VYE S37 first impressions

I have been using the VYE S37 for a few hours now on and off, and my first observations impressions are as follows:

The Good

1. The screen is the clearest sharpest I've seen on any available UMPC (as good as the Mo-bits/ TabletKiosk Tuff Tab)
2. The keyboard is 1000x better than the old SA1 series.
3. The device is fast enough for basic on the road tasks (whilst the SA1 was good I did get frustrated with occasional performance problems)

The Not So Good

1. WiFi device on this demo unit keeps switcing off with error code 10 in the device manager.
2. There is a WiFi/Bluetooth on/off switch on the front of the unit, but this only turns the WiFi/Bluetooth on/off if the WiFi/Bluetooth has been enabled using the Fn F4 key!!!
3. The SD reader can't always see my memory card.
4. The VYE logo on the lid (this needs to be reviewed by VYE.
5. The £800 price tag (I'm not sure I would pay £800 for any UMPC, especially as I could import the 40GB version for about £600 including import taxes)

I am writing this entry on the S37, and I will be testing it over the next few weeks, so if there is anything you would like testing post here.

UPDATE: VYE are sending a replacement unit, as it would appear I have a unit that was damaged during transit. VYE had a number of samples sent from Inventec that got damaged in transit, and it looks like mine slipped through the net. I have to say VYE are being very helpful.

The VYE S37 800MHz is in the house

I have been lucky enough to get my hands on the 800MHz VYE S37 and will be putting it through its paces over the next week or 2. I have had a couple of problems with the demo unit, but I hope this will be fixed by a BIOS update. I will post about the issues and hopefully the fixes in a later entry, but for now here are the specs and some images.

VYE S37 Spec

Images

Kohjinsha SH6 (aka Vye mini-v S37) mini-review

If you're interested in the Vye mini-v S37, then check out the Kohjinsha SH6 (aka Vye mini-v S37) mini-review video by Steve from UMPC Portal, or head over to UMPC Portal for more review information and comments.

Vye mini-v S37 (aka Kohjinsha)

Kohjinsha have finally realised that their mini notebook range is popular outside of Japan, and as such has undergone the necessary certifications. The Kohjinsha SH6KB04A has been brought to the UK by Vye Compters, and is now available in the UK known as the Vye mini-v S37. Pocket PC Solutions in the UK will be one of the first resellers, and they have the product listed here.

The spec is slightly different to the Japanese version, and priced at £799.99 are slightly higher than the price in Japan, but with UK certification and support it is better to buy here than import.

I'm Back

Sorry for the lack of posts to all those that have used My Kohjinsha as their source of information, but I have been busy on other projects. The good news is I am back, and will be posting more regularly.

Kohjinsha SH6KB04A Coming Soon

As you all know Kohjinsha are due to release their SA1 replacement, and most websites have the new device listed as the K600. My sources tell me this is incorrect and the new unit will actually be called the Kohjinsha SH6KB04A. Also the device spec being listed on these websites is also incorrect, and I can reveal the following.



Model: SH6KB04A
CPU: 800MHz Intel
HDD: 40GB
RAM: 512MB (upgradeable to 1GB)
Screen: 800 x 480 7" Touch Screen
OS: Microsoft Vista Home Basic
Keyboard: Japanese
Other: Built-in Webcam, USB Ports, WiFi, Bluetooth, NIC, VGA Out and SD

The above information will be updated as soon as I recieve the official press release, but this new device looks to be a winner, and if the expected price of $799 USD is correct, and if this model has the correct FCC and CE certification, then this could put Kohjinsha firmly in the global UMPC market place.

I'm Back

Sorry for the lack of posts, but for the past week and a bit I have been on a well earned holiday to Cyprus, and as you all know Kohjinsha have announced a replacement to their successful SA1 series. I did know about this new device, but agreed not to post until the unit was officially announced, which will be any day now.

Bad News

We have just heard that Pocket PC Solutions have had to withdraw the Kohjinsha SA1F00KS from sale in Europe as there is an issue over the units CE and FCC certification. It would appear that the Kohjinsha does not yet have the necessary certificates for resale in this market. I will update this post as soon as I have more news on this sad situation.

Kohjinsha SA1F00KS now available in Europe

Following yesterdays news that the FCC and CE certified Kohjinsha SA1F00KS with US keyboard has been released, Pocket PC Solutions in the UK have this model listed on their website, priced at £599.99, with shipping to the UK and rest of Europe available.



Kohjinsha SA1F00KS Specifications

CPU: AMD Geode LX800 Processor
Display: 7" 800x480 WVGA Swivel LCD with Touch Screen Panel with up to 256MB VRAM
Keyboard: US Keyboard as standard
Memory: 512MB DDR Ram
HDD: 40GB HDD
Network: 10/100 Ethernet, Wireless 802.11BG and Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR
IO Ports: Digital Media Reader (SD/MS/Type II CF), 2 USB, VGA, Audio & Mic Jack
Operating Sytem: Windows XP Home Edition
Dimensions: 218mm x 163mm x 25.4mm
Weight: 990g including battery
Warranty: 1 Year
Comes with Slip-In Case and Stylus

Kohjinsha SA1F00KS

Following the news that the Kohjinsha has been given FCC and CE approval it now looks like the Kohjinsha will be on sale soon in Europe as the Kohjinsha SA1F00KS, which will be the same spec as the Kohjinsha SA1F00V but with a US keyboard (unfortunately no UK keyboard yet). I will post more information on price and availability as soon as I have it.

Kohjinsha gets FCC and CE Approval

I have had word today that the Kohjinsha has finally been given FCC and CE approval, so it won't be long before we will see this little gem of a device on sale in the US and Europe.

My Kohjinsha Problems

It looks like I am not the only Kohjinsha user that has had some problems with their SA1F00V, but haven spoken with the Japanese exporter it now looks like I had my unit from a faulty batch. The exporter is having the faulty units returned for replacement, and I will be sending mine back soon :( I have had this information verified by another supplier who has check their new batches, and these are free of all the faults except the poor keyboard, which seems to be a trademark of the Kohjinsha.

UPDATE 6/6/2007: It would appear that the screen calibration problems are not batch problems but a manufacturing problem. I have found that doing a 25 point calibration reduces the problem, but does note cure it. I have also been told that this problem is not present on the SA1F00KS, but I have not been able to confirm this.

Madeleine MaCann Video Released

For those interested this international video has now been released asking for help to find Madeleine MaCann.

Still Missing

This is off topic, but like most people I have been saddened by the abduction of Madeleine MaCann in Portugal on the 3rd May 2007. Haven been to Portugal on business in the past month, and disappointed by the lack of publicity for this case in Lisbon I wanted to do something to help highlight this abduction, so I have added this post and placed banners on the blog.

If you work in medical care look out for a 4 year old with a pupil bleed, as it could be Madeleine.



Above close-up of Madeleine's right eye, and below a close-up of Madeleine.



Lets all hope that Madeleine is found safe soon.

Kohjinsha Touch-Screen 2 Weeks On

I have now had my new Kohjinsha for 2 weeks, and whilst in my previous posts I mentioned how the keyboard had improved, over the past 2 weeks the quality of the keyboard has deteriorate and it is now suffering missed key strokes like the original SA1 series. I have also experienced problems with the touchpad not responding, which at first I thought was the driver, but even uninstalling the driver did not resolve this issue. At one point the unit became un-usable for 20-30 mins, but after several reboots the touchpad began to work again, and for the past week has been OK. Another problem experienced and mentioned in a previous post is the touch screen calibration. After loading Windows XP Tablet I discovered that I could not calibrate the touch screen 100%, but stranger still was the fact that only the right side of the screen seemed to be affected. I downloaded the latest driver and calibration software, but still could not accurately calibrate the screen. After playing with the calibration for awhile I found that I could achieve a more accurate calibration by using the 25 point calibration option, but this still gave problems with the bottom right hand side. These problems do not affect any hand writing recognition software but does affect the use of the stylus on icons and scroll bars on this part of the screen. I have raised this issue with Kohjinsha via the Japanese exporter, but to date have had no response.

To sum up, with the mouse, keyboard and touch screen issues I am disappointed that Kohjinsha have released this new model without fixing the previous known bugs, and with the premium price being charged by some resellers for the touch screen I am not sure I would recommend this model, however if you are looking for an ultra portable laptop with a touch screen and can live with these known issues, then the touch screen Kohjinsha may be for you. If you do not need the touch screen, then go for one of the cheaper models.

Despite my negative comments above I am still happy with the Kohjinsha and the touch screen is an advantage if you load ritePen or can install XP Tablet.

Kohjinsha Touch-Screen 1 Week On

I've now had the touch-screen Kohjinsha for 1 week, and I am fairly happy with it. Gone is Windows XP Home, and in is Wondows XP Tablet Edition, and this has made real difference to the useability of the touch screen. Over the next few days I will write a mini review, but there appears to be a major problem with the touch screen that I am investigating and will hold back on the review until I have a responce from Kohjinsha.

Below XP Tablet running on the Kohjinsha.

Kohjinsha Pros and Cons

Blogger Tokyo Image has posted his pros and cons of the Kohjinsha.

"PROS

+ Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is the ultra-mobility of this notebook. With its compact size and light weight, its easy to take anywhere. Whether you are blogging at your favorite hot spot, putting the finishing touches on a school assignment just before class, or just browsing the web at the office or home, this compact and discrete notebook will be sure to be there when you are.

+ The Wi-Fi is amazing..........................."

You can read the rest of what Tokyo Image has to say about the Kohji here.

First 24 Hours with the Kohjinsha SA1F00V

I've now had my Kohjinsha SA1F00V for 24hrs and so far I am pleased with it. With its improved keyboard and touch screen this is definitely the best Kohjinsha yet. If you are thinking about buying one of these, then the new model is the one to go for, however if you already have one of the previous models then the upgrade will probably be hard to justify, unless you need the touch screen or want the improved keyboard. Like all previous models there is always something negative to say about the Kohjinha range, and this time it is the lack of touch screen software, although the use of ritePen overcomes this issue.

Over the next 24hrs I will be loading XP Tablet to the Kohjinsha to see how well it performs, so stay tunes for the results.

The First 10 Minutes With The New Kohjinsha

I have un-boxed and started to play with my new Kohji, and on first impression I am pleased with the device, but there are some things that I am disappointed with.

1. The supplied stylus is a cheap PDA type, and for me to small.
2. The case is like the previous models, and although it has a pocket for the stylus it still has an open end with no zip or fastening.
3. The mouse pad has a coating of lacquer making my finger stick rather than glide across it, although this will probably improve with use.
4. It is supplied with calibration software for the touch screen, but has no supplied hand writing recognition software. (I will test ritePen later)
5. The screen resolution is still unacceptable when set above 800 x 480.
6. No CE of FCC markings!!

The above are all fairly minor and can all be resolved either with add-on software or buying a better case and stylus. Now to the question you are all probably asking, "what about the keyboard?" Well we have all read the reviews on previous models, and how bad they keyboard on these are, well the GOOD news is they appear to have fixed the keyboard. I have only briefly used it to type some words, but at no time did it miss any letters, and I did not have to press the keys very hard. In fact I tried touch typing (although I am not very good at this) and no missed letters.

So to sum up after 10 minutes of use, anyone thinking about a Kohjinsha, it looks like this is the model to go for.

Kohjinsha SA1F00V is in the House

The FedEx man arrived today, and I now have a nice black Kohjinsha SA1F00V, and on first impressions I like what I see.

Kohjinsha SA1F00K and SA1F00R

Yet more Kohjinsha's are appearing on the Kohjinsha website. The SA1F00K and SA1F00R are touch screen versions, but with 40GB HDD. This now a total of 7 versions of the Kohjinsha in the range.

SA1F00A = 40GB HDD/Silver
SA1F00E = 100GB HDD/White
SA1F00H = 100GB HDD/Black
SA1F00K = 40GB HDD/Black/Touch-screen
SA1F00R = 40GB HDD/White/Touch-screen
SA1F00V = 100GB HDD/Black/Touch-screen
SA1F00W = 100GB HDD/White/Touch-screen

Kohjinsha SA1F00 User's Group

Thanks to Super Dave's blog for pointing out the Kohjinsha SA1F00 User's Group. Anyone interested in signing up can do so here

Source: Super Dave

Kohjinsha SA Driver Updates

Kohjinsha have released some updated divers for the SA1 series. I have tried the video driver, to see if it improved the screen sharpness at resolutions above 800x480, but alas the screen image is still to blurred for me. I have not tried the other drivers, but here are the links.

KOHJINSHA SA series
OS	Driver name	Main modification contents	Offer target date	Download
Win XP	Sound Driver	Improvement of various compatibility	2007/1/29	KU00030.EXE 18,695 KB
Win XP	Chip set Driver	Improvement of various compatibility	2007/1/29	KU00040.EXE 67 KB
Win XP	Video driver	Improvement of various compatibility	2007/1/29	KU00050.EXE 172 KB
Win XP	Touch pad Driver	Improvement of various compatibility	2007/1/29	KU00060.EXE 27,527 KB

If anyone tries these drivers please post your results.

Source: Super Dave

The FedEx man is coming!!

The FedEx man is on his way from Japan with a present, just hope he has got the weight wrong!!

Cathena CX FCC Approaved or Not?

I have been looking through the FCC database and can find no reference to the Cathena CX from Data Evolution, so has this unit been FCC approved? If this unit does get FCC approval then it should also pass the European CE certification, which will be good for all those in Europe that would like to buy a Kohji but want to buy in their own country with support and warranty, and not have to import from outside Europe.

If anyone from Data Evolution, Kohjinsha or Inventec are reading this blog please post your comments on the certification issue.

Kohjinsha SA1F00V and SA1F00W Delays

I'm not sure why, but Kohjinsha have delayed the release of the SA1F00V and SA1F00W until the 5th May. The original release date was the 28th April, which was when all orders were to be shipped, but some unknown reason it has put back a week.

Kohjinsha Popularity

Just how popular is the Kohjinsha SA1 series UMPC? Since the 9th of April 2007 this blog has had over 800 visits. Looking at the map below it is clear that there is a lot of interest in the Kohjinsha from Europe and the US, so looks like Data Evalution could be on to a winner with their fully certified Cathena.




If you are reading this blog please post your thoughts on your Kohjinsha.

Kohjinsha becomes Cathena

Looks like Kohjinsha, or the makers Inventec have recognised that the SA1 series UMPC has a much wider appeal than just in Japan, and now the US are getting a fully approved FCC certified SA1 from Data Evolution called the Cathena CX

Now all we need is a CE certified SA1 for Europe - come on Kohjinsha or Inventec

For details see http://www.dataevolution.com/cathena_cx_info.htm

Source: UMPC Portal

Kohjinsha SA1F00V and SA1F00W Official

Kohjinsha have officialy announced the touchscreen versions of their SA1F series, and whilst I had the model names wrong, the information was correct.



Kohjinsha SA1F00V (Black) Spec

• Microsoft® Windows XP Home Edition SP2
• AMD® Geode™ - LX800
• 512MB PC2700 (SODIMM DDR333)
• 100GB
  
• Bluetooth Ver and 2.0+EDR
• Wireless LAN: IEEE802.11 b/g conformity
• Touch screen attaching 7 type wide TFT color liquid crystal
• Approximately 990g (at the time of battery installing)

Kohjinsha SA1F00W (White) Spec

• Microsoft® Windows XP Home Edition SP2
• AMD® Geode™ - LX800
• 512MB PC2700 (SODIMM DDR333)
• 100GB
  
• Bluetooth Ver and 2.0+EDR
• Wireless LAN: IEEE802.11 b/g conformity
• Touch screen attaching 7 type wide TFT color liquid crystal
• Approximately 990g (at the time of battery installing)

These are both the Japanese version and will be shipping from the 28th April.

More Kohjinsha SA18 Details

If my sources are correct there will be 2 new models announced soon, which should be as follows.

Kohjinsha SA18 Specs

Release Date: April 2007
Processor: LX800
Colour: Black or White
HDD: 100GB
Display: 7" Touch Screen
OS: Windows XP Home (Japanese) although this will be replaced with English OS by exporters
Keyboard: Japanese


Kohjinsha SA18 Plus Specs

Release Date: May/June 2007
Processor: LX800
Colour: Black or White
HDD: 100GB
Display: 7" Touch Screen
OS: Windows XP Home (English)
Keyboard: US

There will also be a black 40GB HDD version released around May/June, which could be the SA18 Plus.

Kohjinsha SA18 to be announced?

For some time now there has be rumours about a touch screen version of the Kohjinsha SA series, and if the post by imgod2 is correct then it will be called the SA18, and will have a touchscreen, US keyboard and English OS.

Below is the post from imgod2.

" imgod2 said... The new model is called SA18 - Singapore.

It will have a touchscreen, US keyboard and English OS."

I have known for some time about this device, but not the name, and I had been asked not to report until officially announced, but as someone from the region has reported its name and some of the details i have decided to write this post.

There are still some unanswered questions, that even my source will not answer, like

1. Will the Kohjinsha be CE, FCC and RoHS compliant, and therefore be legally sold outside of Japan?

2. Will it have the LX900 processor?

3. If sold with XP Home what touchscreen software will be provided with it?

4. Will the new model have as indicated a true US keyboard, and if so does this keyboard work correctly, and not suffer like the current models?

These are just 4 of the questions I have, which will be hopefully answered with the official announcement of the new device.

As soon as we have official word we will announce the device and specs, so keep watching.

Note to imgod2, if you have specs and photo's of the SA18 please post.

Update: The new Kohjinsha will be released in 2 versions, the first will be the Japan model which will have the Japanese OS and keyboard and will be available this month. There will now be a second model for Singapore that will have a US keyboard and OS, but will not be available until May/June.

Kohjinsha Case

Since having my Kohjinsha I have been looking for a better carry case than the one supplied as standard. My white Kohjinsha was supplied with a basic cushioned case, but has an open end which means you have to go careful when carrying it, to ensure it does not drop out. Also being white the case has become very dirty looking. After some hunting I discovered that Pocket PC Solutions were selling a ZeroShock case designed for a 10.4" laptop that was the perfect size for the Kohjinsha or a UMPC. I have received the case and I am very pleased with it, and wish I had had it for my trip to Portugal. The case is zipped so there are no worries about the Kohjinsha dropping out of the case, and it is rugged enough to protect from knocks and bumps. The case also has an outer zipped pocket that would be ideal for carrying your passport and airline tickets. The case is available in black (which is what I ordered) or Orange; both are priced at £24.99 and are available from http://www.pocketpc-solutions.co.uk/umpc_case.htm

My Views on the Kohjinsha

Having now used my Kohjinsha for the past few weeks it has proved to be the perfect traveling companion. I am not going to write a review as there have been enough reviews already written on this mini laptop (I will list all the reviews in a new post). I call it a mini laptop because whilst it has the same screen size as a UMPC’s (7”) it has no touch screen, so can not be called a UMPC. Instead I would call it a “Mini Notebook”. Like all the other reviews the keyboard is the only thing I would complain about, which by todays standards is not acceptable, but that said it is not as bad as I had thought, although this is probably due to the fact that I am a heavy handed typist. The Kohjinsha with its 4-5hr battery life is perfect for travelers, who do not need a powerful laptop, and in fact I am typing this whilst on a flight from London to Lisbon, Portugal and it sits very nicely on the drop down tray.

What is the Kohjinsha.

• A Mini Notebook.
• The perfect traveler’s companion.
• A PDA replacement.

What the Kohjinsha is not.

• A UMPC
• A powerful laptop.

Who is the Kohjinsha ideal for.

• A frequent traveler.
• A student
• Anyone who needs a cheap ultra compact laptop

What is the Kohjinsha ideal for.

• Email
• Internet
• Music (MP3’s, iTunes, Video, photo’s)
• Office apps
• Presentations

All-in-all the Kojinsha is ideal for anyone looking for a compact and ultra portable computer, which I would highly recommend.

2 New Kohjinsha's

Kohjinsha have released 2 new models, the SA1F00E and SA1F00H. The SA1F00E is the same as my Kohjinsha SA1F00D, which is white, but the new unit has a 100GB HDD. The SA1F00H also has a 100GB HDD, but is available in BLACK!!!!

The new BLACK Kohjinsha SA1F00H.


















For more info on the models check out these links.

Kohjinsha SA1F00H (Black)

Kohjinsha SA1F00E (White)

All we need now is for a touch screen version to be released!!!

Thoughtfix thoughts on the Kohjinsha

Following his attempt to use his Kohjinsha as a desktop replacement Thoughtfix has posted his review here.

Touchscreen Kohjinsha

Rumors on the internet are suggesting that Kohjinsha are planning a touch screen version of their SA1F00, and is due for release in April. I hope this rumor is correct, however like the current unit, it will not be officially available outside of Japan, which means anyone wanting one will have to import it themselves. The reason for this is, as with the current models the Kohjinsha is neither CE or FCC approved, which is a real shame, as this little device would be a good seller for Kohjinsha.

Kohjinsha SA1F00B Mini Review

Whilst searching the web for information on the Kohjinsha I stumbled across this review on Superdave's Soapbox, which is the best review I have read to date.

Kohjinsha as main PC part 2

Thoughtfix has given up his attempt to use his Kohjinsha as his main PC for 2 weeks after only 5 days. It will be interesting to see what Thoughtfix has to say about his test, but I am not surprised as whist the Kohjinsha is an excellent little device it does not have the processing power to replace your desktop. Like Raon Digitals Vega the Kohjinsha is an Ultra Portable PC that is ideal to throw in a bag and take where ever you go. I will post my own views on the Kohjinsha very soon, so stay tuned.

My Kohjinsha has arrived

My Kohjinsha arrived 2 days ago, and I am really very very happy with it. I am still in the process of configuring it and will blog my experience with it after a few days of use.

I am not one for videos, and there have been enough unboxing videos made, so below are some snaps of the unit during the unboxing.

Kohjinsha as main PC

Following his unboxing Thoughtfix is now running an experiment to see if he can replace is current PC's with the Kohjinsha, using it on a daily basis for the next 2 weeks. You read how he gets on with the device here.

Also Steve over at UMPC Portal will be using his Kohjinsha to report from CeBIT.

Kohjinsha SA1 unboxing

Thoughtfix has received a loan Kohjinsha SA1 and you hear his first impressions of the device, and see his unboxing video here.

Kohjinsha SA1F00A Full Review

For anyone thinking about buy a Kohjinsha check out Steve's review over at UMPC Portal. There are a few reviews on the web, but this was the one that helped me decide to buy one. Read the review here, and the only complaint Steve has about the unit is the poor keyboard. As soon as I recieve my Kohjinsha I will post my own mini review.

Welcome to My Kohjinsha

After weeks of reading reviews and looking at the Kohjinsha I finally decided to buy one. I currently use a Raon Digital Vega for travelling, but there are times when I just need a keyboard, and whilst I have a very small USB keyboard for My Vega it is not always pratical to use it.

I got an email from the Japanese exported today saying my Kohjinsha is on its way. It has taken nearly 2 weeks to source, because I wanted the new white one, the Kohjinsha SA1F00D. Over the coming months/years I hope to use and blog about the current models and any new models that appear.

My Kohjinsha SA1F00D should be in my hands in the next few days, but until then I (and you ) will have to make do with the photo taken by the exporter of my white Kohjinsha next to the standard black one.