jkOnTheRun

OtterBox intros protective cases for Samsung Q1U UMPCs

OtterBox has long been a name synonymous with outstanding device protection and today they're bringing that protection to the latest UMPCs from Samsung. The new case fits either a Samsung Q1 Ultra or Ultra Premium model and offers access to practically every port and interface while offering protection from the elements.

For $79.95, you'll get your choice of yellow or black. Regardless of color, each case offers three layers of protection: a clear membrane, a Polycarbonate shell, and a thin silicone skin. I wouldn't drop my UMPC underwater in this (although have I done that with a PDA in an OtterBox), but short of that, this case looks to offer outstanding protection while adding 11.5 ounces of weight.

Samsung Q1UP gets a BIOS upgrade with... something.

Nosing around the Samsung Download center, I see there's a new BIOS version available for the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC, both the XP and Vista versions. My device is currently running Vista but I noticed that my BIOS is version 01MI, so I've just downloaded 02MI. The under 2 MB file ran in under five minutes and then the UMPC rebooted. Bear in mind that you'll want to have your unit plugged in to an AC outlet and the battery must have at least a 30% charge or the BIOS update won't run.

I already had 2 GB of memory in the unit, so the old BIOS supports at least that much RAM. I figured the new BIOS would offer support for sharing up to 256 MB of memory with the video card since the Intel 945 chipset can handle that. On the original BIOS, only 128 MB of memory could be allocated to video. Unfortunately, when I checked in the the BIOS, I still see the same options for video memory: 64- and 128-MB, along with an Auto function which still tops out at 128 MB. At this point, I don't see any visible changes in the BIOS setup screens, so I have no idea what the new version adds. Can anyone say "release notes"? Just for kicks, I ran the Windows Experience Index rating again... same exact scores as the last time.

Update: Big word of caution. My Q1UP apparently no longer has a wireless radio inside after the BIOS upgrade. I've never seen software make hardware magically disappear. ;) I'll be working through the issue but wanted to quickly point it out. More to follow...

Update 2: Either a few reboots or changing the wireless setting in the BIOS addressed the issue. Samwise is flying around the web without wires. Whew!

And the latest OS install on my UMPC is...

I think I've had my new Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC for around six weeks now. In that time, I've run Windows XP Tablet Edition (which came pre-installed), Windows Vista and even Mac OS X. It's time to settle down now and that means I need an operating system for the long haul. Yes, I might do more experimenting, perhaps with a Linux distro or two, but I need my UMPC to be usable and rock-solid for everyday mobile use. So I've just wiped the drive and made a choice. Many of you would choose otherwise, but I went with Microsoft Windows Vista.

Buy.com outs Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium Vista model

This isn't a terribly huge surprise, but it appears that Buy.com is now offering a different variation of the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium. I bought the Q1UP-XP which had Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition pre-installed and 1 GB of RAM. The Q1UP-V will of course sport Microsoft Windows Vista, although I can't tell which edition it will have. My guess would be the Home Premium edition, although the Business and Ultimate editions also support Tablet PC functionality.

The price for the Q1UP-V at Buy.com is listed at $1,449.00, which is a $150 premium over what I paid for my UMPC running Windows XP. The extra cost gets you Vista, but also gets you a 2 GB stick of RAM installed; I don't see any other differences. While it's not difficult to buy and install the 2 GB yourself, I could see some folks just opt to buy this higher-priced model so the upgrade is done for them. Buy.com shows the device as temporarily out-of-stock with no ETA on an availability date.

(via Origami Project)

Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium battery life with EV-DO: a weekend scenario

Several folks have asked me directly how using my EV-DO modem affects the battery life on my Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium. I've been hopping around with the device for a few weeks now and although I haven't done any scientific benchmarking, I can share some information. I've found the overall battery life to be excellent, but of course the Q1UP comes standard with a 6-cell extended battery. I also have a fully-charged spare with me and based on my short usage history, I'm still convinced I could work all day. Ten to twelve hours isn't a stretch with this setup.

Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium gets the HSDPA upgrade

Nope, not my Q1UP; integrated WWAN connectivity is not conducive to my lifestyle because I use multiple machines on a daily basis. Stephen cracked open his Q1UP and saw the same thing I did when I opened mine for the 2 GB RAM upgrade: an open and easily accessible mini-PCI Express interface and a SIM card slot. You don't need to remove the top motherboard to get at these; just crack carefully open your device and you'll see both. He popped in an active SIM and Sierra Wireless HSDPA card and is now rockin' and rollin' with speeds around 1.8 Mbps down and 350 kbps back up.

Even if you're not interested in this particular upgrade, I recommend his story regardless. He shares his thoughts on the device's performance and the overall experience, which he can compare to the Q1 Ultra that he owned prior. Much of what he says echoes my own experiences so far, which are very positive.

Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium: Vista upgrade tip

Chris, one of our readers, has also taken the plunge with a new Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium and we've been conversing via e-mail the past week or so. He's got his 2 GB RAM upgrade done and is trying to get everything working under Vista. I intend to do a high-level, step-by-step post for the upgrade (which is actually not too bad) and I thought to share some info that I just shared with Chris; hopefully it helps those who follow the same path.

Hardware-wise, I've got everything working under Vista: WiFi, Bluetooth, hardware buttons, cameras, and the fingerprint reader. The reader was the most challenging but the solution to it offers a good insight for solving other Samsung-specific issues under Vista for the Q1UP.

The Samsung software disk includes all of the drivers and applications you need for these hardware bits to work. Unfortunately, you can't run the main install program to pick and choose what apps and drivers you want installed because the menu app isn't supported in Vista. If you Explore the disk however, you'll find bunches of subfolders that are tagged with alpha-numeric combinations. Inside each of these is the installation contents for a driver or a piece of software. There's a text file in each that describes what the contents are, so yes, I've been through all of them. That's where I found the OmniPass software: in folder BA46-0512A... right where I expected it, of course. ;) These folders are a good start to finding the Q1UP-specific files you need, so don't be afraid to nose around in the file system of the disk.

USB port placement on devices that rotate from landscape to portrait

Now that I've got Vista up and running on the Q1 Ultra Premium, it's time for a Starbucks run later today. I just installed the VZ Access software needed for my USB727 modem so connectivity is tested and good to go. One feature the Q1UP has over my older Q1 and Q1P is that one USB port is on the top of the device. This is just awesome from a form factor standpoint. On the older models, the two USB ports were on the sides of the device, making it difficult to effectively hold and use the UMPC as one of your hands had to deal with the modem sticking out.

With the top USB port, I'm not affected at all in landscape mode. I'd probably face a challenge with the device in portrait mode, but if worse comes to worse, I could put the modem in the port on the right side of the device and rotate the screen counter-clockwise. This would essentially put the USB modem back on the "top" of the device. I hope other small device manufacturers take note of this; putting the USBs on the traditional sides might not make the most sense if the unit is designed to be used in both portrait and landscape mode.

Vista "Windows Experience Index" for the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium

I don't put too much stock in the Windows Experience Index, but to many folks it's a general indicator that useful for comparison purposes between Vista devices. Besides, I know someone's going to ask for the numbers. ;)

The overall index is 2.3 as shown, but you have to realize that the index uses the lowest of the five numbers. I always thought it should use some type of weighted average, but then again I studied Econometrics in college so this should be expected. Here's the individual scores on the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium running Vista with 2 GB of RAM:

• Processor: 2.9
• Memory (RAM): 4.4
• Graphics: 2.3
• Gaming graphics: 2.8
• Primary hard disk: 3.7

How do these numbers compare to other UMPCs running Vista? Chime in if you've got data to share!

UMPC battery #2 finally arrived... and so has Vista

Since I finger-pointed at the US Postal Service earlier in the week, the proper thing to do is mention that they made everything right. Sort of. My second 6-cell battery for the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium was allegedly delivered on Monday morning per the tracking info, but no battery ever appeared at my house. I called the local Post Office yesterday to debate the issue since they said the item was delivered; they promised they would ask the carrier where she delivered the package to.

Lo and behold, what did I see next to my garage very late in the day yesterday: the package with the battery. The Post Office left a voicemail indicating that the item was delivered to my home on Monday, but I gather that it was actually delivered to another home in the development and those kind folks brought it over. Either way, I don't care how it got here. I'm just glad it is. Battery "B" as it will be known as from this day forward (to have and to charge, until bluescreen do we part) is now charging in the UMPC. Which is now running Vista. Too bad Samsung doesn't support Vista on the Ultra Premium yet. I feel like I'm stuck in a time warp: cobbling together drivers and apps just like I did for Vista on the Q1 a year and a half ago.

Video how to: upgrade the RAM on the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium

OK, this one isn't exactly for the faint of heart. I didn't know it until I was on camera, but the RAM slot for the Q1 Ultra Premium isn't in the same spot as earlier models. It's actually underneath a motherboard, so you have to not only crack open the case (which was a challenge), but also remove some cables and a board. Hidden underneath is the RAM slot and at that point, swapping out the RAM is a piece of cake. The whole process took me at least 30 minutes and you want to be VERY careful.

After the video, I noticed something funny with my touchscreen so I opened the device again to make sure all the cables were seated properly. Once I verified that and closed the device up, the hard drive was no longer recognized. Third time was a charm although I seem to have lost Windows XP; the device now appears to be functioning properly during a re-install of Windows XP Tablet Edition. Long story short: this can be done, but it's not as simple as I would have liked. Be careful!

Oh and while I was in there, I saw a free PCIe slot for a 3G modem card; there's no need to remove the WiFi/Bluetooth module from the other PCIe slot. :)

Samwise going under the knife today for 2 GB memory upgrade

Although the US Postal Service seems to have delivered my 6-cell battery to someone else, it was nice to see FedEx arrive early this morning with a 2 GB memory module. The standard 1 GB SODIMM is coming out of Samwise so he can get the 2 GB upgrade treatment later today. The procedure will be slightly different from the Q1 and Q1P upgrades due to the different form factor, so cross your fingers in the virtual waiting room. Once the surgery is over, he'll have some time to recover with Windows XP Tablet Edition for a short while. As soon as he's strong enough, we'll tackle the next phase of his metamorphosis by cleanly installing Windows Vista. No need to send cards or letters; I'm sure all will go well as I know the surgeon personally and have every confidence in his abilities. ;)

Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium: minimum run-time result

So my Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium has been unusable for the past several hours. Why? As I've done in the past with all the other Samsung Q1 devices, I was running the free Battery Eater Pro software that stresses the device to see what the minimum run-time is. The pretty little graph I usually get from Battery Eater Pro didn't get generated for some reason, but the log file is readily available and it shows that the UMPC crapped out at 4 hours and 22 minutes. If you ran the Q1UP at full bore with no power management, WiFi on and the screen at half brightness, that's how long you could work. Obviously, proper power management settings and a more laid-back use of the device will result in a longer run-time. I'm finding that the 6-hour run-time in normal usage is pretty realistic with this configuration.

OK, time to recharge the battery and get some work done. Then again, it's almost the weekend, so maybe I'll unplug and recharge my *own* batteries!

Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium: battery drain during use

I'll be running a Battery Eater Pro test later today, but I wanted to provide some general battery drain observations on the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium. I installed Notebook Hardware Control to get a feel for things and see some interesting data. During the observation, I had the brightness at 50%, WiFi on, Bluetooth off and used the "Normal" profile in the Samsung Battery Manager power settings.

By and large the 1.33 GHz Intel Core Solo runs at 800 MHz when it can. If it doesn't need to, it won't run at 1.33GHz, which keeps the power consumption of the CPU down. When "idling", meaning the machine is just sitting there doing pretty much nothing, the power draw averages around 6 Watts. For basic web surfing, I saw the drain hop up in to the 8 to 10 Watt drain. When stressed with a high CPU load, it looks like a 12 to 13 Watt draw.

jkOnTheRun Geek Session: Skype video on Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium

After I got Skype to recognize the front camera on the Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium, it was time to put the device to the test. James and I routinely have video chats, some we even record and share, so I wanted to find out if I'd be able to use the new UMPC for this. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I guess a video equates to something like a million. Rather than write that many words, I'll let you judge the video. You'll get some early impressions of the HTC Shift from James during this slightly different Geek Session!

Skype video on the Q1U-P is tricky to set up. Here's how.

This is interesting and I'm guessing it probably applies to the Q1 Ultra units as well as the Q1U Premium. The device has two cameras: one on the front and one on the back. I just installed Skype in preparation to test a video call with James later today. When I went into the Skype options for Video and tested the webcam, it was using the higher quality, rear-facing camera. No worries I figure, I'll just use the drop-down menu to choose the other camera. I did just that, but Skype was still looking over it's shoulder as opposed to looking me in the eye. Hmmm.....

CrystalMark scores for the Samsung Q1U-P

Before I go play with the REDFLY mobile companion, I should probably get the obligatory benchmarks out of the way on Samwise. Take them for what you will; some folks swear by benchmarks while others couldn't care less. Me? I think they provide one of many indicators as to how a device will perform when compared to devices with similar but different specifications. Meaning: I prefer the "feel" for how a device performs, but I realize that's subjective. So I'm providing both in my coverage: objective measurements and subjective thoughts. Please note that I'm using an updated version of CrystalMark (R3 vs. R2); it shouldn't cause any major differences in results, but I wanted to mention it.

Feel free to compare the Q1 Ultra Premium scores with ones I did on the Q1P with 2 GB of RAM. Or you can compare them to the Q1P with 1 GB of RAM or even the Samsung Q1B results. It's up to you. I can tell you that you won't be surprised: the Q1 Ultra Premium with just 1 GB of RAM handily trumped all prior scores. How much? Well, the best overall CrystalMark score up to now was the score of 20349 received by the Pentium-based Q1P with 2 GB of RAM. The Ultra Premium with half the RAM scored 28508... roughly 40% higher. As I said the other day: this is a notebook processor hiding in a UMPC form factor. It might make for a low-end notebook, but it's definitely a high-end UMPC in my book.

HD video playback on a Q1U-P, Q1P UMPC

Just to give you an idea in the performance difference between the new Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium and the older Q1P, I've got a comparison of H.264 playback. A 720p HD movie trailer in Quicktime, the upcoming Indiana Jones movie to be specific. At a 5.8 Mbps bitrate, this pushes beyond the limits of what should be expected from a UMPC, but I think it's important to see how these devices handle it. One thing this video got me thinking: I hope I look as good as Harrison Ford at his age!

We'll have the full-quality, VGA video available for direct download on our Mobile Media Edition page in the next day or two. Until then, enjoy!

Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium: the bad

Although I'm initially impressed with the performance of the new Q1 Ultra Premium, it's not all a "happy, happy, joy, joy" situation. There's a few aspects about the device right out of the box that are disappointing and even downright aggravating.

First up is the lack of HID drivers from Samsung. One would think that after producing the Q1 series for nearly two years, Samsung would have worked with eGalax so that the touch panel would be recognized as a Tablet PC input device, not as a mouse. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened; at least not out of the box, nor by running the Samsung Update application for new drivers. This means folks will either need floattip.exe, although I'm certainly going to try the drivers I used nearly a year ago on the Samsung Q1P. Until then, I'm stuck with ink that's a little "jaggy" and I don't have a floating Tablet Input Panel. I'll report back after trying the drivers.

Q1 Ultra Premium performance: impressions and info

We've got a bridal shower here at house today, so in preparation for that I've had little time this weekend to play with Samwise, the new Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium. However, I have to say that I'm still very impressed with this device; more than I originally thought I'd be. It was hard to get a feel for performance in the few minutes we played with the device at CES. After using the device for less than 10 hours, I think I can form a first general opinion that might help folks decide if this is the device for them:

"If you're looking for a UMPC form factor with the performance of a solid notebook, this is definitely a contender. If you don't need notebook-like performance 100% of the time, then the A110-powered units should be considered".

Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium gets unboxed... and the world waits.

It's become abundantly clear to me just how much power Mike Cane has. I've definitely underestimated him, in fact. First, he finds a way to make UPS hold my Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium an extra day and now he's enlisted the folks at YouTube in his schemes as well. Last night I unboxed the new UMPC while doing a video chat with James. As you can see, the video was uploaded last night at 7:36pm. Here we are now, nearly 15 hours later and the video is still processing.

I've always felt that the YouTube folks have hired Oompa-Loompas from the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory to do the video encoding behind the scenes. Obviously, they've been lured back to their old employer via some offer of unlimited candy or something. And so we wait. However, I will share this with you: I used the device from around 7:30pm to 12:40am this morning and when I shut down, Windows was indicating I had 55 minutes of battery left. The battery was not even fully charged from the box; it was roughly around 85% charged. This rocks. I believe that with the included extended battery (a six-cell) and a second extended battery, the Q1UP will easily be an all-day computing device. So far, I'm very impressed with the device although I've found one major annoyance: when rotating the 1024 x 600 screen, the joystick and directional buttons are not rotating. I'll be looking into that of course. My intention is to share my thoughts with the device out of the box for a good week. That means using 1 GB of RAM and holding off on my 2 GB upgrade, running Windows XP Tablet Edition before going to Vista, and not doing major "optimizations" to make the device run more efficiently. How you'd buy it is how I'll review it. Later, I'll personalize it to my tastes and add more thoughts. Oh and Mike: get some Oompa-Loompas back on the job, would ya? Thanks!

Goodbye Samantha: a Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium is on the way

I hope Samantha forgives me, but like Sammy before her, she's about to get replaced. I just pulled the trigger on a Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium which I hope to have within a week's time. Why did I make this change after using a 900 MHz and 1 GHz UMPC for nearly two years? It's no secret that I've pushed the envelope on my "companion devices" from day one. For my activities, a UMPC can be a desktop or notebook replacement because my general requirements are meager. However, they could benefit from two key upgrades: a 1.33 GHz Core Solo CPU and the native 1024 x 600 display. I prefer a little pep under the hood, which is why I opted to pass on the A110 powered Q1 units; they would have given me the res I wanted, but I think I would have given up too much for that benefit. I'm also leery of the relative performance on the new Intel Atom; if I have to give up too much performance for battery life, I'm simply not interested.

I'll still ink away on the new device and when I bang out gobs of text for posts and articles, I'll likely use my full-size, but folding, Bluetooth keyboard from ThinkOutside. For my workstyle, the QWERTY thumb-board has little to no use although I'll probably use the J and K keys to read my feeds in Google Reader. I have received a fair number of inquiries on the Q1P over the past year; once I get settled in with the new Q1 I'll list Samantha for best offer if anyone is interested. I may even make it a dual-deal for Samantha and Eeegor, the Eee PC, at this point.