Microsoft Origami is new category of ultra-mobile PCs

**Bob Crabtree** · 09-03-2006, 11:55 AM

As expected, the pay-off for Microsoft teaser campaign for Origami was delivered at CeBIT today, revealing, also as expected, that Origami is a new category of ultra-mobile PCs.

Microsoft unveils details for Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers

Introduced at CeBIT, the new mobile PC form factor, formerly codenamed “Origami,” provides full Windows functionality with an enhanced touch screen, pen and keyboard input.

HANNOVER, Germany, March 9, 2006 – Microsoft today unveiled details for Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPCs), a new category of mobile computing devices that features small, lightweight, carry-everywhere hardware designs coupled with the full functionality of a Microsoft Windows-based PC and a choice of input options, including enhanced touch-screen capabilities. The debut of UMPCs here at CeBIT, the world’s largest trade fair showcasing digital IT and telecommunications solutions, follows Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates’ call in 2005 for the computer industry to develop a new category of PCs that are less expensive, lighter and more functional.

Asus UMPC

Samsung UMPC

For more pics and Microsoft's official line, dive over here.

**Stoo** · 09-03-2006, 12:39 PM

So, slow, expensive, and virtually no battery life then?

t_aitch · 09-03-2006, 01:16 PM

Probably better than a decent PDA though, and at a decent price.

**Stoo** · 09-03-2006, 02:55 PM

From the reports emerging about this the general consensus is that a good pda is cheaper, faster, and lasts a lot longer in terms of battery life.

aphex · 09-03-2006, 07:08 PM

Not sure I understand the point of having something inbetween a PDA and a laptop...

**Steve** · 09-03-2006, 07:57 PM

Intel made a press release the other day that talked about UMPC and I immediately put that together with Origami.

Can't say I didn't see it coming. Well, there was that and the massive clue they dropped in the sourcecode to the Origami website.

nvening · 09-03-2006, 08:07 PM

WHAT!! - I looked at that sorce i saw nothing??!!!

**Steve** · 09-03-2006, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by nvening

WHAT!! - I looked at that sorce i saw nothing??!!!

In the source of http://www.origamiproject.com/2/ ::

Code:

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" >
<!--

    Origami Project:  the Mobile PC running Windows XP

-->

Mike Fishcake · 10-03-2006, 09:55 AM

I'm not quite sure why someone would release a device that combined the DISadvantages of notebooks and PDAs.

menthel · 10-03-2006, 10:34 AM

Looks disappointing at present. Not so worried about the speed, more the terrible battery life. Something that was that size, but had the battery life approaching that of a PDA would be much more attractive. They need a big old rethink on that one...

**Stoo** · 10-03-2006, 01:03 PM

I think the general idea is to get the structure and process in place now, then move over to fuel cells/faster low power processors in the future.

Whether anyone can be bothered with it is another question..

Mike Fishcake · 10-03-2006, 01:04 PM

Exactly. A PDA with a big flash card in it would be fine! If I'm doing loads of typing, that stupid rounded "keyboard" would get very annoying very quickly, I'm not exactly going to be doing any video editing or photoshopping on something with a display that small, tomtom works absolutely fine as it is, if I want to listen to music I buy an iPod, if I want to play games I buy a PSP, if I want to take notes or make appointments I use a PDA...

I'll be happy to be proven wrong, but I think it's going to fall flat on its arse, even taking into account future battery life concerns. If you want something ultra-portable that can do everything you want comfortably, buy one of those slimline notebooks.

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