Willcom D4 (Sharp WS016SH) UMPC evolution
Remember that mysterious Willcom MID prototype rotating under glass at CES 2008? The one that no one, not even the Intel representatives, knew anything about?
I think it turned into the Willcom D4 (Sharp WS016SH) UMPC! It’s also the same device alluded to in March (confirmed the following month), the one that Willcom, Microsoft, and Intel were working on rolling out in July.
Given my growing obsession with the D4, I find it rather fascinating to see how it’s evolved. It’s like the gadget equivalent of watching a baby learn to sit up, crawl, and eventually walk.
Sure, it was just a long, shiny candybar that didn’t open/slide and couldn’t be removed from its base at CES, but it’s interesting that the general form factor was already in place back then. It’s also just nice when a company follows through with its promises (ahem, MSI).
[Willcom blog (translated)]
