“Intel on Tuesday plans to show off the minitablet device at the center of Microsoft’s Origami Project,” Ina Fried report for CNET News. “In a preview of Tuesday afternoon’s demonstration, Intel Marketing Director Brad Graff showed CNET News.com several of the Ultra Mobile PC devices, including an example of the kind of hardware that will ship in the next few weeks as part of the Microsoft effort. As earlier reported, the first devices have a 7-inch touch screen, standard x86 processors, and can run full versions of desktop operating systems including the Windows XP variant being used for Origami.”
“In later generations, probably next year or later, the devices could have the pocket size, all-day battery life, and $500 price that Microsoft and Intel are aiming for, Graff said in an interview,” Fried reports. “The first generation of devices are likely to get about three hours of battery life, he said. In addition to the 7-inch model, Graff showed several other prototype devices of what the chipmaker hopes will be possible in future versions, including models with smaller screens and a swivel-out keyboard. Although the prototypes are working, because they use today’s standard components, they get only about 15 minutes of battery life.”
“Intel and Microsoft’s latest efforts are not the first stab at shrinking the PC. There has long been a class of ultra-portable laptops, mostly with around 10-inch screens. There have been a few prior attempts to take the PC even smaller, most notably from OQO and a minitablet introduced this year by Dualcor Technologies. Most of these devices, though, have been priced at about $1,500, which is above the budgets of the average consumer” Fried reports.
Full article, with photos of the device prototype, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “macnut222” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Like we’ve already said: Microsoft Origami is the art of vapor folding. The tediousness of this whole “Origami” thing is stupefying. We cover this trifle only to highlight Microsoft’s ineptness at both stealth marketing and the development of innovative product ideas.
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Related article:
Microsoft practices the art of vapor-folding with ‘Origami’ – March 03, 2006
Excellent! 15 minutes of battery life on current models. Perhaps Microsoft will market this “advantage”, stating that this PC should not crash before the battery runs out. Hey, since it takes 30 minutes for a PC online to become infected, maybe this is part of the MS strategy to fight viruses.
I must say: Bwahahahahahahahaaaaaa!!!!!
This is it?
That’s so 90’s looking
dont really see the hype, it only slightly smaller than existing pc tablets and it only in protatype stage, hopefully apples tablet will be better
“15 minutes”
Good thing it’s not a heart monitor.
They stole a signature verification device from the checkout at Best Buy and slipped a Yahoo template under the clear plastic cover. Either that or they think they’ve reinvented the Etch-A-Sketch.
Where are the paper swans?
This tablet is too mid-sized to become popular. It should either fit in the pocket or be a laptop. In specialized situations it could work out, though it looks like shit.
There is no way Microsoft will be able to get the price to $500. Even if they have five year olds in China making them — which they will — it would be unbelievable to get an Intel processor, Microsoft XP flava of the day, video, sound, etc. for that price.
Wait a minute. There is one way. Make it Linux based!
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Though I use a PB at home and I extol the virtues of using the Mac OS to my compatriots at work, this product would be great for me since I work in construction and engineering and a portable like this running Autocad would be perfect. If only Autodesk would port ACAD to the Mac OS, only then would my transition to Apple would be complete…..
That’s another reason why Apple moved to Intel. They will use this technology from Intel in future iPods.
Sorry, I’m at a lost for words. Or maybe I just want to be polite.
“There is no way Microsoft will be able to get the price to $500.”
Unless they sell it at a loss. Aren’t all but two of their business units losing money?
When then can get it to be 1″ thin or less and have at least a 5-hour battery life for less than $1000, not to mention not have it look like something out of the original star trek, I might get interested. Until then, keep the promises coming, Microsoft! Sooner or later people will catch on that you never deliver. Or maybe not, they haven’t so far.
I can see it now, like the dude with the loud iPod. The next big thing will be someone will go blind from looking at the screen on Origami.
An oversized palm or PC handheld, big deal.
Sony makes better looking LCD remotes than that thing.
Take two and call me in the morning.
In the UK and OZ, pills are called tablets.
In Microshaft’s defense, Apple hasn’t come up with this yet so Microshaft had nothing to steal from….. considering the brain power that Microshaft has to work with, I’d say this is probably as good (and original) as they could possibly get there in Redmond…..
I think I’ll hold off buying one until the “OrigaMini” ships….
Scott,
Apple came up with this in the early 1990’s. It’s called the Newton.
More info:
http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,54580,00.html
“In Microshaft’s defense, Apple hasn’t come up with this yet so Microshaft had nothing to steal from….. considering the brain power that Microshaft has to work with, I’d say this is probably as good (and original) as they could possibly get there in Redmond…..”
No they ripped off a Newton
what the hell? looks like something from like 20 year ago!
looks like an Etch a Sketch. if OSX is hacked to run on it i’ll get one and keep it by toilet to surf the web during evacuation.
AND it ships, then I like it. A really small, really THIN tablet that runs every app? Gimme!
Just so long as it runs OS X! I want power and reliability in my pocket, not headaches.
This is good…now we have something new that we can all rail against that is not the HiFi.
Maybe this would be an upgrade for that big tablet the UPS dude carrys with him…oh what…he uses that all day long…this is only good for 15minutes.
More M$ guff, but Windows is guff and seems to have done alright 🙁
Thats so ugly I think I may wet myself lauging. It should be made from metal and the screen should run to the edges. The only input should be from a stylus or fingertip. Anything else is just a joke from UI point of view. And looking at the Apple patents the above is exactly what Apple is working on right now.
Tim Coughlin
OK, like it or hate it, this is a significant innovative step for Microsoft….in their defense, it is remarkable to get a full speed PC in that form factor. Sure it’s ugly and it is bulky but it may be easier to tote that a laptop for a lot of students. My view is that Apple sees how the market accepts it…just like they did with the media PC and then when the right time to enter the market occurs our nice little tablet Mac running OSX and sporting an awe-inspiring form factor, will appear…
A HIP factor of ZERO.
No wonder they’ve been keeping that thing hidden… I wouldn’t want to admit to developing something like clunky looking. And what kind of pockets would one be able to fit those in?
“In later generations, probably next year or later, the devices could have the pocket size, all-day battery life, and $500 price that Microsoft and Intel are aiming for, Graff said in an interview.
The first generation of devices are likely to get about three hours of battery life, he said.”
So the ones coming in a year “or later” will be really cool. These just aren’t that impressive…
Do they not teach Osborne Effect anymore? Only Apple can talk about future products and still sell what they have on the shelves.
~M
Jimbo, that was hilarious!
MS is wearing Bermuda shorts and black knee hi socks
“Although the prototypes are working, because they use today’s standard components, they get only about 15 minutes of battery life.”
Why did they have Hairy Wrist Man show off the product?
I’m hoping its because they heard Apple was going to release a new NEWTON on their 30th anniversart and were looking to show off some vapour hardware and software as a spoiling tactic
Ironically, the project really was actual origami. Fold together PC’s with graphics drawn on them of your favorite game, photo, or Excel spreadsheet.
The marketing slogan is brilliant. Origami: Easier than Windows.
it looks like a over sized voice recorder.
By the way, the origami has a three hour battery life (why do you think the thing is so huge?!). Of course MS probably put a 3.5″ HD in it!
The prototypes of future versions only run for 15 minutes…
So in 12-18 months or less, I’d expect to see:
7″ MacTab and the MacTab Pro
.5″ thick
Running OSX Leopard
30GB HD + 1x16GB Flash Drive (upgradeable) or 80GB HD x40GB Flash Drives
Bluetooth, WiFi, Useable Handwriting Recognition, Voice recognition, iSight
I can’t believe that this is what we were all supposed to get excited about…
MicoFart squeezes out another stinky one…
“In Microshaft’s defense, Apple hasn’t come up with this yet so Microshaft had nothing to steal from..”
Which is why it looks like complete crap. They must have stolen some old outdated I.D. magazines from some design firm’s dumpster and used those to create this butt ugly thing.
looks like I should be sliding a credit card and signing on it. or taking a s–t on it. too ugly and clunky looking. its like a newton, an MS mutant version.
Something between a PDA and a tablet, with small slide-out keyboard (OQO?) would be very practical for travel and general usage. I’m hoping Apple has something (better) in the works and held off so MS would show their cards first.
Neat idea, but so ugly. I’m sure they will find homes though in various fields, I’m sure doctors, architects, and many other professions would like to have a portable little computer like that.
Windows sucks on a big monitor. It’s gonna suck worse on this.
those designs are an embarrassment to any company. ughh.
Merriam-Webster has been notified. The definiton of “grasping” will be changed.
Where are they getting this retarded designers from? Jeebus on a stick, it’s like there’s only one great industrial designer in the tech industry. It’s no wonder everyone appreciates Apple designs. The prototype is where you’re supposed to show the flash, the product can be a little scaled back. Maybe the auto industry sucks up most of the good ones.
If it runs Windows….it means it can run iTunes….if it runs iTunes, there is no more the need for iPods to play music you buy from Apple’s music store. Very smart move from Microsoft.
So, how does it fold up again??
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Can you plug in an iPod?
You goofballs conveniently forget that MS has nothing to do with the hardware design. They make the SOFTWARE for it. Don’t like the design? Blame Intel, Samsung, LG, or whoever designed it. But please, don’t let reality get in the way of your bashing…
I remember reading about a patent (I believe Philips) has for foldable lcd-screens, but this is just a regular, and from what I can make of it, not very bright lcd screen.
Does anyone know what’s foldable about this chunk of carbon?
So, origami is a smaller (somewhat) version of a tablet PC. LadiFREEKINda.
Ok, the form factor looks like a Sega Gamegear. Also why bother to tell us about some half assed prototype, even if (BIG IF) this turns out to be a good machine, people will remember the crappy 15 min battery life on the original. You don’t lay your hand out this early in the prototype people. This would be like apple showing off a half finished ipod with 2 songs of life with pops and clicks. Then again everything Microsoft releases is a beta, Must not think logically.
My God, it’s so ugly!
Actually Copernicus, I’m sure Microsoft was intimately involved in the hardware prototype. Despite its name, it does hardware too, remember?
Word on the street is there was a SUPER secret conference was held and only the top 100 MCSE’s were invited. During the conference Microsoft officially renamed to more accurately describe what it feels like to use the product Microsoft has now renamed Project Origami to….Project Bukkake.
It is said that the “Lifestyle PC” really gives top MCSE’s the feeling that such great Microsoft figures as Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, Jim Allchin and Peter Moore are always coming <strike>on</strike> with you where ever you go.
The buzz among the Microsoft elite is that with this new name, Project Bukkake will not only crush the iPod but Apple computer as a whole.
Let see….
LUKE: What a pice of junk!!!!!
HANS: Bleep your mouth kid! Its got 15 minuts of battry life…
There is a PMP or PVP from Korea that called the iStation that has infinit live compare to this pile of junk and plays games, video PIM etc… Cost is aroubnd 499 and after inport around 600.
Wow they must have broak a lot of uggly stick on that thing!
Wonder what Steve thinks of this designed disaster?
I like it a lot
*shock*
uh oh,
better call the “DUDE” Mac Dude that is…
<i>CALLING MR. MACDUDE
CALLING MR. MACDUDE
CODE RED, REPEAT CODE READ
I ACTUALLY LIKE A MICROSOFT PRODUCT
WILL YOU BRING ME BACK TO REALITY?
HELP ME PLEASE
I heard your call pino,
now together on three…
1
2
THREE!!
*POP*
Next time be more careful before you stick your head up Bill Gates @$$.
This is absolutely the hottest, most gorgeous piece of technology I’ve ever seen. I’m also blind and retarded.
Cool! Another palm Lifedrive…
…wait…origami?
The level of IQ on this website is astounding. Do you guys read what you write?
There are a few good comments here and there, but the general trend is pretty lame. Geez.
LOL!
They have hyped this up to be some amazing futuristic portable device but in reality all it is is a large pda!
The design is something that should be in a museum – god that looks old.
Same old M$ – same old vapourware and bullshit.
Apple has nothing to worry about with this crap.
heh: “There are a few good comments here and there, but the general trend is pretty lame. Geez.”
New here?
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MW: writing -spooky!
Microsoft doesn’t make hardware? How do you classify the MS Mouse and the XBox?
I can just hear the new motto from the battery supplies.
Oh, rig me.