UK mobile device reseller Expansys has become one of the first companies here to begin taking orders for Samsung's Q1 ultra-mobile PC. But it's not cheap - the Windows XP-based handheld is set to ship for the best part of £800 ($1,390/€1,148). The compact unit is scheduled to ship on 1 June.

The 22.8 x 14 x 2.7cm Q1 sports a 7in, 800 x 480 LCD. Behind the screen sits a 900MHz ultra-low voltage Celeron M processor, an Intel 915GMS chipset, 512MB of 400MHz DDR 2 SDRAM and a 40GB, 1.8in hard drive. The price doesn't appear to include an external optical drive - there certainly isn't one built in.

The machine has integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and 10/100Mbps Ethernet networking, plus Bluetooth 2.0 and two USB 2.0 ports for connecting peripherals.

Samsung makes much of the machine's multimedia capabilities. It's got SRS' TruSurround sound 3D audio system which operates through the device's twin speakers, and there are a pair of microphones implemented as an array to help reduce background noise. Since the Q1 runs Windows XP, it's got Windows Media Player 10 with its wide array of supported audio and video formats, and the machine ships with Samsung's own instant-on media playback software.

The manufacturer also claims the Q1 will ship with a built-in GPS receiver and navigation software.

The Q1's battery provides 3.5 hours' maximum battery life, Samsung claimed, but as is the case with laptops, real-world battery life is likely to be less than that. With an external DVD drive connected, expect "over" 1.4 hours' operation, so the Q1 doesn't pass the Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition test. The Q1 weighs 779g (1.7lb). ®