Poof! Microsoft’s vaporous ‘Courier’ slate PC evaporates

72 Comments

invisibleSHIELD case for iPad“According to sources familiar with the matter, Microsoft has cancelled Courier, the folding, two-screen prototype tablet that was first uncovered by Gizmodo,” Joel Johnson reports for Gizmodo.

MacDailyNews Take: Hey, where’s Jason? wink

Johnson continues, “We’re told that on Wednesday, Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer Microsoft execs informed the internal team that had been working on the tablet device that the project would no longer be supported. We contacted Microsoft, who confirmed that Courier will not go into production. Microsoft Corporate VP of Communications Frank Shaw told us: At any given time, we’re looking at new ideas, investigating, testing, incubating them. It’s in our DNA to develop new form factors and natural user interfaces to foster productivity and creativity. The Courier project is an example of this type of effort. It will be evaluated for use in future offerings, but we have no plans to build such a device at this time.“

Johnson laments, “It is a pity. Courier was one of the most innovative concepts out of Redmond in quite some time.”

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Joel, buddy, the thing never existed. Repeat after us: “It… was… vaporware.” Sheesh.

Microsoft’s concocted imagery failed to freeze the market, so the “project” is now “cancelled.”

Here’s what we wrote when “Courier” first condensed onto Gizmodo back in September:
What’s astonishing about it? That it looks to be 1990’s thick, that it’s stuck running some version of Windows, that it’s vaporous computer graphics with a cartoon demo, or all three? It’s not a “booklet,” it’s a “vaporlet.” So, why is this “astounding” CG imagery being emitted right now? Are Microsoft worried that a real device is coming soon from another company? And, careful, Gizmodo: Besides having been PlayedForSure, Multi-Touch™ is a trademark of Apple Inc. – MacDailyNews Take, September 23, 2009

Related articles:
Poof! HP’s vaporous slate PC evaporates – April 28, 2010
Microsoft’s Ballmer to show HP tablet, not ‘Courier’ vaporware – January 06, 2010
Microsoft working on ‘Courier’ booklet device? – September 23, 2009/div>

72 Comments

  4. So they are not going to make something that they never planned on making.

    I came up with that idea in my head a couple years ago, and I found it not viable

    now watch apple make the next MacBook ds and it will sell sell sell

    Reply

  6. Microsoft Corporate VP of Communications Frank Shaw told us: “At any given time, we’re looking at new ideas, investigating, testing, incubating them.

    …stealing them, copying them…

    It’s in our DNA to develop new form factors and natural user interfaces to foster productivity and creativity.

    Wait, is he channeling someone from Apple here? Because that sure ain’t Microsoft’s DNA he’s talking about.

    The Courier project is an example of this type of effort.

    …he means the stealing & copying type of effort.

    It will be evaluated for use in future offerings, but we have no plans to build such a device at this time.”

    “…and actually, we never did!”

    Reply

  7. “The concocted imagery failed to freeze the market, so the “project” is now “cancelled.”

    That’s Microsoft inNOvation in a nutshell. It may have worked great in the 1980s, but this ain’t the 80s.

    Back to the drawing board.

    Reply

  8. If it’s already “vapor” to begin with, how can it “evaporate”? ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> More like the smelly fumes (and other out-gassing) from the project have dissipated.

    > It’s in our DNA to develop new form factors and natural user interfaces to foster productivity and creativity.

    A Microsoft exec actually had the audacity to say that? Wow…

    Reply

  13. From the press release:

    “It’s in our DNA to develop new form factors and natural user interfaces to foster productivity”

    What a load of crap, it is NOT in your DNA, that’s marketing speak you fool.

    Reply

  18. furthermore…

    When someone says has to TELL you that it’s “in their DNA” to be innovative, they really are just trying to convince you they are because they aren’t. If they are truly innovative people would know it, they wouldn’t have to be told.

    Apple doesn’t go around telling people how innovative they are, they just are and people see it.

    Sorta like someone trying to convince you they are “fair and balanced”. They really aren’t it’s just marketing speak. Sadly people believe it just like they believe Microsoft is innovative.

    Reply

  19. But… But … Gizmodo did a feature-by-feature showdown between courier and iPad and the courier DEMOLISHED the iPad!!! It was clearly, absolutely going to destroy the iPad instantly!!! And now you are saying…. It was just a concept video trotted out as a cynical “me-too” by Microsoft?

    Oh well, giz will soon do a showdown between the iPad and hp’s “new” slate that runs webOS… I’m sure THAT will be real, right? RIGHT?!

    Reply

  24. My guess is that the “internal team” were less the Visual Studio types and more in the Photoshop/Maya camp. This is just so typical of Microsoft – cool looking but half baked conceptual visions that never amount to anything real.

    Loving my iPad – BTW…

    Reply

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