(Click here for a larger view of Samsung's Q1EX-71G)Samsung has long been a
UMPC stalwart, and introduced its first such device, the
Q1, in 2006. Always featuring a seven-inch touchscreen, the device was upgraded to the
Q1 Ultra in May 2007, when it gained higher resolution, a webcam, a fingerprint reader, and a split-QWERTY keypad on the left and right sides of its display.
Samsung's Q1 Ultra Premium-V
(Click image for further information) |
Last year, the Q1 Ultra morphed into the
Q1 Ultra Premium-V (right), which provided an upgrade to a 1.3GHz Core Solo processor, got 2GB of DDR2 memory, and sprouted a second camera for videoconferencing. Samsung still sells the Q1 Ultra Premium-V, list-priced at approximately $1,450, but the new Q1EX-71G now enters the company's product line at around $750.
For that price, purchasers don't get onboard cameras, and the split-QWERTY keypad is no more. However, the device steps up to a 1.2GHz
Nano U2500 processor, a slightly slower relative of the 1.3GHz Nano U2250 Samsung just put into its new
NC20 netbook. Whether this CPU outpaces the Core Solo remains to be proven, but the Q1EX-71G ekes out 4.5 hours of operation with its standard four-cell battery, and up to 8.5 hours of life with an optional extended-life battery, claims Samsung.
Samsung's organizer accessory makes its UMPC more netbook-like
(Click to enlarge)Samsung probably wouldn't like the Q1EX-71G to be described as a keyboardless netbook with a touchscreen display, but technologically, that's what it is. This resemblance is underlined by the "organizer" accessory (above) we found listed in the device's manual. Apparently offered in some markets, though it is not listed on the company's website, the organizer provides the UMPC with a wired keyboard, touchpad, and a VGA port, wrapped up in a folding case.
On its own, the Q1EX-71G provides a seven-inch touchscreen display with 1024 x 600 resolution, 2GB of DDR2 memory, and a 1.8-inch, 60GB HDD. The UMPC also includes 802.11b/g wireless local area networking, and Bluetooth 2.0, but does not have a wired Ethernet port.
According to Samsung, the top of the UMPC includes a headphone jack and SD slot, while the bottom of the device has a port that connects to the organizer, relaying both keyboard and video signals. The left side of the unit includes a "wheel button" that can be used to select menus, plus a "hold button" that locks the device. And on the right side, there are two USB ports, a DC input jack, and a "Windows security button" that sends the ever-popular Ctrl-Alt-Del key sequence, the company adds.
Features and specifications listed by Samsung for the Q1EX-71G, which runs Windows XP Tablet Edition, include the following:
- Processor -- Via Nano U2500 clocked at 1.2GHz
- Memory -- 2GB of DDR2 RAM (expandability not cited)
- Display -- Seven-inch touchscreen with 1024 x 600 resolution
- Keys -- Wheel button, hold button, and Windows security button
- Storage -- 60GB HDD
- Wireless:
- LAN -- 802.11b/g
- PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
- Other I/O:
- 2 x USB
- VGA (via organizer port)
- DC input
- Microphone
- Headphone jack
- Speaker
- Expansion:
- Battery type/life -- Standard four-cell lithium-ion battery provides 4.5 hours of operation; extended-life battery delivers 8.5 hours
- Dimensions -- 8.96 x 0.9 x 4.92 inches
- Weight -- 1.43 pounds
AvailabilitySamsung did not provide availability details for the Q1EX-71G, but the device appears to be available now from the company's online store,
here. To read the device's manual, see
here [link downloads an .EXE file which loads the manual in a Macromedia Flash player].
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