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DEL.ICIO.USWhat is ‘Origami?’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the past two weeks, excitement has been brewing about a new device/application from Microsoft dubbed Origami and speculation has been rampant online.
A teaser site — www.origamiproject.com — offered little info but the cat is apparently out of the bag.
Origami appears to be software that will run on a new series of super-small PCs that appear to be a cross between a PDA and a tablet PC. Wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, etc. are apparently part of the package.
Official details will be unveiled tomorrow at the Cebit electronics show in Germany but photos of a Samsung device are already circulating online.
The big question: to whom is this product geared? Apparently, the price will be set at around $500, which makes it a terrific entry-level way to connect to the Internet and perform other rudimentary tasks. Still, with only a modicum of info, it’s difficult to speculate just what Origami and its corresponding hardware can achieve.
So who’s interested in Origami? What qualities will it need to succeed? And when and why would you use it?
Post away. More details to come.
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By marty
March 8, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this
Not interested. I need a computer (laptop/ desktop) with a keyboard.
By Robbin
March 8, 2006 01:07 PM | Link to this
No, it’s a piece of paper!!!
By ray
March 8, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
I’ll buy one, I currently use a tablet PC and while it’s great it’s a bit large. Also, tried the Pocket PC, but it’s to small. I hope the Origami is just right!
By frank
March 8, 2006 01:47 PM | Link to this
This is not a new idea. Microsoft tried this before and I have living proof in my livingroom. A few years back, Viewsonic and a few other came out with an Airpanel, i.e. wireless monitor that allows you to connect to any PC in the house. Check email, browse the web etc. The viewsonic model I have is a tablet and touch screen. This so called new device is just an upgrade to existing product - that failed at best to take off. People are acting like they invented bread or something, when all they are doing up making a product they should have made in the first place.
By Chris
March 8, 2006 02:28 PM | Link to this
I agree with marty. Either a computer/PDA or MP3 playter. If they think this thing is going to un-seat the ipod, they’re out of their minds… Apple’s king of marketing good products - trying to get people to abandon and switch to a microsoft product just because it can do remedial tasks isn’t going to happen.
p.s. I doubt they’ll have an arm-band for it… good luck microsoft. Day late and a dollar short.
By RWH
March 8, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this
IT has moved so fast until it complicated for the IT themselves. Whatever that word is; I am sure people are not ready for it. Unless you live in Japan! They are far in advance in IT until they have ran out of IT to develop and test. (Origami) seem to be keyboardless and perhaps a stick or finger to move the mouse! That’s my take on Origami-preparing to decend on this IT World.
By Steve
March 8, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this
If it’s running a nearly full-featured OS, it will find a niche. For me personally, I’m in an office the majority of the time, so something like this seems a pretty good complement for my out-of-office excursion… at a meeting, it provides an easy way to access reports or spreadsheets (and make actual edits), or copy a database to it for some in-the-field data collection.
Basically, I agree with the poster ray… a bit beefier than a PDA, and lighter (& longer lasting) than a laptop. Definitely has a niche. Whether it’s enough of a niche to survive…
By Chris
March 8, 2006 05:16 PM | Link to this
Well to clear up some questions for you all its going to be around a 7” touchscreen and for those of you who NEED a keyboard it has bluetooth, so if you get yourself a bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo problem solved. Plus it has a2dp which I haven’t seen on the almighty iPod yet. So there goes that niche. This will also be running XP so it should be simple enough for most to figure out. Plus it is supposed to have a 30gb HD which should be ample storage for a portable device that fits in your hand.
By justin
April 20, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this
someumpc’s are not infact keyboardless http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/mobile.mspx aparently its “onscreen”