Mobile phone web browsers

Browsing web pages on a mobile phone is interesting in recent years due to the maturity of the mobile devices' (particularly smartphones) OS and their browser. There are a handful of mobile 'mini browsers' that are quite capable of rendering web pages on tiny screen, making mobile phones function just like a mini computer. Let's explore some of them:

1) Internet Explorer Mobile: This is the came-along web browser for Windows Mobile phones and Windows CE devices. Formerly known as Pocket Internet Explorer. It is an Internet Explorer in miniature. Current version is still not a full HTML browser but expected to be one in its coming soon version 6.

2) Symbian S60 OSS: This is the web browser for the popular Symbian S60 smartphones. Mostly found in Nokia phones. Rendering web page in full makes it a very capable HTML browser. Its development is in parallel with the Symbian OS, S60 particularly.

3) MobileSafari: This is the miniature version of Safari web browser by Apple, Inc. Of course, it is the build-in web browser of the popular iPhone. So, no questions about its capability.

4) Opera Mobile: The miniature version of Opera web browser for smartphones and PDAs. The ability to render web pages is good. This is not a free web browser. The free version that uses JAVA platform is called Opera Mini.

5) NetFront: There is no desktop version of this web browser. It started as an embedded browser for mobile devices and evolve into a more capable one. The popular PSP web browser is based on NetFront. It was deployed mostly by Japanese mobile devices' maker.

6) Google's Android: This new born open-source platform by Google is making its official appearance just recently. Its web browser should have inherited some good genes from its parent.

7) Mobile Firefox: Not yet born but will be in near future. Mozilla Firefox for PC, currently version 3 undoubtedly was gaining its popularity in recent years. So, users do have some high hope for its mobile version of web browser. Just wait for the good news!

Asus EeePC UMPC or netbook

Few weeks ago I decided to replace my heavy and bulky 5-year old notebook PC with a smaller and highly portable one, and so I bought my Asus EeePC 1000H.
With its reasonable price (~$500USD), I think it is worth owning one if you need a mobile computer that can perform the basics just like a notebook and is more portable (smaller form factor and ligther in weight)

This is the brief specification of the EeePC 1000H:
Display: 10.2" TFT LCD with resolution 1024 x 600
Processor (CPU): Intel Atom 1.6GHz
Memory: 1GB DDR2
Graphics: Intel GMA950 integrated
Hard drive: 2.5" 80 or 160GB
Size/ Weight: slightly smaller than A4 paper size; slightly less than 1.5kg
LAN 10/100, Wifi supports 802.11n (faster than 802.11b/g), Bluetooth
VGA port, USB port (3x)
Webcam 1.3mp
6-cell battery pack
Pre-installed with Windows XP Home edition (service pack 3); DVD for system restoration

+ points:
Good battery life, last at least 5 hours for average usage after fully charged (less than 2 hour charging time)
Decent display with adequate brightness
Good sound (Dolby Sound Room!)

- points:
relatively heavier than other netbooks on the market (due to its 6-cell battery)
only one slot for RAM