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Ultra-Mobile PCs, or UMPCs, are the result of the Origami Project, a joint venture by Intel, Microsoft, Samsung, and other big names in technology. Their mission was to create an affordable computer in a small, highly mobile body while maintaining the functionality of a full-sized machine; a highly sought-after combo for field workers and other mobile professionals. Because these handhelds run the full version of Windows, the thinking goes that they are more versatile than smart phones yet portable enough to use while standing.

Although any manufacturer can produce a UMPC, each machine must meet the required minimum specs, which include an LCD with 800 x 480-pixel resolution, 256MB to 1GB of RAM, a 30GB hard drive, 2.5 hours of battery life, and a 900-MHz Intel Celeron M, Pentium M, Core Solo, or Via C7-M processor. Because of their small size, some UMPCs (like the Samsung Q1P SSD) lack a true physical keyboard; virtual dial keys or an onscreen keyboard enable users to input text and navigate the touchscreen displays with a stylus. Other devices, such as the FlipStart 1.0, the OQO model 02, and the Sony VAIO UX Premium, come with full QWERTY keyboards.

The most useful UMPCs (the FlipStart and OQO) house 3G radios for connecting to the Web at broadband-like speeds from anywhere cellular reception is available. The VAIO UX chugs along at slower EDGE speeds on Cingular's network, while the Samsung Q1P SSD doesn't have a cellular connection at all, although an HSDPA-enabled version should soon be available.

Although UMPCs were originally intended to fall into the $500 price range, they typically cost around $2,000, which pits them directly against full-sized ultraportable notebooks that have more spacious keyboards and faster processors. Still, if you're in the market for an extremely mobile, lightweight PC, one of these micro machines could be for you.