What’s a UMPC?

The ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) is a particularly portable hybrid of a computer, tablet PC, multimedia player, and gaming system; most are halfway between the size of a laptop and smartphone (like a Treo). Developed in partnership by Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, and other manufacturers, the UMPC had its official debut in 2006, though some micro-PCs were introduced earlier by OQO, Sony, and others.

The typical UMPC consists of a 7-inch (or smaller) touchscreen display, an ultra-low voltage processor, and a special edition of Microsoft Windows; there is usually no integrated keyboard. The larger display and presence of the Windows operating system makes it a more functional entertainment device than a smartphone, but the lack of a built-in keyboard makes it far less useful than a conventional laptop or tablet PC.

UMPC manufacturers include Samsung, Founder, Asus, and TabletKiosk, among others.

Justin Jaffe, the author of CNET Do-It-Yourself Laptop Projects: 24 Cool Things You Didn't Know You Could Do!, is a writer and technology expert in Portland, Maine.