Samsung Q1 Ultra starting at $799 - confirmed

I sure hope this isn't a typo, but in the June 2007 print issue of PC World, Eric Dahl indicates that the Q1 Ultra will start at $799. Here's the full print quote:

"Samsung's nicely designed Q1 Ultra starts at $799 and packs a split-style thumb keyboard and a 7-inch 1024 x 600 pixel display."

Clearly, Eric is talking about the right model based on the thumb-board and higher screen res from the Q1 series, but $799? Either the pricing figure is wrong or there may be something else up Samsung's sleeve for the Q1 Ultra. Last we heard, the device would be available this month for roughly 1200 Euros, although we have yet to see a confirmed price outside of Europe. I hope the quote is 100% accurate, but I'm not holding my breath. Imagine if it was however? That kind of pricing for the specs could really kickstart the second coming of the UMPC!

Update: just after I published this post, I saw in my RSS feeds that Steve has a press release from Samsung confirming this price! Read the whole PR here because there's some exciting news like up to 4.5 hours of battery life expected as well as an optional docking station! w00t!

Comments

[Inpaq]

$799, are you out of your mind?!
(just had to do it).

Seriously though, this almost makes the Q1-U a freaking impulse by on the spot!!

[gork]

$799 a impulse buy?? I don't think so. However, now I want one even more!

[Mike Cane]

WTF?!!?

Let me guess, the HD is just the SD slot!!!

I don't believe it. That base model is probably something no one will actually want to buy.

When I was at Samsung Experience last week, they still had just the original Q1s -- P, VIA, and Celeron. They had not been told if they'd be getting the Q1U in but did say to stop by this week just in case.

It looks like I will be popping up there this afternoon. I'll file a reply here or, if the Q1U is actually in, a fondle report on my blog -- *via* the Q1U (if their WiFi doesn't eff me up... it usually does!!).

[Mike Cane]

Also, that BizWire link is funky. Here's an alternate route to the Samsung release:

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070507/20070507005555.html?.v=1

[B]

"Let me guess, the HD is just the SD slot!!!"

What the heck are you talking about?

[Mike Cane]

>>>>The Q1 Ultra UMPC is available in a number of configurations, starting with an MSRP of $799.00 and can be purchased through a variety of retail and e-tail outlets including Best Buy, Circuit City, CDW, CompUSA, Amazon.com, NewEgg.com, Buy.com, Costco.com, Tiger Direct, PC Connection, B & H Photo and PC Mall. The Q1 Ultra UMPC is also available through distribution via Ingram Micro.

OK, I just hit as many of those sites as I could (PC Mall search is bottoming out on me). I was shocked to see they've added Circuit City (but it's not on their site, nor are older models!) and B&H Photo (also not there, but older models are). This is a very significant widening of their retail presence. I'm still fuming only you bloody TEXANS got it in stores originally. No doubt you traded Samsung some oil for that!

I'm surprised it won't be at J&R, DataVision, and RCS, though. All 3 would be naturals.

Anyway, NO Q1Us showing up online at those listed store sites. (Yes, I searched Q1 only, to bring up all models.)

I still am *very* skeptical of that price. Hell, the older models are still MSRPed at $1,000-$1,200!!

[Sumocat]

Starting at $799 and... 600 MHz?!? I don't see that flying (in any figurative sense) at all.

[Mike Cane]

>>>"Let me guess, the HD is just the SD slot!!!"

>>>>>>>What the heck are you talking about?

I can't believe that price for something that's actually *functional*, so I figured they left something out: the hard drive!

I'm still trying to wrap my head around what that $800 will buy. That's just $100 more than a Pepper Pad 3 (bye bye PP3!) and $200 more than an iPhone.

[Michael Venini]

Go to

http://www.gottabemobile.com/SamsungQ1UltraUMPCSpecsAndPricing.aspx

For Specs

[Ron]

I think I might be convinced about these things now. $799 is just within my price range. I work as a contractor from "anywhere I can get online" and remote into my work computer. Screen resolution seems to be adequate for that (800x480 was a bit small for some of my apps) and I don't mind lower speed processors since I generally live about 2 years behind the curve anyway.

Only question I have, does anyone know if those are the new(?) Intel dual core ULV processors or is that a single 600mhz core? Don't know if I care or not since my work pc will be doing all the actual processing but it would be nice to know.

Baldur's Gate on a UMPC, here I come!

[Dave Zatz]

Wow, that's inexpensive enough for me to consider.

[Mike Cane]

Yeah, coincidentally I just got to those specs via another site.

Yow! This *definitely* kills the Pepper Pad 3 (it was already dead to me) and it really puts a dent in those planned Intel MIDs.

Is this chip, even at 600MHz, better than the 900MHz Celeron? Or is there a straight MHz-MHz comparison here? And... could it be overclocked to 800MHz?

Another question (ooh, here comes tnkgrl!!), can it be opened and that dinky 40GB HD be swapped out for a bigger one?

Really, I like the fact the low priced one has XP. I think I'd prefer it over Vista right now.

I have to get to Samsung Experience today!

[Gonzalo]

R u kidding me??!?!? i just bought my Q1P!!! im going to shoot myself.

[Mike Cane]

>>>R u kidding me??!?!? i just bought my Q1P!!! im going to shoot myself.

Make sure you bequeath me the Q1P in your will!

(You know I always look for bargains!)

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Mike, I don't think a straight clock-cycle comparison, i.e. 600/800 MHz to 900 MHz Celeron is appropriate. The new Intel mobile processor (A100 / A110) has a different architecture. As far as the hard drive, I suspect you can upgrade it (pending the interface used) as it's a 1.8-inch drive.

[Mike Cane]

Well, Kevin, is the new chip more powerful or what? That's what I want to know. How does the 600MHz version stack up against the Pentium M in the Q1P? People have complained about the VIA and Celerons in UMPCs. There haven't been any complaints about the Pentium M! So what will the story be on the 600MHz version?

And overclocking...?

[Kevin C. Tofel]

As soon as I have a device with the new CPU, you'll be the first to know; I'll tag the post with in a secret "Mike Cane" category for you. ;) Seriously, it's a bit premature to make judgments on the CPU since I haven't seen any devices shipped with it yet.

[Mike Cane]

You know how impatient I am, dammit! Call up Intel. Bribe someone. Ha!

Then again, maybe I will be fondling one in about two hours or so! I hope Samsung Experience got it in (though seeing the release dates, I won't hold my breath!).

Hmmmm... is there an online benchmark program? (For CPUs, I mean; not bandwidth.)

[mac wilson]

I have the Q1 which is a very well thought out device. I just looked at the manual for this one and it looks even better (all sorts of nice mods)

It even has cameras both in the front and back, along with a shutter button on the top left corner. And also has some 'soft' buttons , (and lots, and lots of other buttons)

And great price for the entry level unit which if it just plays video well will be good enough for many of us.

I think $799 is the magic number for affordability and I'll bet Samsung noticed a large increase in sales of these when they priced the Q1 and Q1b at this price point.

[Muliadi Jeo]

They are going to kill the distributor on releasing those models at that price point :) Samsung Korea is scheduled to release its ultra model end of this month for sure. I will report here as soon as I saw it on distributor line.

[Spage]

Price is really great. Hopefully the processor won´t be too slow for Vista. I wanted to get me the PS3, but now, I am really confused..

[Perky Nerky]

Is Mike Cane actually a net bot?

[James Kendrick]

There's probably a reason Samsung is putting XP on that low-end model.

[Kevin C. Tofel]

Actually, the specs have changed from what was originally reported. Apparently, Windows Vista Home Premium is on the 'entry level' Q1U with the 600 MHz CPU. Interesting....

[Spage]

More I think about the processor power, more I am persuaded that it is good enough... Because on my notebook with 1,86Ghz P-M, most of time the processor is set on 800mhz with no problems... And on this new platform 800Mhz can be equal to 1.1Ghz on P-M I suppose.