Photo of Microsoft's Origami

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

This photo (http://dpud.primarydesigns.net/a/origamibig.jpg) claims to be a picture of Microsoft's upcoming Origami platform.

Microsoft's Origami Project (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2006/02/20060226231733.shtml) is expected to be shown/revealed on March 9th at CeBIT (http://www.cebit.de/homepage_e?x=1). It appears to be a handheld media device.

[Airforce]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/06/possible-origami-pic-surfaces-on-the-web/

Engadget thinks it is a fake picture according to their sources. (http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/02/origami-refolded-heres-what-we-know/)

[bigandy]

yet another ugly thing running a microsoft product... :rolleyes:

[thedude110]

The more I see and read about Origami, the less cool it's becoming.

Microsoft is creating some sort of inverted, anti-buzz for their product. :p

[ero87]

it seems genuinely Microsoft to me: unexciting and ugly.

[animefan_1]

The device looks like something MS would make - big & clunky.

Regarding the portion of the image featuring Law & Order, et al, however...the font looks like the one Apple uses, and the Media Player section of the "product" is oddly floating. There's no natural border to the window and on such a supposedly small device, wouldn't you want that window to occupy the full screen?

[PlaceofDis]

it looks microsoft-esque to me. but its probably not it. i doubt they would let such a photo to be leaked. only time will tell though i suppose. that thing doesn't look too functional though.

[The Truth]

Ugly. Welcome to the 80's.

[Leoff]

Doesn't matter that it's fake, real, ugly, beautiful, or whatknot. It's running Windows. It's like buying a Jaguar in the 90's: might be keen-looking, but you'll only get to use it 2 months out of every year. The other 10 months it's in the shop.

[Josh396]

I don't think it's entirely ugly, it just seems to lack creativity. But I guess I shouldn't be expecting that from Microsoft.

[MacSA]

It looks like Microsoft are trying to copy Apple with the interest and specualtion created around new product announcemnts.

[nagromme]

Don't we have enough fakes of our own to worry about?

[xy14]

I think it is a fake. I read somewhere Micro**** was not gonna name them podcasts and instead name them WebCasts. On the device, it says, "My Podcasts."

[zv470]

Ugly. Welcome to the 80's.

Hey don't diSS the 80's please! :) ;)

What is Alexandria? Is it Microsoft's version of iTunes?

[Doctor Q]

It looks like Microsoft are trying to copy Apple with the interest and specualtion created around new product announcemnts.If the evidence of that is this photo, it's a longshot to imagine that this photo is real and that Microsoft purposely leaked it to build excitement.

I just hope they don't give a bad name to the real kind of Origami.

[brianhut]

There is a huge leak/preview of Origami on Game Informers website. Saw this a while ago. Thought everyone knew about it.

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200603/N06.0301.1632.46519.htm

[D3LM3L]

Let's see... what do we have here...

1) An Apple look-a-like click wheel.
2) Ugly and non-simple design (well cause Apple owns that style!)
3) Mac-style menubar at the top... notice there's no close button on the window.
4) A completely out-of-place orange button. wth??

Anyone care to continue?

[swingerofbirch]

i just went to the origamiproject.com site (microsoft's teaser)...the first image looks almost identical to the default mac os x desktop picture

from the video posted elswhere, i gather this is a small tablet? that mock up looked kind of cool

the problem with microsoft making a cool product, is that even if they did, it would be hard to bring myself to use it, atlhough monopolies are never a great thing, i am comfortable with apple's mp3 player dominance because they are still a relatively small company, i would feel so uncool...and like such a tool...carrying around the next "it" product if it came from microsoft

[Airforce]

i would feel so uncool...and like such a tool...carrying around the next "it" product if it came from microsoft

Hopefully you are kidding :p

[shamino]

1) An Apple look-a-like click wheel.
Doesn't look like a click-wheel to me. Looks more like a circular cursor-pad (as seen on some Palm devices (http://www.palm.com/us/products/handhelds/z22/) and even the old Mattel Intellivision (http://www.intellivisionlives.com/).
2) Ugly and non-simple design (well cause Apple owns that style!)
3) Mac-style menubar at the top... notice there's no close button on the window.
4) A completely out-of-place orange button. wth??
I'm working with the assumption that this is fake. But you're right on all points.

Personally, I fail to see a market for the (probably fake) device exhibited. It's too large to be transported in a pocket like a PDA. It's too small to be used as a laptop or tablet. If it is going to primarily be a movie player, then it is too similar to the Archos media player (which was transmogrified into a device for a different market in order to not be a complete failure.)

If the case was a bit more ergonomic, it might work as a handheld gaming platform, but I wouldn't give it good odds going up against the PSP, especially given Microsoft's track record with the Xbox.

[macdong]

it actually looks a bit too good to be Microsoft's...

[RichP]

I think it is a fake. I read somewhere Micro**** was not gonna name them podcasts and instead name them WebCasts. On the device, it says, "My Podcasts."

Yeah, one of the first things I noticed as well, no way MS is going to release a portable device with anything related to "i" or "pod" on it.

[DontBurnTheDayy]

Um...


Microsoft sucks.

[whee900]

Has MS ever made any hardware except for the xbox, microsoft mouse and keyboard? When Vista comes out, they might make more tablet integration stuff...

[GKThursday]

What do those Chinese/Japanese characters on the cable mean? Does anybody know?

Thursday

P.S.
Has anyone noticed that the law & order cast picture is half a year out of date?

[Airforce]

P.S.
Has anyone noticed that the law & order cast picture is half a year out of date?


Yup, someone mentions that in the comments from the link I tossed up there.

[Bubbasteve]

I'm actually very interested in this. This product has great potential but the exterior looks so bad/cheap.... I want to see how Apple will respond to this Origami project.

[cheese1113]

I'll buy one when it's hacked and linux can be installed on it.

[techne]

hehehe.. how they expect us to see those tiny fonts.. is it going to come with a microscope? total joke

[j33pd0g]

Fake. M$ wouldn't provide a "rip" feature, would they? What is it you're ripping anyway?

[Airforce]

Fake. M$ wouldn't provide a "rip" feature, would they? What is it you're ripping anyway?

A CD ;)

The feature is on Windows Media Player.

[Warbrain]

1) Looks a bit fake
2) Probably crashes as much as Windows
3) Looks quite ugly
4) Worthless hunk of crap

I wouldn't even buy that if Apple made it.

[j33pd0g]

A CD ;)

The feature is on Windows Media Player.

Oh, so the the thing is a portable cd/dvd player... I thought it was just a oversized wmp clunk box.

[Spock]

I'll buy one when it's hacked and linux can be installed on it.

Linux?? Mac OS X x86 to bad it would still be an ugly box.

[Demon]

it can't be this ugly... and boring. i'm sure there's a mistake... microsoft can do better than that. just look at the improvement from Xbox to the 360. they must be putting more money into the design these days. :confused:

[lorien]

I thought Apple has a patent out on the click-wheel. This can't be real then.

[After G]

hehehe.. how they expect us to see those tiny fonts.. is it going to come with a microscope? total jokeNo, the microscope will cost extra.

[Airforce]

No, the microscope will cost extra.

Well, free with the $99 leather sleeve :p

[Jose Habib]

Hmm, where have I seen one of these before?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sega_GameGear.jpg

[wildmannz]

What's ugly got to do with it? This is a RUMOR people! :eek:

Origami seems to be slated as a very portable tablet - and there seem to be some old prototype photos floating around the web.

Now lets see. Apple is typically seen as having better industrial design in all of their products. Microsoft as more buggy, and their products are installed on a whole host of other not-so-well designed computers.

Which one has the bigger market share? And why?:confused:

We all love our Apple stuff. Goes without saying. :D What is interesting about this RUMOR - is that if Microsoft have a small portable tablet (presumably low-powered with WiFi and everything) no matter how ugly it is - if it's remotely useful and functional - their market share is MUCH bigger than Apples - and this idea could be quite successful. :(

If they have a challenger to iTunes with TV Shows - they will have a measure of success even if they do it poorly. Does anyone think they have been sitting on their a$$?
Oh - and if your selling a season of a show - it's PROBABLY not going to show THIS seasons' cast, now, is it? :eek:

[weg]

The device looks like something MS would make - big & clunky.


Strange, how can you know, since Microsoft actually doesn't produce hardware (their peripherals are pretty cool.. I've a MS Natural Elite hooked up to my Powerbook when I'm at home, and I'm using a MS Bluetooth Mouse).

[weg]

1) Looks a bit fake
2) Probably crashes as much as Windows
3) Looks quite ugly
4) Worthless hunk of crap

I wouldn't even buy that if Apple made it.

Hey, look what I found on the internet, presumably the Mac Pro x86 (http://guides.macrumors.com/images/3/39/Dontask2.jpg), and it's really damn ugly, isn't it? It looks like a fake, and it crashes a lot (don't ask me where I know that from), and it's really a worthless peace of sh***. I wouldn't even buy that if Microsoft made it.

[MacBoobsPro]

Looks like an original (ancient) walkman with a microsoft sticker on it!

It has to be real!

[sunfast]

Don't we have enough fakes of our own to worry about?

Ha ha! Spot on.

[MacBoobsPro]

Hey, look what I found on the internet, presumably the Mac Pro x86 (http://guides.macrumors.com/images/3/39/Dontask2.jpg), and it's really damn ugly, isn't it? It looks like a fake, and it crashes a lot (don't ask me where I know that from), and it's really a worthless peace of sh***. I wouldn't even buy that if Microsoft made it.

I hope thats an old concept coz that is damn ugly.

[Macnoviz]

Actually quite strange they didn't await the release of a Mac tablet, maybe the Microsoft design would be much better, at this stage it looks like an oversized, clumsy PSP with full Windows crash capabilities.

[Macnoviz]

Does anyone know what Origami means?
I mean, this is a device that doesn't fold up, and it's meant to replace paper, it doesn't make any sense:confused:

[lexfuzo]

It's so ugly, it could be real! :p

[iGary]

At least their GUI looks better now. I mean it is loads better than the present OS, and the fonts are ten-fold better.

[TDM21]

The way M$ is advertising Origami is reminding me of the Newton commercials; especially the week 2 flash clip. While the two are not meant for the same market, I believe Origami will meet the same fate as the Newton: doesn't sell enough to keep the product going for more then a few years.

[Airforce]

http://umpc.com/video.aspx

[paradillon]

I think Microsoft threw this Origami thing out in reaction to the then upcoming apple "Fun things" event. I think they were anticipating the whole video ipod launch and are now scrambling to come up with something believable.

[dernhelm]

1. There would be a LOT fewer buttons, dials, and knobs around it
2. They wouldn't be trying to cram OS/X on it - they'd make an OS that fits the device
3. They would target the device at a type of user for a particular set of applicaitons
3. It would be limited to running applications those that the device was for (not for running word or excel)
4. It would come in either white or black
5. It would scratch way too easy :eek:

[Macnoviz]

1. There would be a LOT fewer buttons, dials, and knobs around it
2. They wouldn't be trying to cram OS/X on it - they'd make an OS that fits the device
3. They would target the device at a type of user for a particular set of applicaitons
3. It would be limited to running applications those that the device was for (not for running word or excel)
4. It would come in either white or black
5. It would scratch way too easy :eek:

6. They wouldn't make a video about it before it's released (and on a personal note, the video would be much better than this)
7. We would been drowning in fake pictures

[m-dogg]

I think it is a fake. I read somewhere Micro**** was not gonna name them podcasts and instead name them WebCasts. On the device, it says, "My Podcasts."

That's the first thing I thought when I looked at this. I remember them saying they weren't going to call them podcasts either.

[oober_freak]

It can't be real.. It doesn't have a pic of good ol'Billy on it. I mean like Billy's nose will be the power on button. And yeah left eye+ right eye+ tongue= alt+ ctrl+ del :D

:eek:

[Eniregnat]

Intel has some pages dedicated to the Origami/UMPC platform (http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/platform/umpc.htm#anchor2). A UMPC (http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/platform/311702.htm), Ultra Moble Personal Computer (ftp://download.intel.com/design/mobile/platform/31170201.pdf) pdf. It looks like the form factor is likely variable, and it may have more than one manufacture down the line. I can't tell if Intel is just hyping UMPCs or Origami... Actualy, Intel notes nothing about Origami, people are just linking to the site as though they are.

They have 1 cool picture and 1 ugly picture of a UMPC.
Perhaps they are just mockups, the ugly one looks real.

Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/pcs/dualcor-portable-pc-packs-pair-of-processors-puny-price-158865.php) and The Cool Hunter (http://www.thecoolhunter.net/Gadgets/MINI-ME-GOES-PC/) note this UMPC, which is small and cool looking, runs 2 processers in serial (for power saveings).


Week 1 (http://www.origamiproject.com/1/), Week 2 (http://www.origamiproject.com/2/), Week 3 (http://www.origamiproject.com/3/) From M$ Origami Project- not all links work yet.

A letter (http://msdn.microsoft.com/mobility/letters/) from the unnamed editor of M$ Development site about mobile computing.[/URL] Talks about share of each kind of MS Os on mobile devices and where M$ plans to go with their mobil os's.

The YouToob video of The Oriamiproject (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV1WGDW37c0&search=project%20origami) link from M$ Origami forums.

The upshot, who cares. UMPCs are here now, and here to stay. M$ want's seamless integration of hardware and software for DRM.
Origami not so ground breaking anymore.- I hope M$ proves me wrong. I wish Apple would enter the UMPC market.

[MacsomJRR]

6. They wouldn't make a video about it before it's released (and on a personal note, the video would be much better than this)
7. We would been drowning in fake pictures

8. It would be called something like the "MacMobile," or my fave the "Mac'n'Go."
9. It would be replaced by something far cooler and less expensive 3 mos. after the initial release.

[CubaTBird]

looks sorta like a sega game gear from 1990.:p

[BoyBach]

Strange, how can you know, since Microsoft actually doesn't produce hardware


Have you how big, ugly and noisy the Xbox is? ;)

[CompUser]

Its not ugly and clunky enough.


This is the real pic:
http://k1.blogs.com/weblog/R0010275.JPG

[boncellis]

I think Microsoft threw this Origami thing out in reaction to the then upcoming apple "Fun things" event. I think they were anticipating the whole video ipod launch and are now scrambling to come up with something believable.

As outrageous as it seems, I wouldn't entirely discount it. Isn't it fulfilling to see how things have really come back (if there was ever a true departure) to the way they are supposed to be, MS copying every aspect of Apple's success and passing it off as "new?"

[Shadow]

Is that a scroll wheel I see (without play, ect)?
What is Alexandria? Is it Microsoft's version of iTunes?
I'm guessing its Windows Media Player 11 (looks like it too, I've seen a screenshot).

Looks like me freinds Dell Insiprion B120 (I think its that model)!

[steve_hill4]

Hey, look what I found on the internet, presumably the Mac Pro x86 (http://guides.macrumors.com/images/3/39/Dontask2.jpg), and it's really damn ugly, isn't it? It looks like a fake, and it crashes a lot (don't ask me where I know that from), and it's really a worthless peace of sh***. I wouldn't even buy that if Microsoft made it.
I have to say though, that concept was surprisingly close to the finished G5 tower. Faked images can sometimes be closer to reality than we think at the time of seeing them.

As for the origami project, I was listening to TWiT yesterday and they summed it up perfectly. Apple builds up hype by sending out invites and then keeping schtum. Microsoft try to copy but barely get down the road before they are itching to tell everyone and spoil the surprise. The source code even says that "Origami Project: the Mobile PC running Windows XP", commented out of course.

I am still waiting for the day though, it would be nice to read some real tech specs on the device. As for moving files around, wi-fi and BT would be nice, but I hope it has ethernet and USB so we can network the device and use our flash memory devices. So many will complain about the lack of removable storage, especially optical drives while missing the rela point of such a device, at least USB opens up the option.

[quigleybc]

It may be MS and it may not be the prettiest thing ever..but I bet it will come out way before Apple makes anything like it.

Games,
Videos
Web browsing.
phone ?
Camera
Mp3's
bluetooth.

Basically a PsP with way more features.

I'm as anti MS as the next apple fan boy, but I'm gonna want something like this...hopefully I'll have more options when this thing comes out....but I don't think apple will make something like it.

[ibwb]

This is obviously real because the orange button makes perfect sense. It's obviously a reset button for when Windows locks up. Only Microsoft would think of that, so this can't be fake.

[Shadow]

I *quickly* made this
Link (http://www.oder.co.uk/image/uploads/origmi game gear.jpg)
Yes I know its crap, but it only took me a few mins. Enjoy!
Also, thanks should go to CubaTBird for providing the original pic!

EDIT: I would have changed all the "Game Gear" refrences to "Origami" and stuff like that, but no time :(

[Airforce]

I like the UMPCs they've shown so far; especially the silver one with the keyboard that swings out and around. It looks like an older Handheld PC with the keyboard out(same size and such). God, I loved those...always thought it was a perfect tiny size.

[Foxer]

I like the picture of the Law & Order cast through the years.:)

Of course, it is grammatically incorrect...
"Download complete TV season of Law and Order." It either needs to be "Download a complete" or make "season" plural.

That error alone casts doubt on what I'm looking at.

[mikes63737]

It's really ugly, but that's only the demo... this is the real thing:

[-hh]

Origami ...What is interesting about this RUMOR - is that if Microsoft have a small portable tablet (presumably low-powered with WiFi and everything) no matter how ugly it is - if it's remotely useful and functional - their market share is MUCH bigger than Apples - and this idea could be quite successful. :(

Sure, but the catch here is the "if" .

The dilemma that I saw in Microsoft's claims was the 12 hour runtime. The brutal reality is that this is going to take a pretty hefty battery "brick" to get that level of claimed performance.

For example, to spin a laptop 2.5" HD takes 4W of power. To do just that for 12 hours means you need 48 Watt-Hours of battery. Let's assume that through power management stuff that this can be reduced by 50% but since we still need power for the rest of the device...ie, power the CPU, backlit display screen, RAM, etc...that we can simplistically say that this all balances out...ie, the total device burns 4W/hr, so we need only 48WH for the claimed 12 hour runtime (Yes, I'm being generous in my assumptions)

Li-Ion remains the best available rechargable battery technology to industry today. And the industry standard 2.3WH Li-Ion battery is ~2.5" long by ~0.75" in diameter. It weighs 46.5g and costs a bit over $6.50 each in quantity. Thus, to deliver 48WH would require just over 20 batteries, which works out to roughly 20 cubic inches (4" x 5" x 1" thick), would weigh 2lbs before packaging and cost $130. Just for the battery pack.


FWIW, I expect that the real runtime will be a lot closer to current PDA's and WinCE's...unless the 12 hour claim is how long it can survive in "sleep" mode :)


-hh

[weg]

As outrageous as it seems, I wouldn't entirely discount it. Isn't it fulfilling to see how things have really come back (if there was ever a true departure) to the way they are supposed to be, MS copying every aspect of Apple's success and passing it off as "new?"

You think they are going to copy the new iPod Hi Fi? :D

[clayj]

Sure, but the catch here is the "if" .

The dilemma that I saw in Microsoft's claims was the 12 hour runtime. The brutal reality is that this is going to take a pretty hefty battery "brick" to get that level of claimed performance.

For example, to spin a laptop 2.5" HD takes 4W of power. To do just that for 12 hours means you need 48 Watt-Hours of battery. Let's assume that through power management stuff that this can be reduced by 50% but since we still need power for the rest of the device...ie, power the CPU, backlit display screen, RAM, etc...that we can simplistically say that this all balances out...ie, the total device burns 4W/hr, so we need only 48WH for the claimed 12 hour runtime (Yes, I'm being generous in my assumptions)

Li-Ion remains the best available rechargable battery technology to industry today. And the industry standard 2.3WH Li-Ion battery is ~2.5" long by ~0.75" in diameter. It weighs 46.5g and costs a bit over $6.50 each in quantity. Thus, to deliver 48WH would require just over 20 batteries, which works out to roughly 20 cubic inches (4" x 5" x 1" thick), would weigh 2lbs before packaging and cost $130. Just for the battery pack.


FWIW, I expect that the real runtime will be a lot closer to current PDA's and WinCE's...unless the 12 hour claim is how long it can survive in "sleep" mode :)


-hhWho says it has to have a hard drive? Throw a couple of GB of flash RAM in there, give it enough memory to run several applications and data simultaneously, and then use a Wi Fi connection to access data across the Internet... aside from the big screen, you'd almost cut battery usage down to the level of a cellphone.

[weg]

I am still waiting for the day though, it would be nice to read some real tech specs on the device.

I just fear that even after the official announcement it won't be available for a loooong time..

[yac_moda]

Well, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT this is the END for Apple !!!

<--- That was the START !!!


<----- This was the BEGINNING !!


<---------- There was the Genesis !


:eek: THIS IS THE END :eek:

[shamino]

That's only the demo... this is the real thing:
Wanna confuse a user? Take an image of the BSOD and make it his desktop wallpaper.

[Eniregnat]

2006-03-07_23:15 GMT (http://www.leapsecond.com/java/gpsclock.htm)

Mac Rumors thread 76 posts (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=184930&page=4) on Microsoft Origami

Microsoft Forum Thread (http://blogs.msdn.com/hiltonl/archive/2006/02/24/538993.aspx)35 posts on Origami[/URL] -> Forum found as a primary link on MSDN (http://msdn.microsoft.com/mobility/default.aspx) Micro Soft Developer Network.

Who is really more interisted in Oragami, Mac or PC users?
Yes, some of us fall into both catagories.

[Play Ultimate]

Yeah, one of the first things I noticed as well, no way MS is going to release a portable device with anything related to "i" or "pod" on it.

Not sure they have a choice. The word "podcast" is in the dictionary and was declared "word of the year"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4504256.stm

[cycocelica]

That thing looks like it will be huge. Time will only tell.

Of course I agree, it does look ugly.

[Airforce]

http://news.com.com/Intel+shows+Origami-like+device/2100-1044_3-6046793.html

The first generation of devices are likely to get about three hours of battery life, he said.

The ****? :(

[ibook30]

I wonder if the Origami is good for folding? :D

[mikes63737]

Wanna confuse a user? Take an image of the BSOD and make it his desktop wallpaper.

I did that at school and it even confused the IT guy.

[mikes63737]

2006-03-07_23:15 GMT (http://www.leapsecond.com/java/gpsclock.htm)

Mac Rumors thread 76 posts (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=184930&page=4) on Microsoft Origami

Microsoft Forum Thread (http://blogs.msdn.com/hiltonl/archive/2006/02/24/538993.aspx)35 posts on Origami[/URL] -> Forum found as a primary link on MSDN (http://msdn.microsoft.com/mobility/default.aspx) Micro Soft Developer Network.

Who is really more interisted in Oragami, Mac or PC users?
Yes, some of us fall into both catagories.

We're not necessairly more interested in it... most of us are bashing it.

[andrewag]

I'm actually looking forward to it. I love the idea of a machine that is kind of small (newton small) that runs a full blown OS. I'm hanging out to get one.

I know it will be a long time or never before Apple release something like that, so I'm pretty happy about Microsoft's atempt.

[eva01]

it looks like a gamegear o_O

and the gamegear was too big for me to carry around anywhere when i had mine.

[Belly-laughs]

1. There would be a LOT fewer buttons, dials, and knobs around it
2. They wouldn't be trying to cram OS/X on it - they'd make an OS that fits the device
3. They would target the device at a type of user for a particular set of applicaitons
3. It would be limited to running applications those that the device was for (not for running word or excel)
4. It would come in either white or black
5. It would scratch way too easy


6. They wouldn't make a video about it before it's released (and on a personal note, the video would be much better than this)
7. We would been drowning in fake pictures


8. It would be called something like the "MacMobile," or my fave the "Mac'n'Go."
9. It would be replaced by something far cooler and less expensive 3 mos. after the initial release.



10. We&#180;d all buy one

[Buzz]

Well I think that its possible that this might cause Apple to produce a new Newton!

[Macnoviz]

Microsoft Origami, a 1000 ounces in your pocket.

[brepublican]

Well, it does look cheap I'll give you that. So atleast they met their goal of making something sub $500?

[notjustjay]

Wanna confuse a user? Take an image of the BSOD and make it his desktop wallpaper.

I did that once at my last workplace. On my coworker's PC in the lab where he was testing our latest development products. He came in after an overnight simulation and nearly had a heart attack...

[iProd]

Microsoft Origami, a 1000 ounces in your pocket.


What about the charger brick? And the extra batteries? :D

[Sgt Pepper]

oops!

[miketcool]

Cheese and rice guys. Look at the upper right hand corner of the display. It is lower then the left. The image is not even on the display, aka, it has been photoshopped. The unit looks like a prototype and the GUI is fake. I've got some things to "leak" but i just don't have time to draw them.

[miketcool]

I'm actually looking forward to it. I love the idea of a machine that is kind of small (newton small) that runs a full blown OS. I'm hanging out to get one.

I know it will be a long time or never before Apple release something like that, so I'm pretty happy about Microsoft's atempt.

http://www.oqo.com

It's here.

[miketcool]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dernhelm
1. There would be a LOT fewer buttons, dials, and knobs around it
2. They wouldn't be trying to cram OS/X on it - they'd make an OS that fits the device
3. They would target the device at a type of user for a particular set of applicaitons
3. It would be limited to running applications those that the device was for (not for running word or excel)
4. It would come in either white or black
5. It would scratch way too easy

Quote:
Originally Posted by Macnoviz
6. They wouldn't make a video about it before it's released (and on a personal note, the video would be much better than this)
7. We would been drowning in fake pictures

Quote:
Originally Posted by MacsomJRR
8. It would be called something like the "MacMobile," or my fave the "Mac'n'Go."
9. It would be replaced by something far cooler and less expensive 3 mos. after the initial release.


10. We&#180;d all buy one

11. Its being replaced next Tuesday

[Macnoviz]

http://www.oqo.com

It's here.


Wow, that's quite impressive, but the battery life seems a bit short
and for the same price you can get a Macbook Pro, It's about four times the price of the Origami

[Macnoviz]

Well I think that its possible that this might cause Apple to produce a new Newton!

I think they might try to create something new instead of doing a remake of an old product, mainly because the concept of a personal computer has changed quite a bit in a few years. The new mac tablet would look more like an iPod then a Newton, I guess

[sam10685]

Microsoft Origami, a 1000 ounces in your pocket.

EXACTLY... why the hell does microsoft make such big ugly things? and why does their software never work? it just hurts my head tinking about it. it almost makes me want to cry.

[sam10685]

I think they might try to create something new instead of doing a remake of an old product, mainly because the concept of a personal computer has changed quite a bit in a few years. The new mac tablet would look more like an iPod then a Newton, I guess

'The Newton II'????

[-hh]

Who says it has to have a hard drive? Throw a couple of GB of flash RAM in there, give it enough memory to run several applications and data simultaneously...

That helps some, but it throws a lot more money at the problem, particularly if you're thinking about something large enough to hold Microsoft-code-(in)efficency-sized applications: at Apple's price of $25 per GB, a 20GB flash RAM analog would retail for $500 for just this one component.

From a power perspective, the backlit color display is a major consideration. For example, Apple iPod nano has a 3.7V, 330 mAh battery, which is able to power the device for only 2 hours when in video playback mode.

Now grow that tiny screen into something 4.5" x 8" or thereabouts, and you probably have ~16x the power draw...doing the math, you need around 5WH for 2 hours runtime...30WH for 12 hours. Fine, you've now saved 18WH, which means instead of needing a 2lb battery for 48WH, you're down to a 1.3lb battery.

...and then use a Wi Fi connection to access data across the Internet...

Standard 802.11b is 1W transmitter. At 80% RF conversion efficency (very high) and times 12 hours runtime, it will burn 15WH of power...which sums to 45WH required, so you're back up to needing a ~2lb battery again.


you'd almost cut battery usage down to the level of a cellphone.

My cellphone doesn't have 12 hours of talk time. And when it talk mode, its rating isn't assuming that its LCD display is illuminated the whole time.


Overall, the game that MS is going to have to play is the "up to..." X hours of operation. This is why I joked that it is probably all in standby mode. If MS's 12 hour claim comes through, the acid test will be to see if it can play the entire LOTR trilogy on a single charge.




-hh

[milkandcookies]

Sorry Apple People That It Not White And Shineing . Apple People Buy Almost Anything With Thier Logo On It.That Apple Can Do This Until They Switch CPU Platforms.

[roach]

Microsoft Origami, a 1000 ounces in your pocket.


This is not to replace a PDA. It's geared between a Tablet PC and a PDA.

[weg]

Sorry Apple People That It Not White And Shineing . Apple People Buy Almost Anything With Thier Logo On It.That Apple Can Do This Until They Switch CPU Platforms.

I'm sorry, can you repeat that? Me Not Do Understand What Saying You.

[weg]

We're not necessairly more interested in it... most of us are bashing it.

As if Steve didn't present enough Apple products to bash recently...

[MarcelV]

So, now we know what the end product is. Page 3 is live and it's just a glorified tablet PC, running Windows XP tablet edition. But I have to say, the one thing I thought was innovative, was how they shaped the keyboard around the lower corners for easy thumb access. The rest, it's just a modern form of a tablet, nothing new here. Just trying to hype the thing. And NO M$ hardware (as expected)

[Airforce]

They must met these requirements:

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 OS
Approximately 7” diagonal display (or smaller)
Minimum 800 x 480 resolution
Approximately 2 pounds
Integrated touch panel
WiFi- and Bluetooth-enabled

I like the Asus one

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/hardware.mspx

Perfect device for me so far....no idea on battery life yet though.

Decent article:
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news.php?newsId=2738

[Airforce]

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=169962

Video :)

[Piarco]

I would have jumped on one of these if it was more similar to the promo video - I prefered the more organic simplified look than the Asus and Samsung offerings. And a 2 1/2 hr battery life? Hardly go anywhere...

Hopefully Apple have a matching product with superior battery life and design. I'll wait to see if that happens....

[Butler Trumpet]

Its real....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/ptech/03/09/cebit.microsoft.reut/index.html?section=cnn_topstories

And yes... it is incredibly ugly and bulky and why the crap would you want to carry this around? Its gonna flop

[rolandf]

So far dumping IBM and embracing Intel did simply not yield any competitive advantage for Apple and it will not even in the future.
The latest Mac Mini is just a poor example of it! Remember 1000? Intel engineers working on the transition.

What do we read? MS and Intel start a new category of products, the Origami class. Where is the exclusivity in the "Intel-Apple" partnership?
Intel has already in early March working Conroe processors to build into demo machines and to let them compete against AMD. But no, be happy with Core Duo, as any Dell customer.

Even if Apple comes out with their Origami, so what? Intel already served MS and the other PC manufactures, and A. is just one more customer.

And as the trend is anyhow towards multi core CPUs, A. should have started to use the Cell2 or something similar in addition, to ready their programming know-how for multi-core, way before the mainstream would have done.

What we witness is, that the midterm succes of the iPod jeopardizes the future development. And when the Playstation 3 comes out this year, then that will have a huge impact and yield finally the leap ahead and just stops the spilling of eye candy all over the place.


Apple should have kept the IBM plattform as well. MS wisely enough have serves all the plattforms!

[weg]

What do we read? MS and Intel start a new category of products, the Origami class.

So far, all we have seen is a small tablet PC with a Pentium M processor. Nothing that Apple couldn't have done if they wanted. Doesn't seem very exclusive to me (especially since Intel's UMPC stuff is probably more interesting for hardware manufacturers, Samsung and Asus already presented their UMPCs at CEBIT in Germany).

[Piarco]

So far dumping IBM and embracing Intel did simply not yield any competitive advantage for Apple and it will not even in the future.
The latest Mac Mini is just a poor example of it! Remember 1000? Intel engineers working on the transition.

What do we read? MS and Intel start a new category of products, the Origami class. Where is the exclusivity in the "Intel-Apple" partnership?
Intel has already in early March working Conroe processors to build into demo machines and to let them compete against AMD. But no, be happy with Core Duo, as any Dell customer.

Even if Apple comes out with their Origami, so what? Intel already served MS and the other PC manufactures, and A. is just one more customer.

And as the trend is anyhow towards multi core CPUs, A. should have started to use the Cell2 or something similar in addition, to ready their programming know-how for multi-core, way before the mainstream would have done.

What we witness is, that the midterm succes of the iPod jeopardizes the future development. And when the Playstation 3 comes out this year, then that will have a huge impact and yield finally the leap ahead and just stops the spilling of eye candy all over the place.


Apple should have kept the IBM plattform as well. MS wisely enough have serves all the plattforms!

Um, what?!? The Origami is a development between MS and certain partners - such as Samsung and Asus. I've never read that its a partnership between MS and Intel. And as for your doomsaying, you do remember the tablet PC - what a huge sucess that was. Hardly spelled the end for Apple did it?
Yes the Core Duo will be found in Dells. But its a frickin' Dell!! No OSX, no Apple design.
That's enough troll feeding for now methinks ;)

[4np]

Looking at the true origami (which is still big and ugly however a little bit less ugly compared to this shot) you can see the user interface is exactly the same. So probably this is a genuine photograph, but probably of some alpha or beta model.

See: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/play.mspx

[-hh]

They must met these requirements:

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 OS
Approximately 7” diagonal display (or smaller)
Minimum 800 x 480 resolution
Approximately 2 pounds
Integrated touch panel
WiFi- and Bluetooth-enabled

I like the Asus one

As a road warrior carrying a PDA, Blackberry & Laptop, my immediate responses were:

a) Where's the protective cover over the LCD screen to prevent it from getting trashed?

b) Which pocket does this fit in?

The short answer to both is that it won't fit in any pocket, and it will be damaged unless its carried in a protective sleeve. It will end up in the briefcase. As such, its functionally no better than a laptop for convenience except for weight...and given that I can already 'thumb type' on my Blackberry, for serious writing, I'm willing to carry a real keyboard.

Perfect device for me so far....no idea on battery life yet though.

Huntzinger's Law of Computer Performance Specifications Marketing:

If it isn't volunteered, it isn't good

Here's my conclusion, displayed graphically:

http://www.dystopiacartoons.com/archive/20001030.jpg



-hh

[Macnoviz]

to really mean something, this thing should have a good internet connection, preferably 1MB/s or more. I don't really know about the US situation, but this is either very expensive or very limited, and mostly both. Can anyone say how M$ solves this, or give some info on wireless internet in the US?

[sishaw]

to really mean something, this thing should have a good internet connection, preferably 1MB/s or more. I don't really know about the US situation, but this is either very expensive or very limited, and mostly both. Can anyone say how M$ solves this, or give some info on wireless internet in the US?

From PC Magazine:

"Built-in WiFi will be standard, and some units will include Bluetooth, an internal mini-PCI slot and EV-DO wide area wireless."

Um..we have wireless internet here in the US. I live in a fairly wired area and, in addition to my home network, there are cafes, buildings, etc. with hotspots.

[-hh]

to really mean something, this thing should have a good internet connection, preferably 1MB/s or more. I don't really know about the US situation, but this is either very expensive or very limited, and mostly both. Can anyone say how M$ solves this, or give some info on wireless internet in the US?

Short answer is that it will use a WiFi (802.11g, or similar) to hook up via existing hotspots, and when out of range of any of these, will reach out to your (not included) data-compatible cellphone via Bluetooth to run up your cellphone bill.


EDIT: just checked one of my local cellphone companies: a plan with "unlimited data usage" costs roughly an extra $40 per month ($480/year).


-hh

[uezi]

I bought a Sony Vaio VGN-U50 (a 550g, Celeron M, WinXP machine with 800x600 touchscreen display) over one year ago...
First: It's too small to make something usefull with it.
Second: It's still very heavy and doesn't fit in any pocket...
Third: Sure, Windows runs on it, but are you sure you want to edit a word document with a on-screen keyboard ?

The Vaio was crap... Thanks god, Sony cancelled the line, so no new customers can spend a lot of money for this stupid thing !

I'm still looking a place where I can use this thing !


The Origami is not a product, it's an implementation guideline for a "small" Windows Tablet. And nobody will be able to make something usefull with it...
My prediction: It will fail miserably !

[Macnoviz]

From PC Magazine:

"Built-in WiFi will be standard, and some units will include Bluetooth, an internal mini-PCI slot and EV-DO wide area wireless."

Um..we have wireless internet here in the US. I live in a fairly wired area and, in addition to my home network, there are cafes, buildings, etc. with hotspots.

(Just asking) is internet free in those hotspots?

[shamino]

(Just asking) is internet free in those hotspots?
Sometimes. Depends on what store/hotel/cafe is running the service.

[EricChunky]

people stop hating the world.

i love umpc... coz i'm student who needs to take notes in class and im also a pt fotographer that need a device wif basic foto storage/display/editing + GPS abilities... umpc does all these to me perfectly... 3 hrs batt life might be short.. but hell why not carry more batts coz they aint gonna be that big as ur god darned 17" powerbooks...

apple is now left behind.. with the power of intel and bill, wat steve can do... he'd tried his best bt thats wat apple got - A £300 crappy speaka...

the actual device will be out Q2, so by that time unless Apple announce sth like UMMac with Intel Core Duo, im goin to grab one of the top models of UMPC... hah a ha Macintosh... understandin how hardware consumin Mac OS X is and u wont b expecting 2 much frm a full function mac tablet....

god i dun care how much it is... i jst want sth small , with a readable screen (PDA?Smartfone = real crap) and have certain processing power....

[shamino]

i love umpc... coz i'm student who needs to take notes in class and im also a pt fotographer that need a device wif basic foto storage/display/editing + GPS abilities...
... and should never have graduated elementary school with spelling this bad.

[EricChunky]

... and should never have graduated elementary school with spelling this bad.

hav i ever told u i did?

[iPoster]

Looks like a product trying to find a market to me! :rolleyes:

I would have absolutely no use for the thing....

[jhu]

it could be the newton all over again, but more powerful.

[-hh]

people stop hating the world.

Some of us don't hate the world...just the world's lousy products that so richly deserve to be rediculed :D

i love umpc... coz i'm student who needs to take notes in class...

As a former student (I graduated), I'd recommend that you apply the basic principles of the "Product Diffusion Curve" to see which group you should be in (vs. being an 'Early Adopter'), if for no other reason that your education is what's your priority right now...and based on your poor diction, you really need to focus on that right now.

In other words, instead of the latest expensive (MSRP $1200) gimmick, just use an old-fashioned pen and notebook ($9). You've already illustrated that you can't afford the risk of such a toy to be a distraction. For tools that might provide productivity gains, you need to wait until after you're on your own and actually earning your own paycheck with which to make "beer or food" types of decisions, or until you have an employer who will buy them for you.


and im also a pt fotographer that need a device wif basic foto storage/display/editing + GPS abilities...

I' do photographer too...and no you don't need this widget to be able to take & retain good photo's.

At best, you will need a digital wallet if you're doing photo trips whose duration exceeds the amount of flash memory you should carry...although the $1200 MSRP for a UMPC would buy a heck of a lot of flash media at today's prices: since my dSLR likes fast cards, I'd spend it to pick up three (3) 4GB 80x speed CF cards= 12GB total (instead of 20GB worth of slow cards).

And since the Samsung UMPC has only a 900 MHz Intel Celeron M processor and 512 MB of RAM, trying to use this type of device for anything more than as a digital wallet is IMO downright foolish. For a digital wallet, consider the Epson P2000 or the Hyperdrive HD80: at this price point, you can buy triple redundency.

Similarly, if you really need GPS, you need something with a lot better than 3 hours battery life. For how & where we locally use GPS, a device with such a horribly short life is worse than not having it at all, because it will tempt is user to go out in the woods and get lost, which can be fatal.


3 hrs batt life might be short.. but hell why not carry more batts coz they aint gonna be that big as ur god darned 17" powerbooks...

Because carrying a crate full of extra widgets completely defeats the design objective of being small, light and convenient. Perhaps another way for you to look at this is as follows...

From your UMPC, is it worth an extra ~2.5lbs if it adds:

- 2x battery life
- 2x CPU performance
- 2x larger hard drive
- 2x to 3x larger display
- integrated protection for the LCD display
- full size keyboard
- built-in CD-R/W & DVD burner (8x speed)

...and still with it all integrated into a single package?

*Yes, that's a 12"PB, trollboy.*

-hh

[techster82]

It's hillarious listening to you guys try to bash Microsoft for anything they do. They could come out with an unbelievable new product that solved all of a mobile user's needs and the majority of Apple user's would try to bash it. So Microsoft beat Apple to the punch on something and you guys are upset, get over it!!!! This product would work great for a person on the go, at school, on trips anywhere you don't want to lug a full size notebook. Will it sell? Sure it will because Microsoft owns the computer market. People will buy it because its the newest thing out, or they like its features. Instead of spending countless hours trying to bash it, just grow up and let it go.

[jhu]

It's hillarious listening to you guys try to bash Microsoft for anything they do. They could come out with an unbelievable new product that solved all of a mobile user's needs and the majority of Apple user's would try to bash it. So Microsoft beat Apple to the punch on something and you guys are upset, get over it!!!! This product would work great for a person on the go, at school, on trips anywhere you don't want to lug a full size notebook. Will it sell? Sure it will because Microsoft owns the computer market. People will buy it because its the newest thing out, or they like its features. Instead of spending countless hours trying to bash it, just grow up and let it go.

heh, sure sounds like it around here. no one seems to mention the flop that was the messagepad (erroneously called the "newton")

[-hh]

It's hillarious listening to you guys try to bash Microsoft for anything they do.

Its even more hillarious to hear the squeaks of each fresh batch of Microsoft FanBoi trolls who have just joined within the past week who think that they're not so amazingly transparent in their motives. But I digress.


They could come out with an unbelievable new product that solved all of a mobile user's needs...

They could, and if they did, I'd give them praise for it.

You see, I'm a personal & professional "mobile user". For work, I carry an IBM T41p, a Blackberry 7100 and a Palm T3 on a nearly daily basis.

For personal travel/mobility, I have a 12" PB, a Motorola StarTak (an older cellphone that retains analog band), a Palm m515, plus two Hyperdrive HD80 digital wallets for photography.

Not counting previous laptops, phones or PDA's, my current business-side investment is around $3500, and my personal-side around $2500. There's also my wife's iPod, for which we each have a set of Noise Cancellation headphones (Plane Quiet NC6) which I generally don't borrow for work unless I'm going on an international flight.

So Microsoft beat Apple to the punch on something and you guys are upset, get over it!!!! This product would work great for a person on the go, at school, on trips anywhere you don't want to lug a full size notebook.

Continuing the above, my summary is that I've been carrying some sort of mobile device for at least a decade (I've not been counting), and probably am averaging around 100 days on the road per year right now. As such, I have a very clear understanding of what works and what doesn't work.

FWIW, the USB on my 12" PB does a very poor job recharging my Blackberry...not sure why


The bottom line on what works/doesn't is that a device either has to be small enough to fit in a pocket or on your belt so that it is instantly convenient, or else its going to be in your briefcase or messenger bag. This usage pattern is pretty much non-negotiable: we only have two arms.

And if it is stowed away, at that point, it may as well be full-featured. Its also easier to carry out-of-hand items, so they can also afford to be slightly heavier.

it is plain to see that the Origami doesn't fit these usage patterns. Neither did the Newton. Draw your own conclusions.


Will it sell? Sure it will because Microsoft owns the computer market. People will buy it because its the newest thing out, or they like its features.

True, and there's still some diehard Newton owners too.

Bottom Line:

We will always find some people who buy based on "Technology Push" initiatives such as the Origami. However, the products that are ultimately successful in the marketplace are those that meet real peoples' needs. This is known as a "Requirements Pull".


-hh

[shamino]

They could come out with an unbelievable new product that solved all of a mobile user's needs ...
They could. Unfortunately, they didn't.
This product would work great for a person on the go, at school, on trips anywhere you don't want to lug a full size notebook.
Been there. Done that. What makes you think that this half-brained attempt at a subnotebook/tablet will fare any better than all of the previous attempts?
Will it sell? Sure it will because Microsoft owns the computer market. People will buy it because its the newest thing out, or they like its features. Instead of spending countless hours trying to bash it, just grow up and let it go.
Now who's being a mindless fanboy? You're telling us to ignore our own opinions and buy this device simply because Microsoft makes it? And the reason you give for wanting this is because everybody else is already this close-minded?

Thank you for being a poster-child for why I think Windows zaalots are flaming idiots.

[weg]

It's hillarious listening to you guys try to bash Microsoft for anything they do.

Actually, this isn't even Microsoft's product. They didn't build the hardware, so it's not their fault that it doesn't look nice.

[AtHomeBoy_2000]

I think Origami will work ONLY if the price gets down to about $500. I posted this (My Wish: Sub-$800 Apple Laptop) (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=186080) in another thread. Basically, I understand Apple's demand for superior hardware, but I think it might benifit Apple to offer a cheap stripped down laptop (aka an Apple version of Origami). i would love a cheap laptop to take on vacation (for hotel Wi-Fi internet access), on the go document typing, and the ability to watch DVDs (ok, it wouldnt have a Data drive built in, but you could rip DVDs on your mac and transfer them over).

[techster82]

Once again, SOME Apple owners continue to not surprise me. Lets see if I can address some of the idiot remarks made that really make me laugh.

To the smartest member on here which is apparently -hh, I am not a Microsoft Fanboy who just joined a week ago. I joined a couple of months ago if we want to be exact and am the owner of 2 Apple computers, previously 3. But I guess me still owning a PC makes me a Fanboy, so be it. This is just a reminder of the one thing I hate as an Apple owner, which is being associated with people like you. Why are you so bitter towards the evil empire Microsoft? Your posts really show your high intelligence level. I guess you are the only one around here who has taken Marketing and Economic courses so excuse me. You are obviously one of those who turns red with hate when you here the word Microsoft. So, just for you, Microsoft, Microsoft, Microsoft, Microsoft!!!!! Personally, I have a 12" iBook that goes everywhere with me, as well as a 30gb Video iPod, and a blackberry 7105 so being mobile is important to me. If I could get my hands on a piece of equipment that would take care of the majority of these electronics that would be great. Yet I "digress" from my point. Thats strange, two out of three of my mobile devices are Apple products yet I am a Microsoft Fanboy, go figure?

Now to shamino, I never said anything about buying it just because Microsoft makes it. I don't agree with that at all. Before you go off on another rant about Microsoft, take some time to read the original post so that you make sense. People will buy this because it is the latest greatest thing, or because it is Microsoft's newest platform. Others, like myself will wait for another revision of the product that fixes some of the problems or decreases the price, therefore making it attractive. I applaud Microsoft for coming out with a product like this, because due to Capitalism, will cause even better products to be introduced as a result as well as maybe a competitor from Apple.

[Bosunsfate]

A very telling article.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/09/technology/business2_origami/index.htm?cnn=yes

In my opinion, good concept, but not there. The biggest failing, the lack of companies lining up to build this thing.

Wait for Apple to launch the next thing to change out world.

[mcmillan]

This (http://www.tuaw.com/2006/03/10/i-already-have-an-ultra-mobile-pc-its-called-a-newton/) TUAW entry is pretty cool. It compares a Newton and an Origami.

[techster82]

That TUAW entry brings up something I didn't think about when I first heard about the origami, and that is its home theater uses. When I was the sales manager at a Home Theater company, I sold a ton of smart home controllers, or advanced remote controls. They almost all cost over $500 which is the target price for the Origami. If someone wrote some good software, this thing could be a godsend in the home theater/automation field. Say what you want about its size and battery life, but someone will find a use for this thing. Think about bluetooth and how it was a dying technology until cellphone makers decided to use it. The same will be done with this thing if it fails in the mainstream.

[shamino]

Now to shamino, I never said anything about buying it just because Microsoft makes it. I don't agree with that at all. Before you go off on another rant about Microsoft, take some time to read the original post so that you make sense. People will buy this because it is the latest greatest thing, or because it is Microsoft's newest platform.
You seem to take it as inevitable that anything with Microsoft's name on it must be a best seller. It just isn't true.

MS has had plenty of duds. With the exception of Windows and Office, most of MS's products have not become market dominating powerhouses.

Tablet PC's have been around for several years, yet few people have actually used one, let alone bought one. MSN has never come close to running all other ISPs out of business. The Xbox, for all its power and hype hasn't come close to displacing Sony.

Microsoft's biggest source of power is leveraging the Windows monopoly - convincing IT managers that they must use MS Exchange instead of other mail servers, because it works best with Outlook, which people use mostly because it comes free with Office. But when you get a product that can't be forced on the market with predatory Windows licensing terms, they usually don't go anywhere.

[iShane]

I'm sorry but that think looks terrribly disgusting. If its priced higher than the iPod and people actually choose it over the iPod...they probably aren't all right upstairs.

[-hh]

Once again, SOME Apple owners continue to not surprise me.

Yes, there's some people who have "Irrational Exuberance" over brand-names. Do you prefer Mustang or Camaro?


...I am not a Microsoft Fanboy who just joined a week ago.

But there are some within this thread.

I guess you are the only one around here who has taken Marketing and Economic courses so excuse me. You are obviously one of those who turns red with hate when you here the word Microsoft. So, just for you, Microsoft, Microsoft, Microsoft, Microsoft!!!!!

To turn a phrase (specifically, yours): It's hillarious listening to you guys try to -defend Microsoft- for anything they do.


Personally, I have a 12" iBook that goes everywhere with me, as well as a 30gb Video iPod, and a blackberry 7105 so being mobile is important to me. If I could get my hands on a piece of equipment that would take care of the majority of these electronics that would be great.

Yes, it would be a good thing, but the problem is that a "Jack of All Trades" device is also...continuting to finish the adage..."{but} a Master of None."

The reason that we're willing to buy/carry "non-convergence" devices is because everything contains trade-offs, and this is the set of trades that we have chosen as the "least bad". For a notional example, having an iPod and a cellphone *not* integrated together means that you'll never run out of cellphone battery because you were playing music...this is a higharchy decision: running out of tunes is bad, but running out of cell is worse ( 'communication over entertainment'), and running out of cell because you flatttened it with tunes (due to common battery) is downright abhorant.


Now to shamino, I never said anything about buying it just because Microsoft makes it.

That may have been your intent, but that's not clear from what you wrote. The inference was that this product will be successful in the marketplace because of Microsoft's dominance, so we may as well accept that and be willing to go buy one for ourselves.

Unfortunately, this is the same "infallable corporate leader" attitude that brought us the saying: "What's good for GM is good for the Country", and the cold hard reality is that the ultimate success / failure of a product isn't dependent upon how big its manufacturer is, but if consumers actually buy it.

And if you look at GM today, well, they ain't doing so well. For many people, its not because they don't want to buy a GM product, but GM isn't making a compelling product vs. their competition. In the long run, product always trumps brand name, because brand names are ultimately built by product.


Others, like myself will wait for another revision of the product that fixes some of the problems or decreases the price, therefore making it attractive.

That's the rose-tinted eyeglasses view. Mine is that this design configuration elements are fundamentally self-contradictory, so it is irrelevant if the name on top says MS-Origami or Apple-Something. FWIW, I'm willing to wait 3-5 years to be proven right.


I applaud Microsoft for coming out with a product like this, because due to Capitalism...

The innovation here was in hardware, not software. As such, how much credit does Microsoft really deserve? And FWIW, "the slow pitch" isn't anything new in Marketing campaigns:


The whale
Put Jonah
Down the hatch
But coughed him up
Because he scratched
Burma-Shave


-hh

[coffey7]

Why is he so hated. He is just like every other computer nerd and comic book reader.He votes for democrats.Hes one of your crew.Steve Jobs is like every red neck jerk who treats women bad. I just want to know why its so personal? Why do you want the man dead? Why are people that make it big in life so hated.
I figured out that I'm the only person in the U.S.A that drives a Honda and uses a Mac that votes to the right.

[rhsgolfer33]

Why is he so hated. He is just like every other computer nerd and comic book reader.He votes for democrats.Hes one of your crew.Steve Jobs is like every red neck jerk who treats women bad. I just want to know why its so personal? Why do you want the man dead? Why are people that make it big in life so hated.
I figured out that I'm the only person in the U.S.A that drives a Honda and uses a Mac that votes to the right.

Youre not the only one, but I drive a Nissan ;) . Gates has contributed to both republicans and democrats, including McCain and Bush-Cheney. I cant understand wanting him dead, but I totally understand the hate of windows and this ugly Origami thing, why not just get Palms LifeDrive mobile manager, its smaller, has better batterlife, wifi, bluetooth, and a 4gb harddrive and is $400. Plus it looks about 100 times better than Origami.

[Airforce]

why not just get Palms LifeDrive mobile manager, its smaller, has better batterlife, wifi, bluetooth, and a 4gb harddrive and is $400. Plus it looks about 100 times better than Origami.

Windows XP.....

[bloodycape]

I'd take the dulcor over this anyday of the week since the dulcor offers more things in a smaller size for a little more.

[zap2]

Windows XP.....
That would be proving his point

[Kaiser Phoenix]

Wharton school has an interesting article about the ORIGAMI whether it will be a flop or a hit.

Personally I think itll be a flop unless it has OSX

[roach]

I think it going to do good…why because it doesn’t look like a laptop. Tablet failed because marketing was non existent and if you didn’t know tablet exist, you wouldn’t know one if it was right under your nose. Retailer displayed them like normal laptop with heavy price tag. I went to an electronic store and laid a tablet flat and started doodling. All a sudden I had people asking what gadget I was using. Several people lined up wanting to try the gadget after me. I came back a few weeks later and they again laid the tablet like all other laptops.

I suspect origami is probably going to get minimum marketing, just like the tablet PC, but because it looks different from tablet, I feel it’s going to attract more attention. Initial sale is going to be slow because I don’t think current design is appealing enough to the casual consumer…so only die hard techy is going to purchase initial release origami. It is going to do well, but someone has to design a more appealing design in order for it to be a smash hit.