Some two years after the world laid eyes on the secret Microsoft project code-named Origami, the world is set some say, for ultra-mobile computing to take off.

But like the art of folding a small piece of paper into a bird, the UMPC demands time and effort to get the most out of it. After that, it's hard to decide if you actually like it or not.

That's been my experience so far with the various Ultra Mobile PCs that have appeared over these past months, each with their own unique selling points as well as down sides.

Let's start the run-down based on a very practical point - price, since UMPCs can run from budget to budget bursting.

Be prepared to pay in the region of S$2000 for the U1010 from Fujitsu. Here, what you're paying for is Fujitsu's deep knowledge base for developing small, quality note-books.

The company produced more than a decade ago, a PC which ran on an 8MHZ Intel processor named the Poquet PC. No points for the name, but credit all the same for 1990's innovation for a device as large as a paperback novel even as consumers were still getting used to the notion of laptops.

12 months on, the Poquet PC came with a touch-screen and by 1994, Fujitsu gave the world the smallest, lightest and fastest tablet computer with colour display. Few could also compete with the fact that the device made it to space for use on the Space Shuttle Columbia.

So, the U1010 comes with good genealogy, and it shows.

It converts easily into a tablet which means you don't have to sit down at a table to use it. With a deft flip and there's a new-age 'scribble pad' for you to take jot down notes, standing up or walking around since it is really quite light, weighing in at 0.63kg.

It's just as comfortable using it on a table-desk or on your lap, except you could end up with hot legs - unfortunately it's literal and not close to getting any groans except those of great discomfort from the battery heat.

If you need to type, just flip the 5.6 inch screen around. The problem I found is that the switch response could be slightly slow.

Sometimes it didn't happen at all, leaving me with opportunity to enhance the skill of reading upside down.

There are bouquets to the brickbats, like the flexibility it offers in terms of connection.

It was great to be able to switch the U1010 from WLAN to 3.5G connectivity.

Also on board, a 40GB hard disk, web camera and card reader. If you think about it, the extras are very handy since it allows users to Skype or video conference just about anywhere and anytime.

In terms of aesthetics, it was pleasant enough but a tad thick.

The keyboard is of course, a little small but also very slim at 0.2mm with aluminium plating to give it some extra protection.

The screen was clear for most computing needs. It is touch sensitive, so use the stylus or your finger-tip to navigate instead of the Glide Point device which serves as a 'mouse'.

While the three hour battery life will allow users to both work and play simultaneously, the screen seemed just a touch too small for comfort.

If one was to have to squint, it might be more worthwhile to be using a PDA (except it's SO last season) or a smart phone.

So when an UMPC resembling a Palm Treo 750 was spied in a shop window, I just had to try it out. And so, the saga of the ultimate UMPC continues... next week.