HTC Shift - A Paradigm Shift

Conclusion

Final Thoughts

The HTC Shift goes all out with the inclusion of Microsoft's Origami Experience 2.0 and brings UMPC designs up a notch with a touch of sophistication. More importantly, the addition of HTC's SnapVUE interface gives business executives who value battery life more than fancy interfaces, an opportunity to remain productive without sacrificing functionality and usability.

While the specifications for the Shift do not exactly have the wow factor, this UMPC definitely gets the job done, and has added value with the suite of applications available on Microsoft's Windows Vista Business. Of course, not everyone agrees with the choice of the operating system, especially with the higher resource demands of Windows Vista. Connectivity options on the Shift such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 and HSDPA however makes it a very connected device.

While we have mentioned the issue of heat on the Shift after prolonged use (for the record, even a short 10 minutes will generate a substantial amount of heat), the main beef for most consumers is likely to be the Shift's premium pricing of S$2188. Such a price elevates the Shift into one of the more expensive UMPCs on the market to date, alongside luxury brands like Sony's VAIO series. We aren't sure that's a good idea, since HTC's branding has yet to reach the heights inhabited by Sony. Nonetheless, for the amount of sophistication and interface tweaks you get with the Shift, HTC has mostly got it right with this UMPC, even if it's priced out of the consideration for most consumers.