Q1U with A100 playing a Divx

Many users are for sure willing to know how how the Q1U with a 600 MHz A100 processor performs. This short video shows this UMPC playing a Divx video. Unfortunately there is not any information available about the specifications of the Dvix file.

New Q1 coming next year

According to news published today at TechRadar, Samsung is thinking about to refresh the Q1 series in the first quarter of the next year. 

“We will refresh our design and upgrade our performance and specification. We will continue to invest in form factors. We will launch the 3^rd generation of UMPC probably early Q1 next year,”

That's a good news! From all the UMPC in the market Samsung has been the most successful one in my opinion.

Q1 Ultra Premium, 1.33GHz Core Solo available

The Q1U on steroids is already in stock in some online stores according to a post at Origami Project Forum.  Using a 1.33 GHz Core Solo Intel processor will boost this UMPC performance and place it on the top of that list competing only against Sony's UX series.

Samsung upgrades the Q1 Ultra

In an official press release Samsung has confirmed the rumor about a Q1U with Intel Core Solo at 1.3 Ghz.

LAS VEGAS--(Business Wire)--Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today unveiled the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC, the newest version of the best selling ultra mobile personal computer (UMPC) in the world. Due to its high-performance value coupled with its ultra-portable and ultra-sleek design, the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC was named a 2008 CES Innovations Honoree. The Q1 Ultra family of UMPCs, including the Q1 Ultra Premium, will be on display during CES 2008 at the Samsung booth, #11033, in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 7-10.

Aimed at the commercial market, as well as to those individuals that travel frequently and thereby looking for the smallest PC-compatible form factor, the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC advances Samsung's Q1 Ultra line by delivering enhanced performance, extended battery life and superior text entry. Fueled by a 1.33GHz ULV Intel Core Solo U1500 Pentium CPU running at a clock speed of 1.33 GHz, along with 1 GB of high-speed DDR2 system memory, the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC is a no-compromise, high-performance mobile computing solution that offers full PC functionality in an ultra-light, sub 2 pound package. Powering this advanced platform is a 57.7 watt hour Lithium Ion polymer 6-cell battery that will provide up to 7.5 hours of battery life. Additionally, this new model features the split-QWERTY keypad - Version 1.5 - which provides larger, improved keycaps making text entry even easier now. With these advances, combined with the UMPC's enhanced features and ultra-portable form-factor, the Q1 Ultra Premium is a compelling solution for those mobile applications that require a no-compromise, PC-compatible, ultra portable solution.

Introduced in May 2007, the Q1 Ultra is Samsung's second generation UMPC. In creating the Q1 Ultra line of UMPCs, Samsung relied on consumer insights to deliver a higher-performance solution packaged in an even more portable form factor than the previous Q1 models. Complete with an 80 GB 1.8" ultra-small hard disk drive, fingerprint reader for advanced system security and an SD/MMC 2-in-1 memory slot for easy memory expansion and data transfer, the Q1 Ultra UMPC is designed to enhance productivity and ease-of-use for a range of professional and personal applications.

"Since pioneering the UMPC form factor with the introduction of the original Q1, Samsung has been unwavering in its commitment to the long-term growth and development of this fast-growing mobile computing product segment," said Bret Berg, senior product marketing manager, mobile computing products, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "With the Q1 Ultra Premium, Samsung has leveraged Intel's Ultra Low Voltage Pentium CPU to deliver an even higher-performing solution for those needing to support the latest and most advanced applications."

Like the earlier Q1 Ultra UMPCs, the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC continues to push the connectivity boundaries by including integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, providing users with wireless communications regardless of their location.

Facilitating seamless communication across a range of environments, all Q1 Ultra UMPC models feature a 300 pixel webcam, along with a high-performance dual-array microphone, enabling face-to-face video chatting/video conferencing. Additionally, a high-resolution 1.3 mega pixel camera supports video recording and still pictures, allowing users to simply snap and send videos/photographs with a single device. Supporting these features, all Q1 Ultra UMPC models are equipped with a seven-inch wide WSVGA LED backlit LCD with touch screen that boasts a native, high-resolution of 1024 x 600. The Q1 Ultra UMPCs also integrate the AVS Now instant-on feature, allowing users to enjoy a host of multimedia applications, including video, movies, music and still photos, without booting up Windows.

Value-add Q1 Ultra Premium accessories include a docking station which supports 3 USB 2.0 ports, an additional battery charger slot, audio-out and microphone-in ports, GPS navigation receiver with maps for the complete United States and Canada, an external USB-based keyboard with point stick and mouse select buttons, an organizer/portfolio carrying case, 6-cell extended-life battery, 8-cell extended-life Power Bank, car charger, replacement styluses and AC adapters, as well as a DVD RW +/- Dual Layer external Optical Disk Drive.

The initial Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC - Model: Q1UP-XP, Part Number: NP-Q1U/P01 - is based on the Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition operating system. To make room for this new model, Samsung will be lowering the price of their entire family of Q1 Ultra UMPC systems. All models can be purchased through a variety of resellers including Amazon.com, B & H Photo, Beach Camera, Best Buy, Buy.com, CDW, Circuit City, Costco.com, Fry's, Insight, J&R Music, MicroCenter, Mobile Planet, NewEgg.com, PC Connection, PC Mall, Tiger Direct, RCS Experience. All Q1 Ultra UMPCs are also available through distribution via Ingram Micro & D&H.

About Samsung Electronics America Information Technology Division

Samsung's Information Technology Division (ITD) markets a complete line of award-winning LCD Monitor products, including professional large format LCD and Plasma displays. ITD also markets an award-winning line of color and monochrome laser printers and multifunction devices, video security systems and the family of Samsung Q1 Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPC). Samsung ITD is committed to supporting the needs of its channel partners in the professional, commercial, corporate and SOHO markets. Based in Irvine, Calif., ITD is a division of Samsung Electronics America (SEA), a U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. (SEC). The SEA organization oversees the North American operations of Samsung, including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com, or call 1-800-SAMSUNG.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2006 parent company sales of US$63.4 billion and net income of US$8.5 billion. Employing approximately 138,000 people in 124 offices in 56 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business, Telecommunication Network Business and Digital Appliance Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Samsung Electronics America

Information Technology Division

Alice Collins, 949-975-7245

acollins@sea.samsung.com

or MWW Group for Samsung Electronics America

Information Technology Division

Talia Ron, 949-567-9319

 tron@mww.com

Samsung Q1 Ultra specs is misleading

If you are planning to buy the Samsung Q1 Ultra be aware of this situation. In order to save some money or to mislead customers, that I don't know for sure, Samsung is describing in its site and all the documentation the Q1 Ultra as a device with BT integrated. But the fact is that the model currently being sold (NP-Q1UAY01) does not have BT.

Both Samsung Q1 Ultra microsite and official pdf states Bluetooth on model NP-Q1UAY01 but customers are getting it without!!!

I share the same concern than JKK. People one buying a product and they are getting a different one! Samsung should stop this practice as soon as possible. Stop playing with our pockets.

Technorati Tags: Samsung

[Discuss This Topic]

Q1-U/V: Return to Sender!

 Today I found this post at Gottabemobile forum.

Today was decision day for me: I returned the Q1-U/V to Costco... I just wasn't ready to spend $1300 for a device I needed to hack and upgrade to make it work as well as an old Q1.  I'll miss that gorgeous screen a lot, but I won't miss the Vista circle prompt that I spent a good part of my time staring at while waiting for something to happen.

And I was surprised to see how many others joined the first post saying the same thing.

Guys, I have been warning people about the A110 being a slow processor since I read the first page with the specifications of it on it. But people do not listen. When they get in love with a device they just don't listen, don't read, don't analyze. Period.

The Q1U could have the best display in the world, the most efficient keyboard in the world but you have to face it and put in your other side of the scale that it also have a very slow processor. You can tweak it all you can like I did with my eo v7110. But you get up to a point where you discover yourself more time tweaking your machine than enjoying it. And that's  a really bad feeling.

If you are a IT professional a Q1U is a waste of time. IT Guys love performance, at least most of them. If you are not in this field and all you are looking for is for something a little bit faster than a PPC where you can run PC applications on it then go for a Q1U.

Or lets put it in a different way. Put in one side of your scale Battery Life and in the other side Performance. If you selected Battery Life then go for the Q1U. But then do not try to get performance, that's just not possible. What you are going to do? Go back to XP? I'm a IT guy and I'm using Vista in my Q1 and XP in my PC at work. Every time I click in the Start UP button of my PC at work I cry for Vista Search Field there. It's so easy to open any program you have installed by just typing the name of it in that field! Every time I use my eo v7110 with XP I cry to have the handwriting recognition I have in Vista, no counting the same issue with the Start Up menu.

Probably these things do not look that big of the issue but it's in our mentality to go forward. And having Vista and uninstalling it to install XP is like going backward. It's psychological. Just put two notebooks in a Store shelf, one with XP and one with Vista. People are going to buy more the one with Vista. Why? Because it's the latest OS.

And do not get me wrong. I'm not saying that the Q1U is a bad machine or that the A110 is a bad processor. All I'm saying is that the Q1U was designed looking for Battery Life, not for performance. And when users are thinking about to buy it they should be informed about this point. That will safe them a lot of time and aggravations.

Please, listen to me before you buy your next UMPC, what is more important to you, Performance or Battery Life? If you honestly answer this question you will be the happiest UMPC owner on Earth.

Technorati Tags: A110, Vista, Q1U

Samsung's Q1 Ultra site

Have not got enough info about the Q1 Ultra, do not look for more, just click here. This link will point you to Samsung's new website all about the Q1 Ultra.

First Q1 Ultra Video Review in English

The first Samsung Q1 Ultra Review in English (the first one that I know of was shot in Spanish) has been published by PC Pro UK.

The main topic? You bet, keyboard.

Video courtesy of JKK

The Q1 ultra is slow

The first user that received the Q1 Ultra has confirmed what I said in my article the Q1 Ultra in numbers. The only way found by Intel to deliver a battery life close to VIA processors is making a crappy processor. The A110 and the VIA C7 have about the same performance. The only difference is that the Intel Graphic chip is a little bit better.

Video: Samsung Q1 Accessories

Here is a short video that shows some of the accessories to be sold with Samsung Q1 Ultra:

If it has a keyboard it's good

Yeah, when the Origami concept started about a year ago all the specialized press called the next Microsoft fiasco because the concept did not have a keyboard included. Now that some companies are about to release some UMPC with integrated keyboards or wannabe keyboards the press has changed the song to something more like "now they fixed it, they added keyboard so it's good".



[Video courtesy of JKK]

Seems to me that I was right.

And once again, I was right about the performance. Check this.

Calling up Control Panel was f... slow!!! I mean critically painful!

First, the slowness of the Control Panel building was not my imagination. The Q1U had to be reset rebooted and when the Samsung rep called it up, he thought it had finished after 4-5 icons appeared. I had to tell him, No, wait, it’s sloooow. And it still was, even after a reboot!

Eighth, I went to YouTube and played a video. It was a wee bit choppy. I’ve just played the same clip — Gerry Anderson UFO: Exposed — on this black MacBook and it was absolutely smooth. OK, this tells me that the Q1U won’t be the absolute best for video. On the MacBook, it was streaming and smooth. On the Q1U, it didn’t matter if it was streaming live or playing after I’d allowed a good portion of it to pre-load, the video just wasn’t 100% smooth. Was it bad? No. It’s acceptable. But if you are thinking of using a Q1U for video, you might have to change your plans.

People with larger hands than mine (hello, James Kendrick!) will not be able to get good use out of that keyboard. As it is, I found extended text entry to be so annoying that I’d probably not use that keyboard for anything other than entering URLs and extremely-brief SMS-like emails.

As for resolution switching, unlike the Q1 Classic, the Q1U lacks a dedicated button to switch resolutions.

Another annoying thing was the dedicated mouse button on the left side. It’s more like a flattened joystick. After trying it out, I hardly used it thereafter

Software-wise, I felt Vista was a huge pain in the ass. I kept getting a spinning circle whenever I touched the screen! I would tap on a button and instead of something happening, I’d get this fucking spinning circle and a ghostly image of a mouse.

Comparing my overall experience between past fondles of the Q1 Classic and the Q1U, the Joy Factor for the Q1U was much lower — that ghostly mouse and spinning circle made everything just irritating as hell. There really was no joy. I guess if I could find the correct settings to get rid of those two things, I’d find Vista better to use, but I still prefer XP and I’d rather be using that.

I don't know but it seems to me that this guy has been reading me lately. Once again, I'm not bashing, I'm just saying what I feel: It's stupid to jump from any of the current Intel UMPC to this one.

Source: JkonTheRun

Help me to see the WOW factor in Q1 Ultra

If you ask me, I do not see any reason why I should put on ebay my Q1 to buy this one. The amount of new things that the Ultra brings does not reach the point that I consider needed to make me jump into a new device.

1-If you check Vista score you will notice that it runs Aero but with a score of 2.0 and our Q1 has a score on that chapter of 1.9
2-It has a keyboard, but it's not the kind of keyboard where I can type 60 wpm. And I really not a "I-NEED-A-KEYBOARD" kind of guy, when I need to type 60 WPM and use my BT Stowaway Sierra Keyboard. The rest of the time I feel my device lighter thanks to the absence of a keyboard.
3-It has a fast phone connectivity, yeah, but if you have a Cingular account and you are willing to pay a lot of money monthly. And beside that, I switched from Cingular to T-Mobile about 6 month ago when I got tired of the bad service of Cingular in my area. The Q1 will not make me to go back to Cingular. On top of that, if you ask me, what I want to see in these devices is WiMax, in Florida we have only two cities with WiMax but I'm hopping to see it everywhere soon.
4-It has a new processor, yes, but it's not more powerfull than current Pentium M or Celeron.
5-More Battery Life, probably if you do not run Aero, but so far for 100 dollars I can have the same battery life in my Q1.

If you are a gamer probably you will see some advantage on that keyboard and it's design in both sides of the Q1.

As you can see... At least in this device I do not see anything "WOW".

Q1 Ultra reviewed at PC World

Keep in mind that so far I have not seen any good review about UMPC coming from this or any other of those so called "tech magazine". And this one from PC World needs to be read carefully to find out what is the truth behind each word. For example, the author claims that the battery life in a Samsung Q1 is 1.75 hours, when I can say for sure that is around 2 hours. No big difference, I know, but them, he claims that the Q1 Ultra has a battery life of 4.5. Is this number right? The author find good that Samsung added a keyboard but at the same time he says that is good enough to type a short email. Well, I completely agree with him. To me that keyboard is just to calm down those tech magazines and other people asking for keyboards. I do not deny that having that keyboard will open new opportunities for gamers which could not play all games in the old UMPCs because there was not enough hot keys to play.

The rest of the review does not give me anything new to comment here. The same bla bla bla...

Samsung Q1 Ultra Officially Released

Yes, the Samsung Q1 has been officially released to the market with prices from 799 dollars to 1499 dollars. For more details on prices and different options you can check this table published at Gottabemobile.

About Samsung Support

Samsung has released the drivers and software for Samsung Q1 Ultra at their Support Page. It's interesting to see how fast Samsung is working for a device that is not yet in the market while at the same time no drivers or software have been posted for current Q1p with Vista installed.

Money money money... That's all I'm saying. Support files for a device that is not yet in the market, while there are not support files for the one is currently being sold.

Another Q1 Ultra Video

Here is another Q1 Ultra Video:

Q1 Ultra video in Spanish

We have been talking about it since Yesterday at todoUMPC.



But I never thought that it could be of interest for our English Readers, and I was wrong because the news is in all pages relative to UMPC and Tablet PCs. Very good review, the lady says that the Q1 Ultra was using a Intel Celeron M, and it´s not clear yet if it´s an error or that unit really was using a Celeron processor.

Q1 Ultra price around 1200 Euros!

According to news posted today at UMPCPortal.com, the price of this device could reach the 1800 is 1200 Euros in Europe. If you ask me, that's too much money to pay for a device that is not that much better than the current Q1. In another hand, where is the Origami Concept? where is the low price?

Note: Steve got a confirmation from Samsung and the price is around 1200 Euros. I do expect to see a price in USA of around 1200 to 1300 dollars instead of 1200x1.28= around 1500 dollars.

Samsung Q1 Ultra

Samsung Q1 Ultra, AKA Samsung Q2, has been found by Steve at CeBit. Still very little details about this device.