Eking Shows Off 5-Inch E5 UMPC [Eking E5 UMPC Features 5-Inch Display, 1.2GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB RAM, $800 Price Tag]

Tweet

While tablets have been stealing much of the portable computer as of late, we needn’t forget the seemingly failed UMPC form factor from yesteryear. Completely clueless as to what UMPC is? Well, it stands for Ultra Mobile PC and was essentially a laptop computer jam packed into a tiny form factor. These devices usually amassed a touch screen and split QWERTY keyboard that enabled typing with the thumbs.

Several companies came out with UMPCs including Archos, Panasonic, Gigabyte and more but none of these devices really managed to take off. Sure, the idea of having a fully featured computer in such a small package was cool but users struggled to find a use for them. Running operating systems like Windows XP and Vista, UMPCs weren’t exactly the most touch friendly devices out there and did not provide a very user friendly experience.

However, just because some rotten eggs were found in the pack doesn’t mean they will spoil the party. In fact, Eking has come forth to announce that they are still playing the UMPC tune and will break into the industry with their latest offering, the E5.

This device features an Intel Atom Z515 processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, a 5-inch WSVGA 1,024 x 600 display that tilts and folds for easy access and storage, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 16GB of SSD storage, 802.11 b/g WiFi, built-in 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, a 3 megapixel camera and a 2,600 mAh battery.

There’s no word on when this device will be hitting North America, if ever, but it will be shipping in China for around $800 soon.

What do you guys think about a device like this? While it doesn’t feature a large touchscreen like, say, the iPad it does feature a small form factor along with a hardware QWERTY keyboard – something that many believe is crucial for productivity. Of course, since the tablet rush is upon us, a device like this most likely wouldn’t stand a chance.