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The concept, which Microsoft plans to detail next month, is built on top of the Windows XP operating system but aims to be a new kind of device, rather than a replacement for existing PCs, according to sources familiar with the effort. With a screen bigger than that of a handheld but smaller than a notebook PC screen, Origami devices won't fit in the pocket, but they'll make it into purses and even the smallest of backpacks, sources said.
Microsoft's goal is to create a blueprint for devices that could sell for $600 or less, although the actual prices will depend greatly on what manufacturers decide to include. Origami is capable of supporting features like GPS, Bluetooth, 3G cellular technology and Wi-Fi, though each of these adds to the cost of the device.
Rumors have been swirling about the device over the past week. The Origami Project Web site, which is owned by Microsoft, pledges that more information will come Thursday. However, sources say this is likely to be more buzz, with actual details not expected until later in March, likely at the CeBit show that takes place March 9 to 15 in Hannover, Germany.
In a somewhat uncharacteristic move, Microsoft has remained mum on Origami, while fanning the flames with its Web site.
However, Origami doesn't come out of the blue. Microsoft first showed off an Origami-like prototype at last year's Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in Seattle. At the time, Chairman Bill Gates flashed something with a 6-inch screen and said Microsoft hoped to have it sell for $800 or less, though the company said it didn't know when that would be commercially feasible.
Gates said at the time that significant hardware and software advances were still needed to make the Ultramobile 2007, as the prototype was dubbed, a reality. However, he said a 1-pound, 6-inch device that combines all the power of a PC, a phone and a camera for about $800 would be possible within a couple of years.
"We do believe this is achievable," Gates told the crowd of hardware makers.
Microsoft also reportedly talked about plans for an Origami-like device at a partner conference earlier this month.
A Microsoft representative on Monday declined to offer further details on Origami. Microsoft has confirmed that a video that's been making the rounds is indeed from the software maker, though a representative said it's nearly a year old and represents only the company's "initial exploration into this form factor."
Earlier this year, a small start-up called Dualcor Technologies did announce a minitablet that seems similar to Origami, although it's aimed at businesses. That device, the cPC, uses a Via Technologies processor, has a 5-inch screen and runs Windows XP, though it also has a Windows Mobile 5 cell phone built-in.
Though Microsoft is enjoying considerable buzz about Origami, there's some concern that the hype could overshadow the product itself, a concern Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble voiced on his Web site.
Industry observers note that Microsoft appears to be breaking considerable pricing ground with Origami, but they note that it's still unclear what the specific use of Origami will be, or which, if any, existing devices it will replace. There is some thought that its initial incarnation might appeal primarily to gadget aficionados, rather than mainstream consumers.
Microsoft's Origami is completely distinct from a gadget that National Semiconductor showed at the 2001 Comdex trade show, which also resembled a mini PC, was to perform several functions, and bore the code name Origami.
See more CNET content tagged:
Microsoft Origami, minitablet PC, Bill Gates, gadget, Microsoft Corp.
http://www.sqlservercode.blogspot.com/
event just coincidentally at the same time Apple announces some
event...
Maybe they're just doing it because it's the essence of competition, and that's what this country and capitalism is based on.
Mac users should be greatful to MS for doing things like this. If they didn't, they wouldn't have anything to complain about, and all they would have to do every day is sit there and click their widgets.
Seriously, Mac have their place, WinPC's have their place. Stop trying to convert everyone in the world - it's not happening, and you're all coming off like some crazed religious cult pushing your screwy beliefs on others.
The "iPleasure" Firewire powered portable pleasure device that lets you get inside your computer like never before.
Now you can actually make love to your Mac using the iPleasure. No more dreaming. No more hoping. It has finally happened.
iPleasure users will enjoy listening to the soothing voice of Jobs while the device is giving them the Apple lovers ultimate fantasy.
Think Different...
What prices would those be?
This type of marketing strategy is not going to work for them.
Why? Because its so obvious they want to be 'cool'. Its even more
obvious that they're trying to be like Apple (while trying not to
look obvious). But clearly its obvious, which I find hilarious. Any
tech critic will see right through this copy cat strategy of theirs.
It won't work because their brand is really not known for being
popular (outside of IT people circles) and if it is well you must be
a 16 year old gamer who uses bit-torrent alot. For god sakes!
people use their software because they are forced to, not
because they want to and Microsoft doesn't see this. They only
see what other companies are doing, if its a money maker they
try to buy them out first, if they can't, they copy and in doing so
throw chairs halfway across the room because they realize they
actually have to work. Thats their strategy in a nutshell.
Apple on they other hand, achieved this dual popularity with the
non tech people of the world through alot of hardwork,
cultivation, ironed out the most subtle of details to achieve the
success they now currently enjoy today with their brand. It was
hard for them given their lack of popularity five years ago but
their just a hard working company and its paying off for them,
they didn't take the easy road by buying other companies they
did this internally, one employee at a time. And all eyes are on
them because of their hardwork and their attention to detail.
Conclusively, this article really is nothing but an advertorial paid
in full by MS secretly to over shadow Apple's next product event.
Its quite pathetic really. But thats MS's strategy alright, very
underhanded. Always trying to steal someone else's limelight
and pass it off as their own. Pathetic.
As far as distraction as a marketing strategy, most markets see this same thing. Playstation and Xbox, Pepsi and Coke, Nike and Reebok, Ford and GM, Verizon and Sprint.
Defense wins championships, and great defenses know how to minimize the gains of great offenses.
BTW, Microsoft A) Is having a fantastic time in the hardware market - just look at X-box or all the other home appliance, device OS's, ect.. that they're involved with. B) Microsoft does not even care about Apple. In the future technology is cool, and now that we're a little more into the future and companies are realizing this they're finally starting to capitalize on it. It's a long way from unassuming beige boxes, eh?
The X-Box is a huge loss leader for microsoft. That, by any stretch of the imagination is not representitive of a fantastic time in the hardware market. While much of microsoft's hardware serves as a template of what the industry need to do to fuse the hardware to the software, the X-Box is a deviation to that model and has so far been financially disasterous for Microsoft (as the PS3 is likely to be for Sony).
Microsoft does care about Apple. Several of Microsoft's top brass have been recently quoted as acknowledging Apple's elegance at fusing hardware and software technology in such as way that the complexity of the underlying technology is hidden. Microsoft does care because despite their might, they realise that future growth will only come from conqering the consumer market, and as the likes of Sony begin to falter, Apple appears to be hogging the limelight.
attention to Apple's hard earned lesson here? It better have
something amazing to make it stand-out.
By which meaning did MS name this new gadget?
- An artistic shape?
- A guarantee of good jobs?
- A mastership in the PCdo (like Bushido)?
I wrote a blog with more details on this subject today. See http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/2006/02/origami_user_in.html
Microsoft to push the tablet. Microsoft is
looking to run Windows, desktop Windows pretty
much, on it.
Of course, the issue here is that it's not a
desktop PC, is it? Those that would be
interested have fairly specific ideas on how
they want to use it -- and the normal usage is
likely to be much different. The UI should be
clear and uncluttered with most interaction
being done through touch (finger, not stylus)
gestures. The UI needs to be designed around the
type of interaction one would expect to have
with it.
It's simply not enough to run Windows on a flat
computer and have something that sort of works.
where are the other companies besides Microsoft that are pushing for futuristic interfaces?
futuristic interfaces. Namely, they are pushing
for Windows interfaces. A lot of the UI elements
that they are using they've borrowed from recent
Mac and Linux developments, or simply expanded
slightly on what they already have.
As far as tablet PCs go, they are expensive to
put together and there's plenty of precedent for
really awful sales. Hardware vendors don't want
to get burned again by this stuff. They want to
know there's a market for it and they'll sell.
Mirosoft can push enough cash to at least try
and get it to float, but if MS is the only
player, it's likely to tank.
http://www.freedesktop.org/~davidr/xgl-demo1.xvid.avi
*yawn*
I think that Origami could be the device that we could put in the hands of kids to replace text books...but of course Nick Negreponte and his $100 laptop (if it works out) would blow MS's $800 price point out of the water.
Very exciting - Microsoft yet again introduces a new form factor.
Especially on airplanes.
And since the adoption of these devices will more likely be driven by services and content than by what OS and what hardware manufacturer it is, the best consumer device/service packages will win out - hence Apple/Nokia/Motorola/Sony with Google in the mix if they bring out a range of linux based desktop and web tools along with they're search , map, calendar, etc.
So let's see what you've got Microsoft. Is it going to be a player or another half-baked attempt? Unlike other industries you don't have the luxury of control, time or market share so it's going to have to actually perform, look good and be reliable, stable, secure. and connected (Nokia and Motorola aren't going to hook it up for you).
I think that another poster who made the comment that Apple will probably beat them to the punch is correct. Even if they don't beat them to the punch they will probably bring out the right combination of hardware, services and content that wins the day for them. I loved the Newton but it was ahead of it's time by 10 years. But Apple has shown with the iPod that they can get it right with consumer devices and they're going touch screen and phone connection next so look out MS.
Great little computer, smaller than a laptop, was also pen based, ran Windows. About the size of what Bill is talking about.
google dauphin computer
for Redmond to wake up.
is NS always 3 hours behind the rest of us?
I need a new calendar....
it will **** you off because it is like giving you clues
- Cool, but different?
- by bballjake March 8, 2006 8:29 PM PST
- There are already some devices out there like this.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(55 Comments)Will it be better than the OQO or the cPC?