Vulcan FlipStart E-1001S

1.1-GHz Pentium M CPU, 512MB of RAM, 30GB hard drive, and Windows XP Pro OS provided enough power for speedy operation. Includes VGA camera, Wi-Fi, and Sprint’s wireless broadband connections

The keys are a little slippery and small. System fan constantly spins. Feels more like a rugged device than a sleek ultraportable

Pocketable at 1.8 pounds. Integrated QWERTY keyboard. Neat features include a secondary display, a webcam, and both a touchpad and a pointing stick

RAM is not upgradable. Typing will require plenty of patience

The Vulcan FlipStart is a 1.8-pound handheld PC that runs Windows XP Pro and integrates a QWERTY keyboard, and is likely to make Sony and OQO sweat just a little.

Even if I could overlook its outdated design, chunkiness, and lack of a touchscreen, I would find it difficult to recommend the FlipStart because of its very high starting price: $1999. For a 30GB hard drive, 512MB of RAM, and little innovation in...