unit), 2gb extra ram, extra battery) from dfj too (a week ago today) but the order is still “processing”, despite them supposedly having stock.
can you let me know when yours arrives/is dispatched?
thanks^^ (am sure you’re as excited for it to arrive as i am!)
“hello. Your order is in process and expected to be shipped soon. As soon shipped, you will be notify and receive the tracking number. – Direct from japan”
I emailed them and that’s what I got! I didn’t feel too bad because mine was ordered right before the weekend, but now I started to worry.
I also ordered a Sony DRX S70U super-slim external DVDrom for this toy from other site. May be I will receive the DVDrom earlier.
Wish you good luck!
Hi Mio, did you get yours? Here is what I got:
“Hello. actually your order is in process to be shipped within 24 hours. we will sedn you an update with tracking number. – Direct from japan”
@ Patrick
They said the exact same thing to me after a week and a half..
Wonder if anyone has received anything from dfj-store before or are they just a scam site? XD
@ patrick
sorry for the slow response, have been away. the communication at dfj was a little on the slow side (and i was in panic mode because of some negative comments i had read about the store in a forum), however, i actually received my sc3 while the website still said “processing” on the order page, lol.
everything came nicely packaged and in good nick. seems to me that dfj is a pretty decent store^^
have just got back from a business trip and cannot wait to get this treasure up and running~
let me know how yours goes…
p.s. all in all it took a full week from order day to delivery date. not bad really!
I’ve just received my SC3 (with Windows Vista Ultimate) and applied all the Windows updates. Unfortunately this has now grayed-out all the options on the rotation-icon so I can only rotate using the Intel options via Control Panel. Has anyone else had problems by applying all the Windows updates?
Also, I changed my regional & language options and forgot to make a note of the original keyboard settings. Now when I press some of the symbols on the keyboard they no longer produce the correct characters – does anyone know what the correct keyboard setting (ie. input language) should be for the English/Japanese?
Apart from minor problems, it is a nice compact UMPC. Garim Mobile PC software works nicely on this machine – and looks great too. I have to use the extended GPS aerial though – it won’t work without it.
@ mio
thats nice, mines been processing for 2 weeks today and they haven’t even sent it yet..
“Your item arrived in the United States at ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS) at 6:40 PM on August 13, 2008. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.” – from EMS tracker.
Mio, Did you contact them?
@ Mio
Sorry overlooked you message. Congratulation! Can’t wait to get it and share the experience with you guys!
@patrick @wtf
well, last night i sounded quite happy, didn’t i? today not so much. i opened the package to find the computer (wai~!) but not the extend battery i paid for. i turned the computer on… discovered that the 2nd gb of memory i paid for was not installed (or in the box) and that the japanese language support had been completely removed (despite me asking for it to stay as i need this is my every day language!).
i have sent a couple of emails to dfj. hopefully he will reply soon as i’m getting a little fed up of having to put so much energy into a computer i’ve not even used yet.
keep you all posted…
@ mio
Oh my god.. I feel like canceling the order but they probably wouldn’t refund…
My SC3 took 3 weeks to arrive from DFJ and also came with 1Gb RAM instead of the 2Gb RAM I ordered, and it also came without the extra battery I ordered. However, I had asked them to ship it without the battery so that it wouldn’t be delayed – as I knew that extra SC3 batteries wouldn’t be available from Kohjinsha until late August.
So I was happy they shipped it without waiting for the exra battery but a little dissapointed that they left out the extra RAM and the free 1Gb flash drive – but it does say on my order that the RAM will be shipped with the battery.
Also, the tracking did not work for my order (EMS are the courier) – it only worked for the last stage of the journey via the local courier that EMS handed the package over to – ie. via the local courier’s website – as tracking never worked via EMS’s website.
@ Mio
I got my shipment, but just one battery, I thought I got extra battery because I ordered “Large battery additional & Memory upgrade: 2GB” –just exploring it right now.
@ Mark
I got 2G memory but no extra battery neighter
@wtf @patrick
well, i’m glad we have all spoken. we can band together if things get bad. hopefully tho, wtf’s parcel will arrive soon and the missing bits will be shipped out too.
it wouldn’t be such a problem if the company just sent a quick email to say “the rest is following shortly”. but this whole business of replying 2 days later to emails (with just a line) is pretty annoying.
fyi: i wrote emails to him in japanese and english and it made no difference to reply times.
@mark
i completely forgot about the free 1gb flash drive! that’s another thing that wasn’t in the box. have you received yours now?
perhaps this wouldn’t annoy me so much if i didn’t always feel like i had to chase things constantly. so hard to find perfect service these days >_<
@mio
No – I’m still waiting for the extra battery & 2Gb RAM & flash drive – but at least my order details in “My Account” on the DFJ website say that the extra battery & RAM will be shipped later – no mention of the flash drive though.
I’ve also looked at other websites that give more information than DFJ – and the expected shipping dates for extra SC3 batteries are not until the end of August. I guess the extra batteries haven’t shipped from Kohjinsha – they are probably still being manufactured.
Note: I couldn’t find any “good” websites selling the SC3 that listed actual numbers of items in stock and expected shipping dates based on how many customers are waiting for such “new” items, as “new” items are often in short-supply or sold-out or even unavailable sometimes etc… So I’m OK to just sit it out and wait for the extras – at least they shipped the computer so I can set it up and test it etc… Also, DFJ were the best value-for-money by shipping it with Windows Ultimate, and they also have a pretty good history with their store on eBay. The only neutral & negative comments for DFJ seem to be from people like me waiting for “new” items, and also because of their lack of information about actual stock levels and lack of accurate shipping/expected-shipping dates etc…
Hey, Jenn,
I’m primed to buy an SC3 to replace my U810, which I’ll sell. You have both, do you think the extra screen size makes a noticeable difference for readability?
Thanks.
Geoffrey
Could you guys tell me the approximate battery time for SC3?
2 – 2.5h wifi time with the normal battery, extended ~twice the time
@ Geoffrey: Absolutely. There’s a significant difference. A 7″ screen really feels quite huge compared to a 5.6″ one.
@ Harry: Guess you missed the “Battery Life” section of the review, huh?
Thanks, Jenn. I’m ordering mine now and adding an extra, extended battery.
Well I ordered a Kohjinsha SX3KP06MA UMPC tablet from dfj-store.com
My Bank sent them the money on the 18th and they are still claiming not to have recieved the cash.
I got my bank to contact the bank in Japan who confirmed that they have recieved the money on the 19th.
However between the 20th and now I have recieved at least 5 emails from them claiming not to have recieved the money yet.
My advice is stay away from these fuckers.
EDIT**-They now acknowledge reciept of funds and say they will ship my tablet ASAP.
Apparently the bank transfer didnt have my details attached.
To be fair they have been fast with responding to my emails and have done so regularly so I will give them the benifit of the doubt and time will tell.
Hey! Anybody get the extra battery yet?
No – still waiting.
i have still not received my battery or extra gig of memory. i have also had no recent emails returned when i had some questions regarding software changes (which i had asked to be left in japanese – not reinstalled).
i am hating my dfj experience (>_<)
Same thing happened to me. I have still not received my battery or extra gig of memory. i have also had no recent emails returned when asked for the battery.
What happened to other people?
Hey Jenn:
I’m curious, now that you have spent a little more time with the SC3, how does it compare to your beloved Shift? I read that somebody had asked you the same question before, but that was BEFORE you had actually decided to keep the SC3.
With the passage of time, how do the two stack up?
I am still highly enamoured with the Shift due to it’s form factor & the SnapVue aspect, but it’s lack of horsepower & poor battery life really concern me.
The SC3 seems to be a very good little device overall and I have read some positive reviews on it.
I also think it quite ironic that it’s Windows Experience Index score is higher than that of my HP tx2000z, which scores 2.4 with 3GB of RAM & an AMD 64 X2 TL-64 2.20GHz CPU!! I love the tablet form factor of my HP, but it is far too heavy for frequent travel & even quite cumbersome for working in bed. The SC3 looks like it may well be the ideal tool for me, but I can’t get the Shift out of my head!! Damn you, HTC!!
Release a souped-up version already!!
@ Jenn:
BTW, I really am not surprised at your purchase of the HP 2133!! Although the Netbook craze has left me quite unimpressed, I find myself drawn to some of the newer models; the Eee PC 1000H in particular!!
There is just something about those sleek little machines…………….
Hi Iron-Hide. The SC3 vs. Shift? No contest! For me, the Shift will always beat out the SC3 (even despite its A110 processor). Battery life on both machines is actually pretty even at roughly 2.5 hours and the SC3′s Atom CPU isn’t a speed demon by any means. The Kohjinsha is a great device, but it’s not without its shortcomings (various problems detailed in the forum). Truth be told, if I had gotten the Willcom D4 earlier, I wouldn’t have kept the SC3. I don’t regret buying the SC3, but if I didn’t already have it now, it wouldn’t be on my must-have list.
When I was packing up for my trip (I’m in CA right now), taking the SC3 wasn’t even an option for me. I had no desire to bring it and no trouble leaving it behind. The D4 and the Shift, on the other hand, are so beloved that I had to bring them both!
The SC3 has a lot of advantages over the Shift (ExpressCard slot, higher resolution, GPS, bigger keyboard, bigger HDD), but the Shift still tops it because of its design, Windows Mobile component, stability (the SC3 isn’t unstable but I’ve run into more problems with it than the Shift), and general fun factor. The Shift is just something I always want to pick up and use. Using it is simply enjoyable for me. Using the SC3, on the other hand, is just kind of regular. I mean, yeah, it’s really compact and versatile, but at the end of the day, it just looks like a regular old laptop. Yes, this is an ironic comment coming from someone who just bought the HP 2133 (very nice looking but still ordinary)!
I don’t know what you plan to use the SC3/Shift for, but my heart always sides with what I want versus what I need. While the SC3 may very well suit all of your needs, you won’t be happy if deep down inside you really want the Shift.
Jenn:
You hit the nail right on the head – my problem is that I WANT the Shift. After all this time and countless hours spent scouring the ‘Net, despite the negative reviews, despite the high price (though it IS coming down!) – I still WANT the Shift.
I do NEED a very light, portable device that can work in the “cloud” and keep me connected to my Family while I travel. The HP was bought for just that purpose, but it turned out to be a little too heavy (I have the extended battery) for painless travel. It is also very tiring to hold in one hand.
The flood of Netbooks has made the decision making that much harder, for although they are all pretty much the same (like an endless procession of drones), they meet my criteria quite nicely.
BUT, every time I see a picture of the Shift, I keep trying to find a reason to get it. After seeing the pics you posted of the Shift with the SC3, it made me want it even MORE!! Although the Shift is longer, it is sleeker than the SC3 in every other aspect. NOTHING out there looks like the Shift!
You are very correct when you say that if I did indeed buy something else, even if the Device met my needs perfectly, I would still not be satisfied because it is not a Shift!!
At the moment, priorities and funds (or lack thereof!) dictate that my next purchase be a Netbook. It will be used mainly by the Wife as she is now working from home more often these days and also wants a nice light machine to work with in bed. As I mentioned earlier, it will probably be the Eee PC 1000H, as it is the one that most closely matches our criteria (the 8.9″ screen may be a little small for prolonged work). MY HP tx2000 will continue to be my main device until HTC come up with a refresh of the Shift (please, please, please!!) or I finally cave in and buy it once I have the required funding. I see a very large battery has surfaced from Mugen Power, so the battery life situation has been negated.
The other device that keeps popping up on my radar is the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium, which can now be had with 2GB Ram, Vista Business & the Core Solo CPU for approx. $1,100 if you shop around. The keyboard on that little beauty is a major turn-off though.
I keep praying that HTC do revamp the Shift, though.
With 2GB Ram, an Atom 1.6 CPU, at least an 80GB HD and Vista Premium or XP Tablet Edition, I would be ALL over that Baby!! :-0
@Mio
@Patrick
Final update on problems with DFJ (I ordered the SC3 with extra memory and battery on 21-Jul-2008 but only received the SC3 in August).
I waited until mid-September before enquiring about the battery as I knew they were not in stock. After a few emails DFJ stopped responding after reporting that they had sent the battery by some other method – ie. not via the insured/tracked EMS I had paid for (which is a breach of contract).
It has now been almost 5 months since I placed the order with DFJ, and after an investigation by my credit card company, they (the credit card company) have refunded the value of the battery and memory that DFJ failed to send me.
I know that many buyers have had a good experience with DFJ but there appear to be a growing number of buyers who do not receive what they have paid for. I suspect that DFJ are either ripping off buyers directly or are not sending goods via a properly tracked/insured method and letting goods get stolen on route.
Anyway, I’ve now bought the memory and battery from another supplier and won’t be purchasing from DFJ again.
Jenn,
You said the overheating only took place when the SC3 was plugged into wall power.
Just a suggestion, the excess heat might be caused by an excess supply of voltage. The adapter supplied with the SC3 in Hong Kong is rated at 12V vs the battery’s 7.4V. That extra 4.6V has to go somewhere! Anyone out there can comment?
I think I remember reading somewhere that Vista can use a new HDD format, diff from Xp’s favorite and much diff from Fat 16/32. Could be, that the Ubuntu is running into trouble with the HDD’s formatting. An FDisk utility might be able to tell you…
Some SC3 promotional material I have indicates 1600 x 1200, I think. All the descriptors are in Chinese script, so I’m guess that this is what the numbers pertain to, because the only res numbers given are the default 1024 x 600 which is the SC3′s display mode.
jenn, which umpc would you pick from these three.
1. htc shift
2. kohinsha sc3
3. everun note
and one from these three
1. everun
2. willcom d4
3. wibrain l1
For my own personal needs and tastes, I’d pick the HTC Shift and Willcom D4. They’re my current favorites already and the UMPCs I use most often.
I see that it comes with some software on a cd, but does this device have a disc drive? I’m a little confused on that.
No, there’s no disc drive. To install anything from a CD/DVD, you need to hook up an external drive.
PLZ SEND ME THE PRICE AND SHEEPING TO SAUDI ARABIA WARANTY
Wow, this article is pleasant, my younger sister is analyzing these things, therefore I am going
to let know her.