Take your digital darkroom
just about anywhere with
this new breed of portables
By
Wes Pitts
The
future of computing is
looking very portable.
In March, Microsoft, Intel
and some other high-profile
consumer electronics companies
announced a new platform
for portable computing,
the “Ultra Mobile
PC,” or UMPC for
acronym enthusiasts. A
handheld computer running
Windows XP sounded like
a great idea, but one that
would probably not materialize
as a real product for some
time.
So I was happily surprised
when Samsung (www.samsungusa.com)
officially launched its
new Q1 at the beginning
of May. It’s already
available online for $1,099
at Best Buy and CDW, and
will show up in retail
stores this summer.
The Samsung Q1 runs a full
version of Windows XP Tablet
edition that, along with
an Intel Celeron M processor,
powers this touchscreen
computer. Measuring just
9.0x5.5x1.0 inches and
weighing in at less than
two pounds, it really is
ultramobile. The seven-inch
widescreen display, while
small for serious photo
enhancement, is still big
enough to get basic imaging
work done, and it’s
a terrific solution for
downloading, organizing,
e-mailing and uploading
photos on the go.
A 40 GB hard drive gives
you plenty of space for
applications and photo
storage. There are two
USB ports and a CompactFlash
card slot built in, so
you can easily connect
your camera directly to
the Q1, or just slip in
your memory card. And because
it’s running Windows
XP, you can use all of
your favorite applications,
just as you do on your
home or notebook computer.
To stay connected, the
Samsung Q1 also features
WiFi and Bluetooth technologies,
allowing you to log on
to nearby wireless networks
or use Bluetooth accessories
like a wireless mouse.
It ships with 512 MB of
RAM, which can be expanded
up to 1 GB. The standard
battery will power the
device for about three
hours, or you can extend
that to up to nine hours
with optional battery upgrades.
Sony (www.sony.com) has
also recently announced
its ultramobile computer,
the VAIO UX180P. It’s
not available at the time
of this writing, but it
will be soon. We expect
to see similar products
from other manufacturers
as well.
What’s most exciting
about these devices is
that, while they’re
not a substitute for a
more powerful computer
at home, they offer a lot
more to the photographer
in the field than what’s
offered by photo viewing
and backup devices, without
the extra size and weight
of a full notebook computer.
As someone who lugs a notebook,
smart phone and iPod just
about everywhere he goes,
this a very appealing device.
I hope the concept catches
on.
The
future of computing is
looking very portable.
In March, Microsoft, Intel
and some other high-profile
consumer electronics companies
announced a new platform
for portable computing,
the “Ultra Mobile
PC,” or UMPC for
acronym enthusiasts. A
handheld computer running
Windows XP sounded like
a great idea, but one that
would probably not materialize
as a real product for some
time.
