Samsung to release $700ish UMPC by end of year

Telecoms Korea is quoting a Samsung company official who claims a low-cost, Via-based UMPC will be launched in the second half of 2006. While no model number has been released, it will be priced at "slightly over $700" undercutting that other Via-based TabletKiosk eo by about $200 or less than half of Samsung's own Q1 (pictured). We're still a few hundie above that $500 sweet spot, and we still have to wait and see what this new Sammy packs for specs and if that's Korean or US pricing they're referring to. Still, with prices dropping and that Media Center Extender on the horizon, well, we won't abandon this fledgling platform just yet.

Also, while we're here, we wanted to issue an update to yesterday's Samsung Q1 post. As pointed out by several people, the Korean price will actually be W1,199,000 (about $1,250), not W2,000,000 (about $2,000), as reported yesterday. Not exactly a huge bargain, but certainly better than the price we originally reported.

[Via UMPC Buzz]

[RP @ Apr 13th 2006 8:41AM]

Seems a teensy bit pricey, but it's first generation so i suppose that's fair game.

By the by, where did that Sega Hedgehog post go?

[Frank @ Apr 13th 2006 9:42AM]

You should add that the eo have been sold out in USA and Australia, breaking all so-called expert predictions!

[Richard Lai @ Apr 13th 2006 10:27AM]

Not that I want one of these (not so practical) gadgets, but hopefully this will further lower notebook prices in the near future too...

[Ben @ Apr 13th 2006 12:16PM]

I would be willing to pay $700 for the first generation of a device whose ideal price point is $500. I won't even think about paying $1400.

I consider myself a tech fan and an early adopter and this is my attitude...I think I speak for most people in my demographic/consumer profile/whatever. If they expect to sell this to real people they have a long way to go.

Hopefully they realize this and will stick with the platform even after the first wave of overpriced units fails to sell in any appreciable numbers.

[BadBatz @ Apr 13th 2006 12:33PM]

>we won't abandon this fledgling platform just yet.

Unless there is something I don�t know about UMPC (unlikely�) as of today � April 13, 2006 � no UMPC has shipped yet and he�s talking about abandoning it� Que fumas, hombre..?

Who is �we�, �cuz �we� here are delighted with the practicality of UMPC. And �we� use Sony U71, Fujitsu P-series submnis and 1510 tablet every day, so �we� know what �we� are talking about�

[willyjsimmons @ Apr 13th 2006 2:10PM]

I think what has gotten lost in all of this, is the fact that Intel has a UMPC ref. design based upon a 5" screen, which will probably hit the $500 'sweet spot' that engadget keeps harping on.

If you haven't seen the video review of the TableKiosk eo, by jkontherun, then you're missing out.

Pretty damn sweet w/o ANY accessories, considering it's NOT a replacement for your 'business' machine.

[Eli @ Apr 13th 2006 2:45PM]

From past experience, allow me to translate that.

"A little over $700" = "no less than $1500, more like $1800"

[freepimpc @ Apr 13th 2006 3:53PM]

Don�t believe the UMPC hype. The fujitsu lifebook P1510D tablet pc has ULV processor, touch screen and comes with a keyboard. What�s the difference?

[kibets @ Apr 13th 2006 4:24PM]

#11, That P1510D tablet is nice but costs $1400. I'd say thats about a $700 difference...

[freepimpc @ Apr 13th 2006 10:46PM]

#12, my point = the Samsung Q1 UMPC is available for pre-order for $1,400 (without a keyboard).

[Ben @ Apr 14th 2006 12:52AM]

#11:

The difference is it's tiny.

My vision of the ideal UMPC is a device small enough to take the place of a portable media player, provide at least rudimentary web browsing ability (a la the Nokia 770) and perhaps run productivity software in a pinch. It's at once a personal entertainment device and a personal internet device that's small enough to be carried around for everyday use without being a hassle. I don't mind bringing my mp3 player with me when I go out...I don't want to bring a laptop even though there might be times when it would be awesome to have one. Even the smallest tablet I've seen (the Motion LS800) is too big to fall into that category.

I've been waiting for the ideal convergence device for sometime now, and I hope that this platform will evolve into it.

[Jeff Myers @ Apr 14th 2006 8:47AM]

#14:

Exactly!

I use a tablet PC (Fujitsu T4020) and love it. I don't want to carry it everywhere, however, and the tinier Fujitsu has a screen that is too small for the work I do (grading papers) and a price too high for an everyday gadget in the carry-all (purse to you Seinfeld fans).

So, $600 or so for a tablet-like machine that has decent battery life (at least 6 hours), is very small, can replace mp3 player and PDA, would let me take notes at a meeting (and transfer them to OneNote on my other computers), would let me read e-books and -mags and pdfs (I really liked the look of that Irex), and perhaps even get some work done in a pinch--that's a no-brainer! I'd buy it in a second.

[freepimpc @ Apr 14th 2006 11:38PM]

#16 prepare to get spammed. lol. Anywayz, how about this, UMPC motherboards from intel, asus, via, etc. white box cases, form factors and add-on peripherals from third and first party vendors. The other pc manufacturers can sell their versions and the consumer can decide on what price they want to pay.