DailyTech - Samsung Intros New Q1 Ultra UMPC Model

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Gadgets Samsung Intros New Q1 Ultra UMPC Model
Brandon Hill (Blog) - January 6, 2008 6:15 PM

8 comment(s) - last by lindejos.. on Jan 7 at 2:13 PM

Samsung introduces a new Q1 Ultra with a 1.33GHz Intel Core Solo processor

Samsung introduced its Q1 Ultra family of UMPCs in May 2007. The UMPCs are available with Intel A100 and A110 processors, 40GB/60GB/80GB HDDs and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows Vista Home Edition.

Samsung today announced that it's adding a new model to the family: the Q1 Ultra Premium. In addition to the odd naming scheme, the Q1 Ultra premium adds an ULV Intel Core Solo U1500 processor running at 1.33GHz to the mix -- this is quite an upgrade from the previous A110 which maxed out at 800MHz.

Thanks to the power-efficient processor and 6-cell, 57.7 watt-hour lithium-ion battery; the Q1 Ultra Premium boasts a standard battery life of 7.5 hours. This is a three hour improvement over previous Q1 Ultra models.

The Q1 Ultra Premium also includes what Samsung calls the "Split-QWERTY Keypad Version 1.5" -- the new keypad features larger keycaps for easier data entry. The small keypad on the Q1 Ultra was one of the most often criticized features of the device.

"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, Samsung's senior product marketing manager for mobile computing products. "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.”

The Q1 Ultra Premium otherwise remains unchanged from its stablemates -- this means that a 7" 1024x600 display, 1GB of memory, 80GB HDD, dual-array microphones, dual webcams, 802.11g wireless, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and an SD/MMC slot remain.

Samsung plans to launch the Q1 Ultra Premium with Windows XP Tablet Edition (Q1UP-XP) at a price tag of $1,399. Samsung will also lower the price of existing Q1 Ultra models to make room for the new offering.

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Battery life

By Lonyo on 1/6/2008 6:40:44 PM , Rating: 3

A 7 hour battery life is much more like what they should be aiming for with these sorts of devices. That means it will run for almost a whole working day before the battery dies.
Hopefully the next revision will manage to approach 10hour battery life.

RE: Battery life

By Samus on 1/6/2008 7:00:20 PM , Rating: 2

Well, even at 7 hours, there isn't much else that can come near it in terms of power and portability. Even a 9-cell battery on an IBM Thinkpad X61 Ultraportable won't last 6 hours.

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RE: Battery life

By Jedi2155 on 1/6/2008 8:52:59 PM , Rating: 2

I wonder how much heavier it is...it probably is a significant increase in weight due to the extra cells.

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RE: Battery life

By NickWV on 1/6/2008 11:28:51 PM , Rating: 2

extra cells, am I missing something, was the previous model less than 6 cells?

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RE: Battery life

By tygrus on 1/7/2008 2:03:25 AM , Rating: 2

Manufactures labelling of 4-Cell, 6-Cell, #-Cell batteries is pretty meeningless without knowing either the WHr rated capacity or the combination of Volts and Amp-Hours (V x Ah = Wh). 9-Cell sounds bigger than 6-Cell and may well be for a particular model but a "Cell" has no set Wh capacity.

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RE: Battery life

By lindejos on 1/7/2008 2:13:28 PM , Rating: 2

For reference my 9-cell pack on my Dell Precision is an 80 WHr pack.
IMHO the solution shouldn't be in increasing the lifetime of the device by adding more battery mass, it should come from reducing the average power of the device.

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Europe?

By Mudvillager on 1/6/2008 7:16:18 PM , Rating: 2

Will this baby be released in Europe?

Nice!

By amanojaku on 1/7/2008 12:03:10 AM , Rating: 2

That's got the makings of a sexy future Mobile Digital Assistant (MDA.) With some aesthetic touch-ups, a longer battery life, and a price drop to $500 this device would be killer. It could replace cell phones (everyone would have a bluetooth headset, right?), act as a mobile gaming box, and run office/productivity apps. I can't wait to see more of these from other vendors, and with a selection of Operating Systems, to boot. Progress!