Intel Japan shows Menlow-based MID concept
At what appears to be some sort of routine press event in Japan, Intel’s Kazumasa Yoshida recently checked in with the media to update them about the company’s current and upcoming projects. Although most of his time behind the podium seems to have been devoted to narrating a presentation about the Penryn family of 45nm Core 2 processors, he did touch upon next year’s Menlow UMPC/MID platform and its Silverthorne CPU (image below) long enough to show attendees another concept device I’ve never seen before.
It looks similar to EB’s Mobile Internet Media Device (though not quite as obviously inspired by Sony’s UX series), but more streamlined and sporting what looks like a mouse stick or joystick positioned in a rather thumb-friendly location. I don’t think any other UMPC, MID, or handtop equipped with a similar pointer has it there, right in the middle of what I’m guessing are the U, I, J, and K keys. Seems like a nice and perhaps more comfortable alternative to having to reposition your thumbs from where they’re already resting naturally.
