Kohjinsha has released an update to its SR8 line of 7-inch ultra-mobile computers, world's first sub-notebooks of its breed that come with internal DVD R/W drives. Aimed to compete with the likes of the Asus Eee PC or the XO sub-notebook from OLPC, the Kohjinsha SR8 packs extended functionality in the same diminutive form factor.

The sub-notebook is built on Intel's S45GU chipset and is powered by sub-notebooks all-times lover, the 800MHz Intel A110 (Stealey) processor. The ultra-mobile PC also packs 1 GB of system DDR2 memory, a 60 GB conventional hard-disk drive and Intel's GMA 950 graphics chip that powers the 7-inch TFT LED backlit touchscreen display running at a maximum resolution of 1600X1200.

The SR8 sub-notebook only weighs 1.088 kilograms and comes equipped with standard 802.11b/g Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth capabilities and high-definition audio output, based on Realtek's chipset.

Kohjinsha's SR8 sub-notebooks are the first UMPCs that come with factory-default DVD W/R drives. In order to stuff the new hardware, the manufacturer had to perform additional tweaks to the casing, but it did not impact on the device's portability. However, the addition of an optical drive reduces the battery autonomy, rated at 3.6 hours with a 2.5 hour charge time.

The sub-notebook comes with a pre-installed version of Microsoft's Windows Vista Home Premium. It is the ideal tool for mobile digital photographers with accessible, fast SD and CF card slots. The device can easily morph into a tablet PC, thanks to the built-in passive-resistive touchscreen technology screen with a centrally positioned swivel. The tablet functionality is based on the Vista Origami software for hassle-free operation.

The Kohjinsha's SR8 sub-notebook scores 2.0 performance points in Windows Vista, which is not bad for an UMPC. More than that, you can enjoy the Aero experience using the built-in graphics card, as seen in the attached video.