UMID's entire selection of Atom-based mbook MIDs/UMPCs still looks to be available in Korea, but according to an email Pocketables reader Dax received from Dynamism, the company is no longer in business.
"Unfortunately as UMID has recently gone out of business, no more mbook models will be produced, including the M1, BZ, or the previously forthcoming SE"
The UMID mbook SE, with its 1.6GHz Atom CPU and 1GB RAM, was the clamshell computer that many of us wanted the original mbook M1 and mbook BZ to be when it was first announced. Interest in the device (and perhaps Windows-running MIDs in general) has waned since then, likely due in part to the tablet mania that's been sweeping the post-iPad nation, but I know that there were still some people waiting for it.
UMID's official website now redirects to i-mbook.co.kr, which has always been the place for the mbook devices, and there's no indication that the company has gone under, so maybe UMID will just carry on exclusively in Korea.
Whatever the case may be, it just got a lot harder to buy a UMID M1, BZ, or SE.
Thanks, Dax!
It’s a sad day, though this was predicted by Chippy a few months ago. He announced the belief they were closing after he could no longer reach his contacts at UMID. Sadly, I’d have loved to pick up a Umid SE from Dynamism, but it seems that won’t be happening. Hopefully Dynamism will carry the Ocosmos OCS-1.
I noticed you can still pick one up on Ebay.
umpc are slowly declining in numbers due to the popularity of android and ipad tablets now its just a matter of time before become extinct. umpcportal and Jkkmobile is running out of things to post.
Drop that processor I’d say.
As someone who thinks the iPad is both incredibly ugly, horribly unwieldy, overly expensive AND practically useless for everyday work, I was looking forward immensely to getting one of these this coming year.
It saddens me to think that our world is so full of sheep that a hideously useless piece of Apple crap can sell millions, while a brilliant piece of engineering like the MBook wallows in obscurity.
Just another reason to hate Steve Jobs, I suppose. I’ll add it to the pile next to his skin-crawling arrogance and his parking in handicapped spots even though he’s not handicapped.
don’t blame it on the others
i own a umid BZ myself. it is useless.
why?
because there are no linux drivers for it. and with 0.5GB ram and a slow atom CPU windows is just plain useless.
it is really sad. this wonderful piece of hardware just an expensive paperweight now.
Chris, wouldl u like to sell yours?