What is Microsoft's Origami project and when will it be released?

[robphy]

http://www.origamiproject.com/ teaser... (requires flash)

http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/24/microsofts-origami-project/
http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/4697

(Commercial) Video
[MEDIA=youtube]rV1WGDW37c0[/MEDIA]&search=project%20origami[/URL]

apparently debuts on 3/2/06

 

[dduardo]

The general consensus that I've heard is that the product tries to be too many things. It also doesn't help that Microsoft does the design. What you end up with is a bulky and ugly looking device.

 

[robphy]

more buzz:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/02/origami-refolded-heres-what-we-know

big PDA? small TabletPC?
something midway?
let's see how much it costs and what it's supposed to do for the enduser...

 

[robphy]

"The Ultra-Mobile PC"
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/

more chatter at
http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/
http://tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33690
http://www.gottabemobile.com/SoWhatIsAnUltraMobilePC.aspx [specs]
http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/tech/2006/03/09/kagan.origami.unvealed.affl [CNN video]
http://www.zdnetasia.com/itlibrary/webcasts/0,39044504,39315918,00.htm [ZDNET video]

 

[Anttech]

It looks kinda funky... More of a toy than anything else tho

 

[dduardo]

It really looks like a Sega Game Gear, but bigger.

What I want to know is what type of market is Microsoft trying to capture? If I was going to carry a device that size, I would simply go for a laptop.

 

[robphy]

My Gateway/Motion M1200 TabletPC slate weighs 3lbs and has a 12" screen. While traveling on the bus, that's sometimes too big for me to use comfortably.

 

[dduardo]

Here is a video taken at CEBIT of the device.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8303974378445131736

The saleswomen is completely clueless about the product and demonstrates how clunky the interface is.

 

[robphy]

...just like shopping at CompUSA

Yep... step aside and let the end-user play around with it.

Seriously though... I hope this isn't a repeat of the TabletPC story all over again... with incompetent demo folks, incompetent sales staff, poor marketing, and high sales price.

 

[dduardo]

You shop at CompUSA? Their prices are hyper-inflated.

 

[robphy]

True. I browse and play at CompUSA... I buy there when there's a good deal... possibly pricematching against local stores (like BestBuy or Staples). If I know exactly what I want, I buy from newegg or amazon.

 

[exequor]

IMO CompUSA is a ripoff, NewEgg everyday.