Willcom MID powered by Intel Atom (Silverthorne)

The mysterious Willcom MID prototype that was fused to a rotating base and kept under glass at CES 2008 may be on track to show itself off this summer.

Akihabara News is reporting that the Japanese PHS operator is "working closely" with both Microsoft and Intel to push "a new UMPC" (which I assume is really the MID) out the door as early as July. Although Willcom is remaining largely tight-lipped about the upcoming device, it did reveal that both Intel Atom (the new name of Silverthorne) and Windows Vista would be involved with the roll-out. Neither detail is unexpected, I suppose, but official confirmation is always nice.

By the way, am I the only one who thought Silverthorne was part of Menlow (now called Centrino Atom)? I've been talking about Menlow-based MIDs running on Silverthorne chips around here for months, so yesterday's news about the name changes has me debating a mass edit.

Comments

[Dave]

If that device was large enough to be the size of an old HPC clamshell to enable a touch type keyboard (not a thumb input), and provide full windows, then that would be a hot computer!

[Parker]

Hey Jenn,

Re your last question, I thought that too. It seemed like everybody was saying Menlow mid's meant Silverthorne cpu and Poulsbo chipset. Now I don't know what's going on. Maybe it's just you and me in the confused boat. Anyone else care to join us in here?

Peace.

[Bruno]

Parker: I will join in as well!
In fact I will go one better - I am losing track of the difference between UMPCs and MIDs but I thought that MIDs would not run full desktop OS such as Windows Vista. Am I wrong?

[Jenn]

Ah, it's nice to know I'm in good company.

You're right about MIDs not running full-blown operating systems, Bruno, so maybe the "new UMPC" I just assumed was a MID really is a UMPC. Atom is designed for both MIDs and inexpensive Eee-like computers, so maybe Willcom is actually working on a 7-inch mini laptop.