Gigabyte's ultramobile PC has been renewed

The M704 UMPC features more powerful hardware and a larger screen.

At this year's CeBiT, the manufacturer unveiled its first ultramobile PC, which immediately after the presentation promised that another, better piece would come to the camp of small computers later this year. Well, now is the time to replace the somewhat weak U60 with a fresh claimant to the throne, which, while quite similar in appearance to its predecessor, has undergone major hardware changes.

Gigabyte uses VIA’s own platform for its UMPCs, which in this case is a 1,2 GHz ultra-low voltage C7 processor culminating in a chipset that includes the VX-700, an integrated graphics controller. Like the U60, the newly introduced device has 768 MB of DDR2 memory, with chips operating at 533 MHz. Thanks to the more powerful hardware, a version of Windows Vista Home Premium is already installed on the machine, the wonderful interface of which can be enjoyed by the owner of the M7 on a display enlarged to 1024 inches and 600 × 704 pixels.

You can store your data on 40 or 60 gigabyte hard drives, while externally you can expand the storage space via two USB ports or a multi-format card reader. We can access our home networks both wired and wireless, but it is important to note that the 10/100 Ethernet socket is only found on the dock. The machine is powered by a 2-cell battery, which the manufacturer claims can provide up to 4 hours of continuous operation.

The M704 is not yet available in any of the major markets, however, the manufacturer will certainly send its revamped UMPC into battle before Christmas.