With all this talk of Microsoft's new UMPC, the JVC XP741 already had an Origami-like portable computer on the market. Upon closer inspection, the this comparison is not without warrant. Both devices feature a ~1 GHz Pentium-M ULV processor with Intel's 855 GME chipset, and Wi-Fi b/g wireless.

However, the XP741 features a larger hard drive than the cheaper UMPC drive (40 GB vs. 30 GB), a larger screen resolution (1024 x 600 vs. 800 x 480), a larger screen (8.9" vs. 7") and an expandable amount of RAM (all UMPCs will ship with 256MB, while the XP741 can have up to 768MB). The XP741, however, doesn't have a touchscreen, Windows XP Tablet Edition with Touch Pack, or Bluetooth support. Sizewise, the XP741 is similar in size to a UMPC; Samsung's Q1 measures 8.9" x .98" x 5.5", while the XP741 measures 8.8" x 1.15" x 6". JVC's machine is slightly larger, but this can be attributed to the larger screen attached to the machine.

What will end up separating the XP741 from a UMPC are each device's input devices. The UMPC doesn't require the use of a traditional keyboard, instead relying on Windows XP's Touch Pack, which overlays a keyboard on top of the UMPC's touch screen. The XP741, on the other hand, is a traditional small form-factor laptop that requires a traditional keyboard for input, and lacks a touchscreen. Plus, Microsoft is marketing the UMPC as an all-in-one portable multimedia solution, able to copy digital media to its hard drive and play it back later; I'll comment more on this in a minute. Suffice to say, JVC's Origami alternative is very interesting, and if you don't mind the keyboard and spending slightly more (the XP741 is around $200 more than a UMPC), the XP271 is a worthy alternative to the new UMPC.