The program launched successfully and ran as smooth as it does on a desktop environment. Some of the menus were extending off the screen so while setting up the map, I increased the Q1’s resolution to 800 by 600.

Navigating the map works well with the stylus – maybe even more intuitive than using a mouse.

In general, QGIS offers some beneficial features. Users can bookmark locations of interest, select features onscreen, and view attribute tables of all the layers. But by far the best feature is the ability to create and edit datasets. Shapefiles can be created, attributes can be added, and points, lines, or polygons can be digitized right on the map.

In short, QGIS on a Q1 is a great solution. The mobility of the Q1 combined with the ever-expanding functionality of QGIS makes this combination a viable option for many mobile applications. It may lack some of the depth and polish of an ESRI application, but any shortcomings are offset by the editing capabilities and new features being added with every version.

The initial offering of devices came from Samsung and TabletKiosk. TabletKiosk’s eo was released first while the Samsung’s Q1 came soon after. Both featured similar hardware specifications – 7” LCD touch screen, 40-60 GB hard drive, processing speed around 1.0 GHz, 512 – 1 GB RAM, and 2-3 hours of battery life.

These devices present new opportunities for mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) compared with traditional handheld devices. Using Windows XP allows for many desktop GIS application to run on a UMPC. Imagine having a complete mapping and editing solution in the field without any limitations. Also, the larger screen allows for easier navigation and map viewing. Additionally, UMPCs have both USB and wireless support for adding GPS capabilities (future UMPC devices may come GPS-enabled).

The technology is still maturing though so there are some limitations. The battery life becomes problematic for usages exceeding several hours. The LCD screens can be difficult to view in the sun, similar to laptops. Also, the 800 by 480 resolution results in some programs displaying menus that extend off the screen.

Overall, UMPC devices should have a profound impact on the future of mobile GIS and other location-based services. Stay tuned for our experiences running GIS applications on a UMPC…