Samsung's new Q1P bumps the specs, brings the HSDPA

Now we're talking. Or, well, continuing an ongoing conversation. Samsung seems to have a little spec bump for the Q1 every week or so: a flash drive here, a new processor there, but this time they're doing it up right and sticking HSDPA into their UMPC. The new "Q1P" also packs that new Via processor from the Q1B, which extends the battery to a purported five hours. The Q1 really does take on a whole new level of hotness with a respectable battery life and 3G internet access, and supposedly the Q1P will include "several additional interfaces" as well -- whatever that means. We sure wouldn't complain to have an easier time interfacing with the thing when it's released Q4 this year, but we're not going to get our hopes up too high.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

[rodan32 @ Sep 1st 2006 3:41PM]

Getting warmer. . .

[khalidur @ Sep 1st 2006 3:41PM]

is this the UMPC with the 32GB solid state hard drive?

if so and the price is right this would be perfect for a lot of people, not me tohugh :)

[flipper @ Sep 1st 2006 4:14PM]

I can't believe how many wingeing people don't like these things! I'd love one. Just the right size and a fully powered computer for your pocket and for travelling. Brilliant. My ibook is slowly dying and I will be replacing it with one of these.

[juv3nal @ Sep 1st 2006 4:50PM]

"a fully powered computer for your pocket"

a) fully powered
b) for your pocket
c) NONE OF THE ABOVE

[HelpLine @ Sep 1st 2006 4:52PM]

@ Samsung

Why are you making UMPCs? Who buys these things? There was such a buzz around this whole UMPC thing for like a week and then once they hit the market, people saw how useless and expensive they were. Stick to phones and HDTV's. Thank you and god bless.

Yours Truly,

Help Line

P.S. It's a band...

[HelpLine @ Sep 1st 2006 5:08PM]

@ Flipper

You better be wearing overalls if you want to be fitting this thing in your pocket. And who would spend $900+ on this UMPC? Can't wait til your iBook dies, you buy one of these and realize what an idiot you are. You've been warned.

Yours Truly,

Help Line

[Dan @ Sep 1st 2006 5:21PM]

eh, keep your HSDPA and give me some EV-DO rev. A and we'll talk.

[flipper @ Sep 1st 2006 6:39PM]

Thanks helpline but I'm a big girl and make my own decisions. This has more than enough power for most users.

[Brandon @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:52AM]

To be honest, I think these things get a bad rap too, and agree with Flipper. I'd love to have one to download pictures from my cameras on the go, do some web browsing and basic stuff like that. I think people should stop being quite so critical.

My only wish is that the price was around $699 and that it ran OSX.

[StuartLittle @ Sep 2nd 2006 5:04AM]

Option will supply the HSDPA module:

http://www.option.com/news/detail05.cfm?newsitemgroup_id=456

Option to Supply Samsung with Embedded Wireless Module



Leuven, Belgium - September 1, 2006 - Option N.V. (Euronext: OPTI; OTC: OPNVY), the wireless technology company, today announced that it is to supply the GTM351E embedded wireless module to Samsung Electronics. Samsung will integrate the modules in notebooks and Ultra-Mobile PCs. Commercial shipments of the GTM351E to Samsung are planned to support the commercial roll-out of a new range of wireless enabled products. The new products, the Notebook Q40 and a new model of the Ultra-Mobile PC, will be showcased at the Berlin Messe IFA (1 – 6 September 2006, Hall 01.2, stand 118), one of the world's largest Consumer Electronics trade fairs. The Notebook Q40 and Ultra-Mobile PC enable wireless broadband access thus empowering the user to view, listen, play, chat, download, e-mail, connect to the corporate network and work anytime, anywhere.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2005 parent company sales of US$56.7 billion and net income of US$7.5 billion. Employing approximately 128,000 people in over 120 offices in 57 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business, Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication Network 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.

Option unveiled the GTM351E wireless module in December 2005 and announced its first customer agreement in February 2006. At the time of the Q1 earnings release, May 4th 2006, the company announced two new design wins for the product: the first with a leading wireless device manufacturer and the second with a leading laptop OEM. Samsung Electronics is now disclosed as being ‘the leading wireless device manufacturer’.

The Option GTM351E embedded wireless module is the ideal solution for an IT manufacturer wishing to incorporate comprehensive broadband wide area wireless connectivity into laptop, portable, and mobile devices. Incorporating HSDPA 1.8 Mbps, UMTS WCDMA in the 2100 MHz band and EDGE/GPRS in four bands (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), the GTM351E delivers broadband wireless internet connectivity to mobile devices across mobile networks worldwide.


About Option:

Option NV (www.option.com), the wireless technology company, is a leading innovator in the design, development and manufacture of 3G WCDMA (HSDPA and UMTS), EDGE, GPRS, GSM and WLAN technology products for wireless connectivity solutions. Option has built up an enviable reputation for creating exciting products that enhance the performance and functionality of wireless communications. Option’s headquarters are in Leuven, Belgium. The company has Research & Development in Leuven, a Software and Applications development centre in Adelsried (Germany), a Wireless Router development centre in Stockholm (Sweden) and an ISO 9002 production engineering and logistics facility in Cork, Ireland.

Specs GTM351E:
http://www.option.com/products/module_gtm351E.shtml

[splob @ Sep 2nd 2006 8:06AM]

But if it doesn't support WCDMA in the 850/1900 MHz bands (as that Option article indicates), it won't work with Cingular's 3G network here in the US. :-(

[colwindow @ Sep 2nd 2006 10:59AM]

PLease note that the GTM351E has 2 flavors:
European 2100Mhz
US 850/1900Mhz
So is will work on Cingular

[Oddmanout @ Sep 2nd 2006 11:00AM]

If the price doesn't rise with each of these new features we just might get where the UMPC was supposed to start out. A powerful, potable computer at an affordable price (realatively speaking on all those points of course...)

As for it being powerfull enough for most people...probably. 5 years ago a a computer with a 1ghz cpu was the shiznits. Has LIFE really gooten so much more demanding that we MUST have more processing power than that on the go ?

I really don't think so.

But the lack of keyboardage will always be a sore spot for me. I just don't think you can get a signigicant amount of general computing work done without one. But to each their own. IMHO the iBook is actually small enough to be considered ultra portable. True you can't fit it in your pocket, but that's true of UMPCs as well. Just get a stylin' messanger bag...

Personally I'm holding of on UMPCs for now. I absolutely loved my Ipaq 2215 (the whole month I had it before I broke it), and I think I will like it's successor (a Dell Axim x50v) just as much. It will tide me over at least until Averatec and iRiver drop their offerings into the UMPC market. They do indeed look tantalizing...

http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/07/averatecs-ahi-umpc-takes-shape/

http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/15/the-iriver-w10-eh/

[splob @ Sep 2nd 2006 5:11PM]

Thank you, colwindow. Now I'm very happy about this news.

[Camila Ueoka @ Sep 4th 2006 9:46AM]

Has anyone really tried to use this device on a day to day basis? I would like to hear about someones real experiences?

[Glen Nelson @ Sep 13th 2006 2:14PM]

I have to say this is a great start. I know a lot of people don't like this unit, but I give it two thumbs up! It is so bitchen' to have a capable unit in my truck for GPS, truck engine diags through ODBII, hotspot availability, camping, etc. It's the right size, and does what 3 of my misc. boxes did all in one. I have the Pentium M unit, so I can't comment on Celeron unit. I can actually enter data faster through the touch screen than on a keyboard. I bought a external DVD burner to load mapping S/W and other stuff. I don't need DVD on the road.

Tried to make a unit to do the same thing a year ago, Shuttle 'cram box',10" TFT, wireless keyboard -mouse, power inverter... did'nt work too good.

Have the people actually used the unit that complain about it?????

[Mike Hollyer @ Jul 6th 2007 4:48PM]

I've been using the Q1 (UK spec 60GB and 1MB RAM 900MHz Celeron) since New Year. I fly out of the UK each week on business. I wasn't sure if the Q1 was the tool I needed. It took about a month for me to be convinced. You do need to approach the way you use it differently from a laptop in several ways, i.e. let it fully boot before attempting any tasks. (I have set the power switch to hibernate, which speeds the startup process considerably) Like one of the other reporters I have dropped mine, but worse, knocked a cup of coffee over it, and the keyboard, a heart stopping event also, but no ill effects.
I absolutely adore it. I have not ever read a bad word about it from a professional user, i.e, someone who uses it as a tool, rather than someone who is looking for absolute speed and power.

[steve @ Nov 7th 2007 10:12AM]

I have one and love it, I'm a true blue geek and this fits the bill. and built like a tank also. I dropped it hard on the ground and no cracks and works perfect my heart on the other hand about exploded. ok its not a full blown gaming pc but its fast fun and looks cool. battery life not so good with the 3cell but you would have to get a better battery for any notebook pc to last longer so whats the big deal hear. to me its the price point that has alot of folks looking else where or nit picking the q1p even i was not sure i wanted to spend almost 2 grand on the q1p but now that I have got it I love this thing well just my 2 cents.