Mobile Internet Device: What It Is & How It Was Used

A mobile internet device (MID) is a portable, handheld gadget designed primarily for accessing the internet, with a touchscreen or small keyboard, and usually running a lightweight operating system. It was used for web browsing, email, social media, and media playback on the go, bridging the gap between a smartphone and a laptop. This article explains what made an MID distinct, how people used it, and why the category faded.

Background: The Gap Between Phone and Laptop

In the mid-2000s, smartphones were still mostly business tools with small screens and limited browsers, while laptops were too heavy to carry everywhere. Intel introduced the term “Mobile Internet Device” in 2007 to describe a new class of device that was larger than a phone but smaller than a netbook, with a focus on always-on internet connectivity. The idea was to give users a richer web experience than a phone could offer, without the bulk of a full computer.

Early MIDs often ran Linux-based operating systems, such as Intel’s Moblin, or Windows XP Tablet Edition, and used low-power Intel Atom processors. They typically had 4 to 7 inch screens, Wi-Fi and sometimes 3G connectivity, and a battery life of several hours. Unlike smartphones, they were not designed to make phone calls; they were pure internet appliances.

How an MID Worked

An MID was essentially a small computer optimized for web use. It had a touchscreen or a slide-out keyboard, a web browser, and a few built-in apps like email and a media player. The operating system was stripped down to reduce boot time and power consumption, and the user interface was designed for touch input, though some models included a physical keyboard for typing.

Connectivity was key: most MIDs had Wi-Fi, and some had a SIM slot for 3G mobile data. They used cloud-based services for email and storage, since local storage was limited (often 4 to 16 GB). The device could also connect to a PC via USB to sync files, but its primary function was to consume internet content, not to run heavy desktop software.

Common Uses of a Mobile Internet Device

People used MIDs for a handful of everyday tasks, all centered around the internet:

• Web browsing: Reading news, checking weather, and searching for information on a screen larger than a phone’s.
• Email and messaging: Sending and receiving emails, and using instant messaging services like AIM or MSN.
• Social media: Checking Facebook, Twitter, and early social networks, which were simpler and more text-based then.
• Media playback: Watching videos on YouTube (in low resolution), listening to music, and viewing photos.
• GPS and maps: Using built-in or external GPS for turn-by-turn navigation, though this was less common.
• Light productivity: Viewing documents and spreadsheets, but not heavy editing.

Because MIDs lacked a phone radio, they were often used as secondary devices, carried alongside a smartphone or used in places with free Wi-Fi.

How to Choose an MID (When They Existed)

When MIDs were sold, buyers typically considered these factors:

• Screen size: 4 to 7 inches; larger screens were better for reading and video, but made the device less pocketable.
• Keyboard: Some had a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, others relied on a touchscreen. Typing long emails was easier with a physical keyboard.
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi-only models were cheaper, but 3G models allowed internet access anywhere with a data plan.
• Battery life: Most lasted 3 to 6 hours of active use, so a longer battery was a selling point for travelers.
• Operating system: Linux-based MIDs were more open but had fewer apps; Windows-based ones ran some desktop software but were slower.

In practice, the choice often came down to whether you needed always-on connectivity or could rely on Wi-Fi hotspots.

Common Problems and Limitations

MIDs faced several practical issues that limited their appeal:

• Poor battery life: Despite low-power processors, the screen and cellular radio drained batteries quickly, often less than a full day.
• Limited app ecosystem: There was no app store like today; users had to install software manually, and the selection was tiny.
• Slow performance: The Atom processors and limited RAM made web pages load slowly, especially with JavaScript-heavy sites.
• No phone capability: You still needed a separate phone, which made the MID an extra device to carry.
• High price: Early MIDs cost several hundred dollars, which was more than a basic smartphone at the time.

These drawbacks meant that MIDs were mostly adopted by early tech enthusiasts and business travelers, not the mass market.

Comparison with Smartphones and Tablets

MIDs occupied an awkward middle ground. Compared to smartphones, they had larger screens and better web browsing, but they were bigger, heavier, and couldn’t make calls. Compared to tablets (which came later), they were smaller and more portable, but had less processing power and fewer apps.

When Apple released the iPad in 2010, it effectively replaced the MID category by offering a larger screen, a robust app store, and a touch interface that was easier to use. Android tablets soon followed, and the MID concept faded because it was neither as pocketable as a phone nor as capable as a tablet.

Cost and Availability (Historical)

When MIDs were on the market (roughly 2007–2011), prices ranged from about $200 for entry-level models to over $600 for premium ones with 3G and larger screens. They were sold through electronics retailers and online stores, often as unlocked devices. Data plans were typically sold separately, and Wi-Fi-only models were cheaper to operate.

Today, MIDs are no longer manufactured, but you can find used models on auction sites or in vintage tech collections. They are not practical for modern use because their browsers are outdated and cannot handle current websites.

Safety and Security Considerations

Using an MID in the late 2000s came with the same internet safety basics as today, but with fewer protections:

• Use secure Wi-Fi: Avoid entering passwords or credit card numbers on public, unencrypted networks.
• Install updates: Keep the operating system and browser updated, though updates were infrequent for many MIDs.
• Be aware of phishing: Email and websites could trick users into revealing personal information; the smaller screens made it harder to spot suspicious URLs.

Since MIDs are obsolete, the main safety advice is to avoid using them for any sensitive activity today, as they lack security patches.

Legacy and Alternatives

The MID concept directly influenced the development of modern tablets and phablets. The iPad, Android tablets, and even large-screen phones owe a debt to the MID’s vision of a portable, always-connected device. If you want a similar experience today, you would use a smartphone (for pocketable internet) or a tablet (for a larger screen). Both have vastly more apps, better performance, and longer battery life.

For those interested in the history, the MID is a fascinating footnote in mobile computing, showing how manufacturers tried to fill a niche before smartphones became powerful enough to handle everything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an MID and a netbook?

An MID was smaller (4–7 inch screen) and focused on touch-based internet use, while a netbook had a 7–10 inch screen and a physical keyboard, and ran a full desktop OS like Windows XP or Linux. Netbooks were more capable for typing and running basic software, but they were heavier and had shorter battery life.

Can I still use an MID today?

Technically, you can power it on and connect to Wi-Fi, but modern websites will likely fail to load because the browser is too old and lacks support for current encryption and web standards. You also cannot install modern apps, and the hardware is too slow for streaming video or video calls.

Did MIDs have a SIM card slot?

Some models did, for 3G mobile data. You could insert a SIM card from a carrier and get internet access without Wi-Fi. However, the device could not make voice calls; it was data-only.

Why did MIDs fail?

They failed because smartphones grew larger and more capable, and tablets offered a better screen and app ecosystem. The MID was too big to be a phone and too small to be a tablet, and it lacked the software support that made later devices successful.

What operating systems did MIDs run?

Common ones were Intel’s Moblin (Linux), Ubuntu Mobile, and Windows XP Tablet Edition. Some early models ran a custom Linux interface. None of these had a large app store, which limited their usefulness.

Are there any modern equivalents to an MID?

The closest modern equivalents are large smartphones (6.5+ inch screens) and small tablets (7–8 inches). Both offer always-on internet, a touch interface, and a vast app selection, which is what MIDs aimed to provide.

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