Now that I have concluded my series on the Samsung Q1 UMPC, I thought it would be appropriate to share a few closing thoughts.  I had the device for a little over a month (actually, from Thanksgiving to New Years).  In that time, I had an opportunity to give the Samsung Q1 a pretty thorough workup in a number of different environments (home, the train, at work, even on vacation.)  My overall impression was that it was a phenomenal looking device with no real practical value.  In essence, it felt like a novelty to me, but not much more. 

Before I received the UMPC, I asked myself what questions I wanted to answer.  The main one was what is the primary market for this device.  I looked at my Pocket PC.  This is a device which began as an electronic information manager — a replacement for the day planner, and grew into an extremely powerful device, which I (and many others) use on a daily basis.  The Pocket PC, however, has some significant limitations.  For example, it is an awful device for word processing.  Entering any significant information with the on-screen keyboard is simply brutal.

I also looked at my laptop.  This is a fantastic computer, which can do almost everything my desktop can do…plus, it fits in my backpack.  Yet, it is heavy and awkward to use on the train.

So, I started thinking, what if there was a device that mixed the portability of the Pocket PC with the functionality of the laptop.  That is a device I would buy.  That is the device I was hoping to find in the UMPC.

There is not a lot of room in the market between a laptop and Pocket PC.  Any device attempting to fill this space would have to meet several specific requirements: 1) it must be portable, 2) it must merge Windows XP and Windows Mobile users together.  Ideally, it should be able to run both Windows Mobile and Windows XP software simultaneously (though I am not sure this is possible).

I was relatively impressed with the portability of the UMPC.  I envisioned it being much larger than it was.  Essentially, the Samsung Q1 is about the size of a book.  It was small enough that I could fit it easily into the accessory pockets of my backpack (but not my jeans or jacket).  It also provides an excellent screen.  The graphics were crisp, and the size was perfect for a portable device.  One of the limitations of the Pocket PC is the small screen size.  The Samsung Q1 certainly did not have this problem.  Unlike the Pocket PC, I could easily watch videos on it.

I also loved the fact that the UMPC can utilize any Windows XP software because it runs Windows XP tablet edition.  Nonetheless, the Samsung Q1 makes it extremely difficult to load new software, requiring that you purchase an external optical drive, which is not included with the device.  There is no way to load software by connecting the UMPC to a desktop of laptop computer.  This is unfortunate.  As much as people complain about ActiveSync, it does serve a significant purpose in that you can run programs on your desktop and load them to your Pocket PC.  The inability to do this is a significant failing of any portable device.

Additionally, I was frustrated by the operation of the touch screen and the user interface.  With the Pocket PC, the touch screen is an integral component of the operating system.  Most of the navigation throughout the device is accomplished with the stylus.  On the UMPC, the stylus and touch screen are little more than vehicles to control the cursor. Thus, the touch screen is not an integral part of navigating through this device, it is merely an alternative to the mouse, like a trackball.

What the UMPC really needs is an operating system makeover.  It should not run on Windows XP tablet edition as Windows XP is not designed for portability.  Likewise, it would be a mistake to force the Windows Mobile Operating System on it.  Instead, I would continue to suggest a hybrid operating system — one that incorporates a Windows Mobile-like interface, with the the functionality and "guts" of the Windows XP Operating System. 

Finally, I feel obligated to mention the price of this device.  The one tested costs $1200.  Most Pocket PC’s run somewhere in the $400-$500 range.  A mid-range laptop will generally cost under $1000.  I simply do not see the market, as it currently exists, sustaining this price.  First, users have grown accustomed spending $1000 to purchase a full computer, not a portable device.  Portable devices typically cost under $500.  Second, the portable market is moving toward phone-Pocket PC converged devices, which typically cost considerably less that $1000.  It seems to me that the UMPC is sharing a crowded market with devices that are more functional and cost considerably less.

After spending over a month with this device, I was left with the impression of an overpriced and undersized tablet PC.  It was more portable than my laptop, and more powerful than my PDA.  It is an extremely powerful device with excellent specs, but I simply could not answer my primary question: what market is this device appealing to?  It really seemed to me that this device was intended to create a market where none had existed before instead of satisfying an existing need in the market.  Only time will tell whether this approach will prove to be successful.

Technorati Tags: UMPC – Samsung – Q1

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1. Samsung UMPC: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly — Initial Impressions
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5. Samsung Q1 UMPC for $799