Hands-on with the Samsung Q1 / Origami

So we managed to get our hands on a Samsung Q1 / Origami device set to roll tomorrow here at CeBIT. Don't ask how, but it'll be awhile before we recover from the brutal caning we just received. From the five minutes we spent with it we can tell you, well, it’s an XP Tablet PC with a 7-inch display. Sorry, that’s about it, nothing earth-shattering here folks. In fact, for all the hype, it’s hard to find anything revolutionary or even evolutionary in the hardware specs or loaded software (perhaps that will come when the price is announced). Sure, Samsung did call it a prototype unit, but as the final prototype prior to manufacture we're told not much will change besides a "brighter TFT LCD."

Now, beyond what we saw earlier today, Samsung will release their UMPC / Origami device with optional GPS and DMB (and presumably DVB too, eventually) mobile digital TV expansion modules, as well as WiBRO support for when that goes live in Korea around June. The version we grabbed, the Q1, also supports Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and sports a 30GB hard disk. Unfortunately the whole thing just felt wrong in the hands – very plasticy and without substance. Take a look for yourselves after the break, we've got tons more shots.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 12th 2006 6:38PM]

The European price is 1190 Euros on PC World

[Wesscoast Posted Mar 12th 2006 9:19PM]

wait until Apple releases their version

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woo.. a room full of insiders. Since when does Apple have anything like this in the works? The tablet bombed. Apple HAD a PDA in the works, but never brought it to market because they forsaw phones encroaching on the PDA. That's exactly what's happened.. look at the Treo.. PDA's are a waste of time. This thing is a typical MS product.. a product desperately looking for a target audience. THE MSDN guy was talking about sitting on the couch playing Chess with this thing. Ummm... okay?

If you want a gaming system, get a DS. Once again, convergence and greed push logic and business sense to the curb.

Who is in the market for this product? Who? What do you do with this thing?!

Make MS money, that's about it.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2006 2:54PM]

As of March 14th, I have tested the device on the CeBit in Germany. It is smaller than any Tablet PC. With 1GB RAM it is good to run any office and admin support tools.
So whoever needs a portable full XP PC it is the right product. The case quality is normal or at least not worse than any other laptops.
Here the technical specs:Intel celeron M ULV (900MHz)I
Chipset & Graphics 915 GMS, Intel GMA900 1SODIMM socket DDR2 400MHz, 512 RAM -1024 LCD 800x400,with the auto Scaler Button up to 1024x600 1,8" SFF HDD 40 GB 100 Ethernet WLAN b/g,Bluetooth, 779 grams, and the DMB-TV antena you can watch TV.
Microsoft showed a different device which is only for the asian Market, that one is smaller but wer no handouts providet.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2006 7:48AM]

It runs an instant-on multimedia player so users don�t have to launch the full XP operating system to watch a video. I think thats pretty damn good! I like it, people must remember that like myself I hate carrying a blackberry, a v3i, an ipod, wallet, car keys, laptop, etc. I look like frickin gadget man with all those items being carried around. Its going to be �600-700 which isnt that bad. It has stylish design, touch screen and a touch screen keyboard incorporated into the software. It works pretty well. My only concern is with windows Vista just around the corner, what will they do to ensure that the Q1 can upgrade to Vista considering that apparently their isnt cd/dvd drive. If it does have a CD/DVD drive then I am definately going to get one. With the large budget microsoft and samsung have, how can they design something that everyone is making out is so aweful. I like it and it gets my thumbs uP!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 24th 2006 3:11PM]

I'd like to think that this invention is in response to a letter I sent to Microsoft after attending the Tablet PC introduction. It seemed to me that they and the manufacturer's had missed a big marketing opportunity by forgeting a piece of computer history. Back in the CP/M days, there was a contest to build a "Dynabook"; a portable computer the size of a "McGraw-Hill textbook".
How many of the folks in Redmond have school aged children that are dragging around backpacks full of textbooks? If the Q1 can be sold at a reasonable bulk price to schools/students (the students buy $100 Texas Instrument calculators already, which the Q1 could replace. TI better have their version of the Q1 in the wings) and the textbook publishers will cooperate, we could save a lot of trees/backs/storage space/... (lot's of stuff) and assure our students of up-to-date textbooks and stop the wasteful textbook replacement cycle.
I believe that Microsoft Reader or Encarta should be the heart of this machine. (I prefer Reader, as you still get to "flip the pages".)
Again, this is all stuff I wrote several years ago to Microsoft. I hope they listened. (Shoulda patented it.)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2006 9:27PM]

I think its nice advancement in mobile computing. I am not a big fan of microsoft but I see a real use for this as a student.

I have a friend that uses a tablet right now and its really nice but a 2 pound tablet seems perfect for carrying to classes, taking notes,or even doing homework. You can even copy you text books into it giving you full access without braking your back.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 28th 2006 3:41AM]

The UMPC is a new concept to life movile, visit www.todoumpc.com to know secrets and news in Spanish language.

Thanks
Andr?catena
www.todoumpc.com

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 31st 2006 8:23AM]

everyone jst take a reality shot.This device is revolutionary, it may b on the chunky side and everything but if you think back to just the start of the millenium computers were still balls. A hanheld one that can fit neatly in a bag with tv and gps get a life apple lovers this thing rocks. iv got a psp and an ipod and i would sell them for this.However price of �800 kind of sucks but why not get it.It is a brilliant idea roll on the future

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2006 10:26AM]

I saw the world's smallest pc from Chinese car pc and mini pc manufacturer.

link: http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS3892602873.html

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2006 4:58PM]

Sony (U71) and OQO of San Francisco has similar machines for long time now. I don't understand the hype about Origami, it is just a marketing thing. OQO even upgraded their machine and offering the second generation of it. It is much powerful compared to this one. Sony U71 (I bet there will be a newer one in Japan) is also very cool and one of my pilot friend has been using it for GPS purposes for long time now.

[(Unverified) Posted May 11th 2006 4:40PM]

It looks an excellent mobile PC! Small useful and great! 10/10!!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 16th 2006 10:53PM]

does the q1 hav a built in camera and if so how many pixel

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 7th 2006 10:25AM]

I think these devices are amazing!!! I just can't wait until they mature a little more. It would be nice to see them get thinner and more powerful. This would be a perfect device for in car Navigation, shopping(Comparing prices etc), sitting on the couch surfing the net, wating movies on a train or plane, etc. Of course you're not going to play Ghost Recon, or edit photo's with this. That's what a Desktop is for!! I would rather pay $1000 for this than 2 $500 laptops anyday. These are WAY more portable IMHO.

[lulianping Posted Dec 2nd 2009 8:52PM]

That looks like cheap tat. Bring on the touchscreen ibook!
http://www.laptopbatteryclub.com/

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 19th 2006 6:10PM]

I agree with many that the price is too high and for many there is no need for a platfrom between the hand held and a small pc like the Dell 700M or Small sony. However, I do see limited use. I have been looking a GPS for my car. The good ones cost about $800 and have very small screens - and they are just a GPS (Some do have pcs viewers and MP3 player). The Q3 equipped with Microsoft Street and Maps and a Delou GPS would make a nice car unit.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 13th 2006 8:04PM]

Darn, I wanted something with XP power that has a large screen for eBooks (not a PDA please). Any suggestions?