Well Samsung has been in the Ultra-Mobile PC mix since day 1 with the venerable Q1. Then a series of Q1’s followed: The Q1P, the Q1B, the Q1V, and of course the Q1 Ultra Ultra Mobile PC. Now they are rolling out the Q1 Ultra Premium. One thing is for sure, Samsung doesn’t want to let go of that Q1 branding.

That aside the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC (that’s a mouthful, but then so is the shortcut: Q1UP-XP) will run Windows XP Tablet Edition and set you back $1,399. It runs a 1.33GHz ULV Intel Core Solu U1500 Processor and they are touting 7.5 hours of battery life. Supposedly the split keyboard, now at Version 1.5 has larger keys.

Samsung will be dropping the line on its other Q1 entries to make run for the Ultra Premium model, so it sounds like a good time to be in the market for one of those earlier models is just ahead.

Here are some details from UMPC Portal on the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC. 

And here is a link to the press release.

We’ll post pics up as soon as we can dig some up.

Thanks to jkkmobile for some early info on this.

Rob and I are both noticing that the advertising around Las Vegas for companies showing at CES 2008 is not as pervasive and overwhelming as it was last year. Sure there is a lot of advertising from the airport throughout town, but we don’t see quite as much as we did last year. Wonder what that means, if anything.

While this isn’t really a Tablet PC, I found this touchscreen device for the hearing impaired quite intriguing. Viable is marketing what they tout as the world’s first WiFi enabled portable Videophone for the Hearing Impaired. Essentially the device allows the hearing impaired to keep connected with those without that disability. The touchscreen measures 10.2”. The translation they are using now is American Sign Language (ASL). Check out the quick video intro below.

Download the High Res version here.

Check out the product at Viable.net.

Click To Play

Certainly one of the things we’re very interested in checking out at CES this year is the debut of the Mobile Internet Device or MID. Already we’ve heard that BenQ will be unveiling a MID this week. There was some noise that Lenovo might be doing the same that came from Steve “Chippy” Paine. From what I can see though from further updates, it is actualy from Aigo. There’s also word that LG is unveiling a MID, or is it a UMPC? That is going to be one of the questions of 2008 as the MIDs roll out. Will there be consumer confusion? Will consumers even care? Will lower price points of MIDs bring down prices or UMPC?

We’re going to have lots of answers forthcoming in the next few days once the CES floor opens up for viewing. Stay tuned.

CES is a crazy time. With lots of work, some play, and little sleep. Last night we had a great dinner with Betsy Weber from our GBM InkShow Sponsor, TechSmith Corporation, and quite a few other friends including Ken Collura from Bishop Hartley, OneNote MVP Kathy Jacobs, and Canadian journalist Saleem Kahn. Great fun.

This morning we are up before not only the sun, but before the Starbucks just downstairs from our room is open, although we managed to be the first in line. (Have to keep Rob fueled up and ready to go.) We’re off to an early morning event and we’ll be having more fun today.

I caught up with the folks from Ergo  during CES Unveiled. They were demoing their search and Flickr annotation software on a brand new Dell XT Latitude Tablet PC, and man did it shine. Ergo's software is built for touch and ink, and it features some really cool 3d flip implementations of objects and navigation. In addition, Ergo is not too far off from having their software multi-touch ready, which will offer some iPhone-like pinch / squeeze of objects. Check out their software - it is free for download. Watch the video below or download it directly. Also, be sure to checkout a demonstration on Ergo's site.

On another note, I have to say that after playing with touch on the Dell XT, there is no comparison to other passive touch implementations. It is very soft to the touch, and feels very smooth. I was quite impressed with the XT.

Click To Play

Yes, you read that right! The new e-detail Tablet PCs have two screens! Positioned as a presentation device, this slate style Tablet PC is available as a 12.1" or 14.1" main display, and each has a secondary 7" wide screen display. Both are touchscreens. The idea is that the presenter can view the entire presentation on the secondary display while the audience can view it on the larger main display. The secondary screen rotates so that the screen can be exposed or covered. In addition to the dual display units, e-detail will also be releasing a standard display called the Neo Neo. According to the e-detail representatives, these should be available for sale within the next month or so. There are more pictures on the e-detail website.

These Tablet PCs also feature some exciting features aside from their admirable tech specs - and that secondary display. The biggest is that they have an integrated kickstand, a feature that slate users have wanted for years and they have added a cover for the exposed screen. Motion Computing lovers will appreciate that feature! They also claim that there is an inner frame inside the unit to help increase shock resistance.

Download and watch the video here.  ( Right click and choose save as )

Tech Specs:

• Prezenter PSR: 12.1" wide TFT 1280x800 with LED backlight and touchscreen
• Multi-Web PAD: 14.1" wide TFT 1280x800 with LED backlight and touchscreen
• Secondary 7" wide TFT 800x480 LED backlight and touchscreen
• AMD Geode LX800 processor and AMD Geode CS5536 chipset
• 80GB hard drive
• 1.3Mpixel camera
• Stereo speakers
• 3.5 hour battery life with wireless on
• Ships with XP Home Edition SP2, but available with Tablet PC Edition

Rob and I have been joking about who is carrying the lighter/heavier load during CES 2008. It is all a mind set. As a matter of fact you can see in this video that one doesn’t even need a backpack to get the job done. But then there are those little moments of panic when you don’t have what you might need if you are traveling light.

Download the High Res Video here.

Click To Play

Well three quarters of the GBM Team has connected here at CES 2008. Sierra Modro joined Rob and Warner at the Sands Hotel right before the CES Unveiled event. In the picture to the right is Rob, Sierra, and Sierra’s husband David.

CES Unveiled is where tech companies with products that have award winning technology for this year’s CES are on display and those companies get a bit of a headstart on the rest of the show, but having an opportunity to thrust their products into the press’ faces. Along with more food, wine, and gimmicks than you can shake a stick at. I guess that old saw about the press showing up when food is available is really true.

Rob and I just headed over to the Sands Hotel to pick up our Press credentials, which we’ll be wearing the entire time we’re here. We’ve also picked up this year’s CES bag swag (yep, Rob has another gadget bag. Don’t tell his wife.)

The Press Room has table set up with Lan lines galore for mobile computers and a few desktops. I’m getting a good Sprint signal here on the OQO Model 02, as well as my Sprint Mogul. Rob on the other hand is not able to pull a Verizon signal in at all.

And now we’re going to poke around a bit prior to the Press Briefing this afternoon.

Warner and I are headed to the Venetian to get our press passes and attend the CES Unveiled Press Conference. We are going to give the HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion (on eval ) a go and see how it does in getting us from the Luxor to the Venetian.

Then again, Warner does have a knack for getting us sidetracked.....

I'm off to CES and looking forward to seeing Rob this afternoon - and meeting Warner for the first time in person! My gear bag is stuffed full for this trip just in case I need anything special to keep everyone up to date with the new stuff at CES. This promises to be a great show! I can't wait to see what Tablet Kiosk is revealing and get to play with all of the newly announced Tablet PCs in person.

Call this one of those things you learn on the way to learning something else, I guess. The great team at ActiveWords has finally released version 2.0 of the ActiveWords InkPad, which allows Tablet PC and UMPC users to Ink their ActiveWords triggers.

If you aren’t familiar with ActiveWords, this is a great application for any computer but with the InkPad is a fantastic application for a Tablet PC or UMPC. By creating shortcuts you can use the keyboard or the InkPad to enter those shortcuts and navigate to a web page, substitute text, open a program, or perform other functions. ActiveWords has been one of my most used applications for sometime.

As Rob and I are busy setting things up on the OQO Model 02 units we will be using to cover CES 2008, we were both installing ActiveWords to help make entering text for blog entries a bit easier. Much to both of our suprise, version 2.0 of the ActiveWords InkPad has been available since November 9. I’m glad it is available. It will save quite a bit of time this week at CES 2008.

Here’s the link for ActiveWords. There is a trial so you can check it out and also some tutorial videos on the site. Take my word for it, (for whatever that is worth) this is one handy application that can really save some time.

I was really surprised yesterday when my package arrived, it wasn't scheduled to be here until Monday...  I was disappointed when that date was showing in my tracking because I had paid for Express Shipping.  Thanks to the UPS guy I have them for the plane ride!!

So what did I get?  I picked up some Bose In-Ear headphones.  When I opened the package it contained 3 different sizes of ear buds, lanyard, clothes clip, and case to carry everything.  I have them hooked up to my Zune and I can say that I am very impressed so far.  I've never had a good set of headphones, never thought I needed them...  I can now say that there IS a difference in sound quality out of a premium set of headphones.  The lows are incredible - that much of a thump coming out of something so little??? And the crispness of the music...  Now those Dave Matthews Band live shows sound like I am really there!

They will be great for the plane ride while traveling to CES!!!

Another year has past and that brings us to another month for us to pick a Forum Member of the Month.  Again, this award is to recognize and celebrate Forum Members that are part of the community and contribute to the growth of the forum.

This months forum member is one of the top contributors on the GottaBemobile.com forums.  His posts are full of directions and steps to help work past problems.  This member also has a knack for running a multiboot system with Kubuntu -  His efforts with Linux and helping others is spread all over the "Other OS" forum.  This recognition is to signify the efforts in helping others, fostering communication, expressing concern, following up and giving their opinion on topics.  These qualifications are what we feel make a wonderful member of the GBM community, and the greater Tablet PC and UMPC community.

Each GBM Forum Member of the Month can choose to display the  'Forum Member of the Month' logo as his or her avatar. And of course they will receive their very own Splotch.

The whole GBM Staff is involved in this process of selection and we will review and pick a FMOTM for each month.  So, fireworks and cannons as we recognize our second GBM Forum Member of the Month.

And that is:

K0LO !!!

Thanks for all of your contributions to the GBM community. We look forward to many more great contributions in the future. Keep up the great work!

Just a quick Congratulations to Craig Pringle (Blog) and Josh Einstein (Maker of TEO).  Both have been awarded their MVP status again for another year. 

Good Job Guys!!

Rob is a real slave driver. Here we are in Vegas for CES 2008 and he insists on getting work done. That’s him, hunched over his OQO Model 02, pounding away at the keyboard.

We mentioned several weeks ago that TabletKiosk was planning on unveiling a brand new eo ultra-mobile pc running Intel’s new Menlow platform at CES. Well, a quick look at their homepage indicates several potential announcements. If the shapes are any indication, one looks like a rugged unit.

As always, stay tuned to GBM and we’ll bring what we learn as soon as we find out – let the speculation begin!

What's new at CES this year? In addition to new toys that are smaller, shinier, and faster, you'll find gadgets that are "greener." This AP story echoes a theme being carried across major media outlets:

Finally got settled in after waiting about an hour for my luggage. The Las Vegas has to have one of the slowest baggage claims ever.

Got settled in to the room and am waiting on Warner to show up. He’s probably waiting on his bags, too.

I’ve got everything all set up and ready to go – can you guess everything in this picture? Click the picture to see a high res shot.

First person to name everything correctly will get a Splotch and their very own GBM Shirt.