July 17, 2007 4:00 AM PDT
"Origami" is a pretty word. And Microsoft probably had a pretty idea when it came up with the concept for its Origami software for ultramobile PCs. The software's interface splits a QWERTY keyboard into two arcs on either side of the touch screen. Innovative, sure.
But ultramobile PCs themselves simply haven't sparked much interest among consumers. Even hard-core gadget aficionados, it seems, don't have much interest in toting around a device that looks like something the UPS guy would carry. And now that handhelds like RIM's BlackBerry and Apple's iPhone have been able to replicate the computing experience on a mobile device like never before, the outlook for ultramobile PCs is looking even bleaker.
Photo by Microsoft
