First impressions: Samsung’s Q1 Ultra

On Monday Samsung got a do-over. Faced with criticism that its first so-called Ultra Portable PC, the Q1, was a pricey dud, it listened to its critics and reworked the PC. Yesterday in New York it took the wraps off a new and improved Q1 Ultra.

The Q1 Ultra is a 1.5-pound handheld PC that runs a full version of Windows Vista and is capable of mobile videoconferencing and running anything your PC can. I attended the Samsung launch event for the Q1 Ultra and got a chance to play around with the device. My conclusion: The Q1 Ultra is still pricey, but Samsung has added features and functions that make this second-generation ultraportable worth a second look.

The Q1 Ultra is perfect for juggling PowerPoint presentations, mobile messaging, and entertainment. Prices start at $800 and climb to $1,500 for a model with a video camera, a 1.3-megapixel still camera, support for Cingular’s high-speed wireless network, an 80GB hard drive, and Windows Vista Home. Here is a link to the specs on all the models.

Second time a charm?

Samsung’s first Q1 UMPC, introduced one year ago, was criticized for being too big, having inadequate battery life, and missing a keyboard.

Samsung has righted many of those wrongs, shaving off nearly 4 ounces of girth from the Q1, improving the screen resolution by a factor of two, extending the battery life from 1.75 hours to 4.5, and adding a much-needed integrated, split-QWERTY keypad.

Each model sports one of Intel’s new Ultra Mobile Processor “McCaslin” super-low-power processor. Also updated is Microsoft’s Origami interface, which enables touchscreen access to Windows Vista and XP, allowing you to perform most PC functions by tapping a stylus on the Q1’s touchscreen.

What’s to like and dislike

There is no doubt the QWERTY keypad is a big improvement. But the split keyboard will be challenging for fat-fingered people such as myself. The keys are crammed together and raised, making it hard to press one down without accidentally pressing a neighboring key. Even those with the slimmest of fingers will find the split-thumb keypad awkward and not realistic for typing much more than a quick e-mail.

Wireless support is improved. Along with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Samsung’s high-end models support fast 3.5G cellular-based wireless connectivity offered by Cingular today and by Sprint in the months ahead. Verizon customers with EvDO service will have to buy a USB adapter for the Q1 Ultra.

With higher-speed data networks, the Q1 Ultra can be used for videoconferencing (some Q1 Ultras have built-in video cameras) and TV place-shifting with services such as Slingbox. During a demo at the launch event, I watched video over Cingular’s HSDPA network streamed from a Slingbox in California. I was underwhelmed by the choppy, blurry video. I’m not sure I can blame Samsung because of the underperforming data network at the time and place of the demo.

The Q1 Ultra has the same-size 7-inch display as its predecessor. But this screen is higher resolution, at 1,024×600 and brighter compared to the older model, with its 800×480 display. This bright, higher-resolution screen makes reading, surfing Web pages, and watching videos much more enjoyable.

There is one thing about the Q1 Ultra that I have a problem with. If I were to take the Q1 Ultra on vacation or even a short business trip, I’d be tempted to buy many of the accessories that come with it. Samsung sells an extra battery pack that more than doubles the Q1’s runtime to 11 hours. The Q1 Ultra notebook-sized QWERTY keyboard add-on might also be handy. I might also take the Q1 Ultra’s expandable DVD-RW drive and car adapter. After I pay for and shove all this into a bag, I’d ask myself, “Why don’t I just take my notebook?”

Samsung does a great job justifying itself as more than just a gadget lost somewhere between a laptop and smartphone. But I doubt the Q1 Ultra will be the device that ignites a fire under this not-quite-a-notebook and not-quite-a-smartphone niche.

The UMPC is hamstrung by a world of people with fat fingers that stumble over tiny keypads and who have weary eyes that tire easily from browsing tiny Excel spreadsheets. For now, I’ll suffer with my notebook and put up with my not-so-smart mobile phone.

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