Well, I have had my Samsung Q1 UMPC for a couple of days now.  Of course, with Thanksgiving in the mix, I have been seriously distracted by turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and pie…delicious pie.  So, I have not had a lot of time to check out the UMPC.  I did, however, want to write a short post with some of my initial impressions.

Operating System: The operating system is Windows XP Tablet Edition.  I have to admit that I love the idea of a portable device running Windows XP.  Nothing against Windows Mobile, but XP is simply a much more robust operating system.  Additionally, this means all of the same software you use on your desktop computer can also be loaded onto your UMPC device.  You don’t have to shop for a comparable Pocket version…you can load it directly from the same disc (licensing issues aside for a moment) and have the exact same program on both computers.

Ports: I was extremely impressed with the number of ports and other inputs included on the UMPC.  There are a two USB ports, a slot for a CF card (a seven-in-one card reader would have been nice, but who’s complaining), a headphone jack, a wired LAN port and a headphone jack.  Additionally, of course, there is a sync cable included in the box which connects the UMPC to your computer.  The only thing missing is a PCMCIA port which would allow me to add a modem or wireless broadband access.  More on that a little later.

Look and Feel: The Samsung Q1 is a slick looking device.  Its black frame and large screen make it extremely noticeable in a crowd.  Unlike the Pocket PC, this is not a one handed device.  You will definitely need two hands to operate it and, therefore, Samsung wisely placed most of the buttons and controls on either side of the screen, where they can be easily accessed with your thumbs while holding the UMPC with both hands.  This is a clever and extremely ergonomic design.  The power switch is located on top of the device, making it difficult to accidentally switch off the device unexpectedly. 

Most of the heavy lifting in the controls, however, is not done by the buttons on the device, but by a stylus on the screen.  Anyone who is familiar with the Windows Mobile operating system should be accustomed to using a stylus on a tap screen.  If not, the stylus acts a lot like the mouse.  Tapping the stylus on the screen is the same as clicking a button on the mouse.  This makes for quick navigation, and is extremely easy to grow accustomed to.

The Samsung Q1 also contains a small stand on the back which allows the UMPC to rest flat, at a 20 degree angle, or an 80 degree angle, ensuring that it will always rest in the prefect position for your work habits.

Text Entry: The UMPC comes preloaded with two onscreen keyboards.  The first is a standard keyboard which appears at the bottom of the screen.  You can tap the keys with your stylus or finger to add text to any document.  This is essentially the same as the on-screen keyboard included with any Windows Mobile device.  The second keyboard, however, is unique to the UMPC.  Called "Dialkeys," it consists of two half keyboards, bent into a circle on either side of the screen.  Type by touching the letters on the screen with your thumbs as you hold the UMPC in both hands.  The layout of the keyboard takes some getting used to (it is a standard QWERTY keyboard, but broken into two halves), but once you get used to it, it is a lot of fun to use and can be extremely productive.  If on-screen keyboards do not appeal to you, any standard USB or Bluetooth external keyboard can be added to the Samsung Q1.

Connectivity:  Connectivity is something which is extremely important to me in a portable device.  One of the primary reasons I need such a device is to be able to quickly and easily access the Internet or check my email from any location.  The Samsung Q1 contains several options for connecting to other computers.  First, of course, it contains the USB Data (or Sync) Cable.  Additionally, it has a port which allows access to any Wired LAN network.  If you are in a hotspot or have a wireless network in your home, it is also outfitted with Wireless Network Protocol g.  Finally, it contains a built in Bluetooth transmitter which allows connectivity with a number of accessories and devices.  Notably, however, the UMPC has no independent means of accessing the Internet.  In other words, there is no internal modem for a dial up connection, there is no way to connect it to a wireless broadband network (such as a PCMCIA port which would allow me to insert my Sprint Air Card), and there is no independent Internet connection such as that found in a Smartphone with a data plan.  The ability to access the Internet from anywhere is an important feature in any portable device in today’s market, and the inability to do so will be sorely noticed and missed.

Size: The size of the Samsung Q1 is about what I had expected.  It is considerably larger than a Pocket PC or Smartphone device.  This is not something you could carry in your pocket or wear on your belt.  This is a device which you would carry in your bag or briefcase.  That being said, it is considerably smaller and lighter than a laptop.  Whether this combination of the laptop’s operating system and features with the Pocket PC’s portability will work well (and for whom) is one aspect I will certainly be exploring in a future article.

Initial Conclusion:  Overall, the Samsung Q1 UMPC strikes me as an extremely slick device.  I love the fact that it is so small, and yet runs Windows XP and all of the desktop software.  Still, there is an air to it that has the quality of an answer to a question no one asked.  As I continue using the UMPC and learning more about it, I plan to write a number of articles addressing all of the features I noted here, as well as some others I may have missed.  In the meantime, I encourage you all to ask your questions about the UMPC by either posting a comment here or in our new forums, or by sending me an email at doug@justanothermobilemonday.com.  In future articles, I will try to address any questions I receive.  If I get enough good questions, I will post a Q&A article at some point in the future.   

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