Battery life is always the first feature to get compromised in most ultra-portable PCs -- as soon as you add either a hard drive or a wireless connection, your available power evaporates like clothes from a stripper. Can Seamless Internet's S-XGen ultramobile break the curse?

Surprisingly, the device runs Windows CE, rather than the custom Linux variations often preferred on super-portable devices for power management reasons. It also includes Microsoft's Office Mobile suite. Built-in connection options include WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet and tri-band mobile, so you can effectively use the S-XGen as a phone and personal organiser, as well as a stripped-down PC.

The specs aren't exactly grunty -- a 520MHz Xscale processor and 256MB of RAM -- but the 20GB hard drive is a reasonable inclusion. To achieve its relatively cut-down size (6.5 by 3.8 inches, about three conventional BlackBerry models laid side to side), the S-XGen uses a fold-out keyboard, which is potentially either a genius idea or a recipe for disaster.

All that apparent convenience isn't cheap. The S-XGen is priced at $US1,400, which is pretty pricey for a machine running a sub-1GHz processor.

Transit will be testing out the product at CES Unveiled, the first major press event of CES, and we'll get back to you with our thoughts.
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