The good: Cheap; solid plastic body; choice of Ubuntu Linux or Windows CE operating systems; great battery life.

The bad: Screen rotation works only in e-book reader program; no support for Adobe Flash or Java.

The bottom line: It is possibly the cheapest 7-inch MID in the market, yet the build quality is surprisingly good. However, the poor multimedia performance may drive some to seek out Atom-based MIDs instead.

Read full review of the SmartQ 7 »

By Darius Chang, CNET Asia
Aug 19, 2009

One of the main reasons Mobile Internet Devices (MID) never really took off was that for a device with limited screen estate, most vendors charge a hefty premium. Contrast this with Netbooks that not only perform just as well but come with a lower price tag, and one can understand why most major brands shy away from the MID niche market.

SmartDevices, a China-based manufacturer, made news earlier this year when it launched the SmartQ 5 MID. Not only is it very affordable at S$299 (US$216.67), the ARM chipset also allows the unit to last for days before requiring a recharge. However, the first revision of the firmware was so buggy that most of the uptime was used waiting for programs to launch or files to open. The company's latest MID iteration, the SmartQ 7, is a larger edition of the original SmartQ 5 with an updated firmware and the option to run Windows CE (the SmartQ 5 has these options as well). Could this be the MID that consumers are waiting for?

Design

Despite the stereotype that China-made products are poorly made with flimsy components, the SmartQ 7 is surprisingly well-built. The smooth plastic body does not flex or creak, while the buttons provide a solid tactile feel. The ports seem sturdy enough for repeated insertions as well. Our only complaint is the rubber SD card cover that refuses to close properly when a memory card is used. However, this is a minor issue that does not affect the operation of the device. There are three shades available: White, green and pink. Do note that the availability of the colors depends on local distributors.

We like the fact that the SmartQ 7 comes with an integrated stand that snaps back into the body when not in use. Though the plastic component is strong enough for the weight of the device, we do not advise poking at the screen as the stand is not all that tough. The top of the unit holds the power, esc and virtual keyboard buttons, while the front of the machine sports scroll and full-screen keys. A reset button lies at the bottom should the SmartQ 7 freeze and become unresponsive.

The matte 7-inch screen is actually easier to read outdoors than the glossy version, and fingerprints do not show up as much, either. However, the low resolution LCD means that some Web sites do not display fully and side scrolling might be required. As there is no physical keyboard, an onscreen version is available for data entry though it does not come with predictive text so you'll have to peck away one character at a time.

Tags: Stand, Ubuntu, Ubuntu Linux, ARM, Microsoft Windows CE

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