Intel's new Steeley processor and McCaslin platform make for a solid UMPC
Microsoft and Intel's joint Ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) concept has almost solely been carried by Samsung on the manufacturing front.
One of the most significant changes over the original Q1 released in April 2006 is the use of Intel's new processor from the A100 series, codenamed Steeley. Samsung has fitted the A110 chip that runs at 800MHz with 512KB L2 cache.
It's part of the McCaslin platform that includes a variant of Intel's 945 chipset and Intel's GMA 950 integrated graphics. A total of 1GB of DDR2 Ram is included, which is double that of the original Q1, and a 60GB 1.8in mechanical hard disk.
We couldn't get the Q1 Ultra to run PCmark05 fully since it failed on the transparent window test, but we did pull CPU and memory scores out of it, returning 1,116 and 1,392 respectively. This is more than double what the Medion Rim 1000 UMPC managed and about the same as Samsung's original Q1.
The most immediately obvious upgrade is the Qwerty keyboard - although calling it a keyboard is stretching the definition since its buttons aren't bigger than a mobile phone's keypad. It's no where near as usable as the keyboard on Sony's UX1 or the Medion Rim 1000 and the keys won't welcome large fingers.
Those of us in the office with slimmer digits did find it a pleasant addition though. The Dialkeys application remains as the on-screen virtual keyboard alternative.
The joystick on the left now controls the cursor rather than being a glorifi ed directional-arrow stick. When combined with the left and right click buttons on the opposite side, it mimics a Playstation Portable's usability.
The Q1 Ultra's 7in widescreen display is the most impressive UMPC screen to date. As well as being touch-sensitive and properly calibrated, it's rated at a bright 300nits. The most crucial improvement is the resolution has been increased to 1,024x600, which offers masses of extra desktop space compared to the old Q1.
Video playback was impressive on the screen and no chore for Intel's new processor either. Where Medion struggled with a 130Kbits/sec MPEG4 file, the Q1 Ultra breezed through it. Stereo microphones and a front facing 0.3-megapixel webcam means video conferencing is definitely on the cards; a significant omission on the previous Q1. A 1.3-megapixel webcam also sits on the rear of the device which is great for snapping footage on the go.
Samsung has included two batteries as standard with the Q1 Ultra. With the Wifi turned off, the standard three-cell pack lasted three hours and 38 minutes in our basic reader test. This makes it 20 minutes longer lasting than the Medion. It's also a significant improvement compared to the original Q1. The extended six-cell pack adds 7mm of bulk to the back of the unit but increases battery life to a hefty six hours and two minutes.
A familiar selection of ports is present on the Q1 Ultra including two USB, Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack and VGA out. There's also an SD card reader, replacing the Compact Flash reader on the previous version.
While it may seem like a minor point, Samsung's inclusion of a padded case is important since it's vital to keep the UMPC free from scratches and dents; Medion's Rim 1000 doesn't come with such a case and our review unit was soon damaged.
Vista Business is the operating system and, while Aero works fine, it's not particularly nippy. To make up for the lack of Media Center in Vista Business Edition, Samsung has installed AV Station software which does pretty much the same thing. There's a button on the left edge to quickly activate this program.
The jury is still out as to whether UMPCs are genuinely useful, especially when the Q1 Ultra weighs 690g which is comparable to some small notebooks with full keyboards. Samsung says schools can benefit from such devices, but we think £800 is a expensive if you have to kit out several hundred children. We'd also like to see the optional GPS module included as standard.
However, the Q1 Ultra remains one of the cheapest UMPCs you'll find and it's definitely the best model we've tested so far. Of course, it's not perfect – the keyboard and general usability still need improving – but its build quality and performance is better than the alternatives from Sony and Medion, and we're looking forward to Samsung's next entry in the UMPC market.
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