Intel ditches Vista, shows Linux some UMPC love

Intel sure has been paying a lot of attention to the UMPC market as of late, a strategy that makes a lot more sense now that the company's full UMPC plans have come into view. It seems that the chipmaker is going to go head-to-head with Microsoft, by releasing its own UMPC specification. Unlike Microsoft's Origami, Intel's MID (Mobile Internet Device) platform ditches Vista for a custom Linux-based OS (a tweaked version of the fast-booting Chinese distro, RedFlag MIDINUX) and will target "consumers and prosumers" as opposed to the enterprise professionals that Microsoft has attempted to court with its UMPC spec. After seeing the device's iPhone-like OS, however, I wouldn't be surprised if more than a few enterprise folks decided to jump onboard as well. Microsoft still hasn't found the massive audience that it hoped would greet Origami and there's certainly a lot of room left for competition in the UMPC market. Details on Intel's partners, the price range of devices and launch dates are scant at this point but expect more info after Intel officially announces MID at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing, later this week.

For more on MID:
- see this Engadget article