Aigo’s P8860 is a MID, a Mobile Internet Device. MID, with low-power Atom chips and tailored operating systems, promises better handheld computers than its predecessor among marketing-driven form factors, UMPC. UMPC stood for “Use for Minutes Per Charge.”
Unfortunately, Pocketables finds Aigo’s pocket PC to be a complex device with no obvious customer in mind beyond expert users.
It’s absolutely fantastic that the P8860 can be made into much more than it is, but most people would rather purchase a device that “just works,” not one that can work really well with the right modifications.
A little smaller than an OQO or Vaio UX – and a little larger than Nokia’s Internet Tablet – it hits a sweet spot at far as size is concerned, and the 4.8″ passive touchscreen isn’t bad at 800×480, thanks to its custom cut of Linux.
It has a single USB port, a microSD card slot, Audio in-outs and an inherent hackability that Pocketables’ Jenn Lee is positively enchanted by. Especially interesting to me is the inclusion of a rear-facing 3 megapixel camera: this could be a useful tool for bloggers, or anyone else who wants to take another stab at convergence. Without 3G, though, it lacks the inherent mobility that its size demands. The keyboard, too, is poor: a typical design-led layout.
Review: Aigo P8860 MID [pocketables]
leggo my aigo