Slide the HTC Shift out of its lined leather case, fire it up and you're confronted with a beautiful 7-inch, 800x480 touch screen on a device that weighs in at a shoulder-friendly 800 grams. It features Windows Vista Business Edition and is a little sluggish but runs cool and quiet.

To the right of the display is a fingerprint reader, a surprisingly useful trackpad and a button to toggle between 800x480 and 1024x600 screen resolutions. Opposite are left and right mouse click buttons plus a "SnapVUE" button. This launches an instant-on, stripped-down Windows Mobile 6 interface which includes SMS and email inboxes (with push email support), calendar and contact list.

The Shift features a built-in webcam plus USB2.0, Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11b/g as well the option of a SIM card for SMS and HSDPA internet access but not for making calls.

You can also use the stylus with Tablet PC features such as handwriting recognition, but frustratingly you can't rotate the display to portrait mode.

If you're already thinking the Shift looks like a damn sexy UMPC , you'll go weak at the knees when you slide up the screen to discover a full QWERTY keyboard. The screen can even tilt up so you can sit the computer on a desk.

Unfortunately the Shift is too wide to hold in two hands and type with your thumbs. Sit it on your lap or a desktop and now it's barely wide enough to type on. It's still a very impressive keyboard for a UMPC, but raised buttons would help with typing accuracy.

The Shift is perhaps more useful as a tablet, although the small screen is frustrating when writing. The keyboard is handy to have, but those primarily looking for a device to write on might be better served by a sub-notebook with a bigger keyboard.

Comments: 5

nix May 5, 2008 4:28 PM	Why did they have to put Vista on this... :( Comment made about the PC Authority article: FIRST LOOK: HTC Shift makes us weak at knees? If you've been fantasising about a slate PC that would look at home in Arthur Dent's satchel, the HTC Shift could be the one. What do you think? Join the discussion.
geller May 6, 2008 11:45 AM	Here's what this looks like: - VERY expensive when compared to EeePc, and considering it's still a slow-ass CPU platform. - BUT VERY slick mobile broadband. This thing essentially looks like a phone, but in notebook form.
nix May 6, 2008 12:37 PM	A really really slow phone. :) Ideal situation: EEE PC with HSDPA.
blockcentre May 8, 2008 8:45 PM	I can't see the point in these minibooks, netbooks or whatever you want to call them. They just don't seem practical at all... tiny keyboards, non-practical screen in res that will leave you endlessly scrolling when browsing most websites, lack of features, zero storage... Why not just buy an actual notebook for a couple hundred more? At least you'll be able to do a zillion more things with it and won't strain the heck out of your eyes. I just don't get it. It all just looks like a novelty to me. I wonder how many eeePC's have actually been returned after they were purchased?
Zara_Baxter May 28, 2008 10:40 AM	blockcentre wrote: I can't see the point in these minibooks, netbooks or whatever you want to call them. They just don't seem practical at all... tiny keyboards, non-practical screen in res that will leave you endlessly scrolling when browsing most websites, lack of features, zero storage... Why not just buy an actual notebook for a couple hundred more? At least you'll be able to do a zillion more things with it and won't strain the heck out of your eyes. I just don't get it. It all just looks like a novelty to me. I wonder how many eeePC's have actually been returned after they were purchased? The portability is a big factor -- if you want something under a kilo, you're basically looking at a netbook-style gadget, or shelling out 3 grand on an ultraportable. It's definitely a developing segment of the market -- I think we'll see a lot of improvements in performance, keyboards, etc over the next six to twelve months.

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