Samsung UMPCs: smaller, lighter - and soon to be cheaper?

Stephen Withers
Friday, 16 March 2007 02:59

Your IT - Home IT

Samsung's answer to disappointing UMPC (ultra mobile personal computer) sales is to improve the devices, then make them cheaper.

The company's new Q1 Ultra UMPC features optional GPS navigation and dual cameras. Standard features include a higher resolution (1024 x 600 pixel) screen and hardware keypads, plus improvements to battery life and wireless connectivity (including HSDPA). And it's smaller and lighter than its predecessor.

Windows Vista Home Premium replaces the Windows XP Tablet Edition shipped with the original Q1.

The price of the Centrino Pro-based handheld is expected to be around €1200/$US1300, but this will vary according to the configuration.

Unveiling the new model at CeBIT, Samsung computer division executive vice president and general manager HS Kim said the company was considering a lower-cost version of the Q1 Ultra.

Kim also hinted that Samsung's hybrid (flash plus hard disk) drives may soon be offered as an option.