New Samsung Q1 UMPC, the Q1EX

Remember UMPCs? They’re like netbooks but smaller, less keyboard-y and more expensive? Samsung helped pave the way for the UMPC movement with the Q1, released waaay back in the middle of 2006, a time when the phrase “netbook” was used to describe literature pertaining to braided strands of polyethylene that split a tennis court into two equal halves.

It appears that Samsung is back with the Q1EX, the “next generation UMPC” that features a VIA Nano CPU and 4.5 hours of battery life but drops the Q1 Ultra’s split keyboard.

It’s not clear when the Q1EX will be available but it’s available for preorder on Samsung’s site for $749. Features include the following:

• 7-inch touchscreen LCD at 1024×600
• Windows XP Tablet Edition
• VIA Nano ULV U2500 CPU at 1.2GHz
• 2GB RAM
• VIA Chrome 9 graphics
• 60GB hard drive
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Four-cell battery good for up to 4.5 hours
• Weighs 1.43 pounds

There’s some loose talk about a built-in GPS chip but there’s no mention of such a feature on Samsung’s product page or in the user manual, so let’s not count on that. I’ve always liked these UMPCs for in-car use above all else and adding a Bluetooth GPS unit (if there’s not an on-board chip) could make this particular device worth looking at if you’re not turned off by the price tag. It could make for a good airplane companion as well.

Product Page [Samsung via Obsessable]