My name is Layla and I am a fairly new addition to the Origami team. Although I am new to the UMPC, I have worked with Tablet PCs and other devices in the mobile space for the last few years. Since I got my first Tablet PC in the summer of ’04 I have been excited about natural computing. It is great to have new ways to perform tasks, but what really excites me is finding new things I couldn’t quite do before. As part of my immersion into the UMPC space, I am seeing how my Samsung Q1 can change the way I do things.

Like Wendy going to the gym is an important part of my daily routine. So I have decided to pick up where she left off in the search for UMPC usefulness at the gym.

What worked for my workout
Like Wendy said, the Q1 does work well on the Stairmaster. It also worked fine on the Elliptical machine. Using it on the Treadmill was ok once I got it situated.
Works well for watching movies and TV shows I have stored on my UMPC.
With the extended battery on the Q1 I never have to worry about my UMPC giving up before I do.

The iffy spots
It was a bit trickier to get the Q1 positioned in a viewable angle on the Treadmill. I think the awkwardness can be attributed to the placement of resting locations – one was too low, the other was too far away.
My earbuds have pretty long cords, but it makes me nervous (especially on the Treadmill). I don’t want to slow down and accidentally send the Q1 tumbling down. I might invest in a Bluetooth set.

What was missing
There isn’t always anything good on the TVs at the gym, but sometimes something looks worth watching. In order to get sound I need an FM radio tuner. I’m not willing to carry two separate things around (like my mp3 player with built in FM) so I would like to get something I can plug into my PC. I have seen a few FM radio CF cards, but I haven’t really looked into them yet. Have a recommendation?
I have really gotten into tracking my workouts, but I feel like I should be able to do so if I have my PC right there with me. Do you know of any apps out there that are quick and simple to get data like that entered in a useful way?
All in all, I’m pleased. My setup isn’t perfect, but the size of the UMPC definitely lets me take it where I just won’t bring a full-sized laptop. I used to watch the news or listen to music. Now I can watch something fun and uplifting. Of course I end up feeling a little silly when I am the only one laughing while I run – oh well!

Beyond working out
This may sound crazy, but I do more than work out at the gym. For example, a few of my workout buddies and I get together weekly for dinner at the club restaurant. I didn’t originally plan on using my Q1 for anything other than watching movies during my workout. But last week, after running to an episode of Top Gear I headed to the club restaurant to meet my friends. I was 10 minutes early. I had just watched the only show I had brought with me. And guess what, no internet access. I had emails I could have read that were already cached, but this was not the time to dive into work. Then it hit me – all of my RSS feeds that I subscribe to are automatically downloaded for me. Viewing offline RSS feeds in IE is not full fidelity, but for some feeds it was sufficient. Not only did I have a fun way to spend that time, I also got to read a few feeds I probably wouldn’t have gotten to otherwise.

With past mobile PCs I spent so much time tethered to spots that have internet I didn’t really take advantage of RSS as an offline solution. I’d take other laptops between home, work and the occasional adventure. Taking it anywhere other than home or to work only happened when I had a real reason. I have found that the Q1 is just light enough (I’m not going to complain when they get even lighter) and small enough that I take it with me even when I don’t have a use for it sometimes.

The way I see it, the laptop let me leave one office and go to the next office setting. With the pen, my Tablet PC left the desk, let me wander a bit and joined me on the couch. With the UMPC it can go where I go. I don’t take it everywhere with me (at least not yet), but I have taken it one step further. I really like the idea of computing on my terms rather than on my PC’s.