| Laptops and Notebooks Reviews : Samsung |
 | Samsung 7-Inch UMPC with Touchscreen
Major Disappointment. Texting input is almost impossible. -- 2009-12-09
1. INPUT problem: Unlike Toshiba or Motioncomputing where the tablet is sensitive only to the tip of a digital pen, Samsung tablet is like a pocket PC and responsive to all touches. The consequence is operational difficulties. For example, when your stylet points at the input site (e.g., internet address site), the keyboard icon does not automatically appear to open up the keyboard pannel. You must touch the keyboard icon at the bottom near the START to open and close the keyboard pannel at the bottom of the screen. Handwriting is virtually impossible (lagging and imprecise); I suspect the CPU is too weak to keep up with the stroke and recognition. As a result, other than an external keyboard attached via USB port, you cannot type extensively or easily.
2. If you use Microsoft Reader, you don't have a button to flip the page. You have to use a stylet to touch the forward botton to flip a page.
3. Booting takes a long time relatively speaking.
4. There is no buit in slot for a stylet. Instead, you slide it into the pocket in the hand strap (loop). The stylet tip is rubbery and does not glide well on the screen.
5. The screen is a touch screen, sensitive to your fingers, but the screen is too small to operate with your finger. Also, you can accidentally touch the screen on, unless you lock the start button.
6. SD slot does not have a spring clicks. As result, it is difficult to eject. You have to pinch it out.
7. Display resolution is limited. Other options are impractical and becomes fuzzy.
The only thing you can do OK with this tablet is to browse online. Forget about texting.
Samsung has still a long way to go. HP iPAQ is much better despite the small size.
If you want small, the Q1EX is it -- 2009-08-02
PROS: Small size, bright display, lightweight, SDHC card slot
CONS: Not very fast, no Web cam, funky stylus storage
I purchased a Samsung Q1EX with 2 GB RAM, 1.2 GHz VIA Nano processor, Windows XP, and 32 GB solid-state hard drive (not from Amazon, sorry). The SSHD added about $300 to the price. I needed a small tablet PC running Windows XP to use in my unpressurized airplane to run electronic chart and navigation software. Conventional spinning HDDs aren't very reliable with cabin altitudes over 10,000 ft. so I needed the SSHD. I rarely travel so I don't need a full-size laptop, and when I do travel I want a laptop with a small footprint.
I purchased the Q1EX with a keyboard portfolio, which combines a tablet support, a dock with VGA and LAN ports, and a keyboard in a nice folding protective vinyl case. Other recommended options are a Stowaway Bluetooth mouse (the portfolio keyboard has a touch pad) and a USB port expander (the Q1EX has 2 USB 2.0 ports).
The Q1EX is extremely thin and light. The touchscreen is very bright. There are no buttons on the device (unlike the other Q1s) except the on-off-lock switch and the Dial Menu wheel on the left and the CTRL-ALT-DEL button on the right. I use a 32 GB SDHC card so storage hasn't been an issue. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built-in. The sound quality and volume are good. It's a nice little package.
I haven't encountered any real cons about the device except it seems very slow to boot up, almost as if it has frozen or crashed. There is a camera on the back but it would've been nice to have a camera facing the user. Built-in GPS would've been nice too. If you want a small tablet you'll compromise on the tiny characters in 1024x600 res, but it is very sharp and bright (barely readable in direct sunlight, like most touchscreens, but it's fine outdoors in shade). Having to carry a keyboard is a slight hassle but programs such as DialKeys might solve that issue. Other reviews I've read say that videos are choppy but I haven't noticed that. The stylus is stored in a little slot on the wrist strap, but I don't use the wrist strap so I need to bring a stylus or just use fingers.
If you want or need small, the Q1EX is great, and you'll accept the trade-offs.
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 | Samsung Q1 Q1U-SSDXP 7" Ultra Mobile PC (Intel A110 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB Hard Drive, Windows XP)
Samsung Q1 Q1U-SSDXP 7" Ultra Mobile PC with 32 GB solid state hard drive -- 2010-02-10
Samsung Q1 Q1U-SSDXP 7" Ultra Mobile PC with 32 GB solid state hard drive-
This unit is wonderful - a daylight viewable screen and full XP functionality. But you should know its limitations.
The 32 GB hard drive functions well. I don't know if the solid state drive contributes to the operational slowness discussed below. I expect that the solid state drive is less susceptible to damage than would be a mechanical hard drive, which is available in a 60GB capacity in other models of this Samsung UMPC. But unlike a mechanical hard drive, the solid state drive isn't subject to stalling if the unit is used at high altitude. This makes it possible to use the UMPC "at altitude" in an unpressurized aircraft.
I keep wishing that Samsung would deliver an upgraded model with a larger solid state hard drive. 32 GB is quite small, but this capacity can be doubled by keeping a 32 GB "SD card" in the provided SD card slot. Most (but not all) programs can be installed onto the SD card rather than the computer's hard drive.
The Samsung-installed software gives the unit good functionality.
The computer works well with mapping software using a supplemental GPS. And it displays Jeppesen aviation approach plates wonderfully, almost full size. MS Office works well. The built-in wireless and cable internet connections function flawlessly.
But the computer does have drawbacks, the principal one being that it is horribly slow. It takes about 3 minutes for Windows XP to boot up, but once that is done the speed is acceptable although a bit sluggish. It should be noted that I have a lot of programs in the start menu, which may slow things down. The two programs that seem to contribute to the slow boot are McAfee security and "Solid Capture" (which is a screen capture program).
Of course, the built-in monitor and keyboard are so small that creating a spreadsheet or document, or sending an email, is a bit of a chore. But if you want a computer this small, this awkwardness should be acceptable, as it comes with the tiny size. A portable keyboard and mouse help a lot when on the road, and plugging the computer into a larger monitor when not on the road provides a comfortable work environment.
The built-in camera produces poor quality images. In my opinion it is not really worth having. I've never set up the fingerprint recognition software, which is a security device, as I didn't want to risk it malfunctioning at a critical time. So I have no comment on this.
I use the computer to read books with Kindle-for-PC and with the Sony Book Reader. Unlike the Kindle and Sony hardware, the UMPC has a backlit monitor. This is especially useful when reading in low-light environments. But although the UMPC is very light weight --for a computer-- it is heavy enough so that reading in bed while lying on your back is a bit tiresome until you figure out a way to grip the computer that won't get your arms tired and won't push any of the computer's buttons!
The battery life is about what the manufacturer claims, but only if you don't leave the monitor turned on full brightness.
Would I buy another Samsung Q1 Q1U-SSDXP 7" Ultra Mobile PC with a solid state hard drive? Absolutely. But if I din't need the computer right away, I would wait and hope that Samsung increases the size of the hard drive and the processor speed!
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