Microsoft Unveils Ultracompact Computer

[Pendragon_6]

Mar 9, 2006
By MATT MOORE


HANOVER, Germany (AP) -

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) finally took the wraps off its mysterious Project Origami on Thursday, unveiling a computer that's about the size of a large paperback book but runs a full version of the Windows XP operating system.

The ultracompact, wireless-enabled PC is everything a full computer or laptop is, minus the keyboard. Weighing about 2 1/2 pounds, the 1-inch thick device sports a 7-inch touch-sensitive screen that responds to a stylus or the tap of a finger.

"It really opens up new possibilities for PC use," said Bill Mitchell, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Mobile Platforms Division.

The gadget was unveiled Thursday at CeBIT, the annual technology trade show in Hanover during a speech by Intel Corp. (INTC) executive Christian Morales. Intel makes the Celeron M and Pentium M microprocessors that power the devices.

So far, three companies have built working models. Samsung and Asus expect to begin shipping by April. The Chinese manufacturer Founder is aiming for June, Microsoft said.

The gadgets, however, won't be called Origami - the name used in Microsoft's cryptic Web-based marketing campaign that led up to the unveiling.

Instead, the company is calling it the "Ultra-Mobile PC," said Mika Krammer, a marketing director for Microsoft's Windows mobile unit.


In Full
AP (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060309/D8G84MHG9.html)

[Rhino]

What's it supposed to be for? With no keyboard, I can't see what market demand it's supposed to fill, though there may very well be a use or demand I'm unaware of. Just looks like an overpowered DVD player and browser to me.

[THEBIRD]

I'm sure there will be keyboard attachments and an 'on screen' key board for your stylus.

[Native American]

If it's got a 7-inch screen, that's plenty big for a keyboard. Quite a bit bigger than a Blackberry, in fact, which has a full keyboard.

Sounds like a nice little unit!

[Eagle1]

again, something that would be cool to have but i really cant think of a reason i would need to own it

[Native American]

It would be a nice unit for people who want a full-featured, full-powered PC that is lightweight, easy to use, and nice to have along on business trips! And a touch screen is a real plus!

Sure, you can already buy smaller units which run Pocket PC software and which feature nice touch-sensitive screens, but having a bigger screen like that, along with a full keyboard (although admittedly a somewhat smaller-than-standard-size one) plus a more potent processor than the Pocket PC units have, plus it being able to run full Windows XP programs rather than the somewhat-crippled Pocket PC programs, make it sound like a VERY nice unit!

But I bet it costs a pretty penny....

[Rhino]

$600-$1000 is what they estimate.

[Native American]

OK, so double or triple what a Pocket PC costs, but about the price of what a modest laptop costs. I bet they've got a winner on their hands with that, for the businessman who wants something a bit more useful than a Blackberry but a bit smaller than the smallest of laptops.

[RayChuang]

I've seen a demo movie of what Ultra-Mobile PC can do and I believe it can be a cross between a Blackberry, GPS navigator, mobile device for WiFi "hotspots" and even a media player. Rumor has it that Apple is seriously considering making the iTunes software work on Ultra-Mobile PC so music and video purchased through the iTunes Music Store will actually work on this device.

[DoctorDoom]

Little ain't great. My main box is in a full-tower server case. I like 'em big, with lots of room to work inside and for expansion. It's geeksville.

[Native American]

Little ain't great. My main box is in a full-tower server case. I like 'em big, with lots of room to work inside and for expansion. It's geeksville.

On the other hand, trying to lug a full-tower server through Security Inspection on a business trip ain't always a stroll in the park either. (grin) That's when I prefer a somewhat smaller, lighter unit....

Last year, for example, I flew back and forth between Massachusetts and Arkansas several times, due to shopping for a potential new home for me and the missus, and then later due to moving our stuff from our old home in MA to our new one in the Ozarks. For those trips, I decided to carry my 4-pound, 1 1/4 inch thick 12" screen laptop, rather than bring my full-tower unit with the 19 inch tube monitor. Just call it a personal little quirk of mine, I guess... :smirky:

Anyways, the little laptop worked out so well for those trips (I even managed to do a bit of discussion forum posting from motel rooms!) that I decided to go All Laptop, and got rid of my tower unit and the big 19" color monitor before the final truck move down here to lovely Arkansas.

BTW, I liked your "orange brassiere" logo (or whatever it was that that jerk Lib over at the god-forsaken FSTDT site called it) that you used to have, better than the one you've got now. If it was me, not only would I have kept that old logo, but I would have Photoshopped it to highlight the "brassiere" part so as to rub it in that Lib's face even more....http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/peefrance.gif

[Rhino]

Little ain't great. My main box is in a full-tower server case. I like 'em big, with lots of room to work inside and for expansion. It's geeksville.Ditto, though I do like having a laptop on trips.

[DoctorDoom]

On the other hand, trying to lug a full-tower server through Security Inspection on a business trip ain't always a stroll in the park either.That's why God invented laptops. :D

[Native American]

That's why God invented laptops. :D

OK, but now what about bringing back that excellent "orange brassiere" logo?

[DesertFox]

This little puter would be fine if it had a plug-in for a standard keyboard. Puters have long since passed the stage at which some components are too small for the average man's fingers.

[DoctorDoom]

Intel showcased several UMPC prototypes based on its chips earlier this week at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, and Via is showcasing a new high-integration chipset and several UMPC prototypes using its chips, at CeBIT starting today.

Bill Mitchell, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Windows Mobile Platforms Division, said he expects some UMPCs "to include additional built-in features such as GPS, a webcam, fingerprint reader, digital TV tuners, and CompactFlash and SD card readers." Additionally, "some UMPCs will be able to connect via wide-area networking."

Because they run a full Windows XP OS, UMPCs will be useful for a wide range of entertainment and computing applications. An on-screen QWERTY keyboard can be used for data entry and navigation, along with stylus-based handwriting input. The devices will also support external Bluetooth and USB keyboards as input devices.Origami fever spreads (http://www.windowsfordevices.com/news/NS4596527542.html)

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/UMPC.jpg" />

Here's Mickeysoft's UMPC index page.

The Ultra-Mobile PC (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/default.mspx)

[DesertFox]

Stuff gittin' impressiver and impressiver.

[Native American]

This little puter would be fine if it had a plug-in for a standard keyboard. Puters have long since passed the stage at which some components are too small for the average man's fingers.

I think I read somewhere that it comes with 2 USB ports.

[Native American]

"Because they run a full Windows XP OS"

That one has me a bit confused yet (maybe I need to read the linked material?- except doing that is sometimes painful, since I'm on dialup down here in Arkansas vs. my nice cable I was on in MA) because I read that but then I also read somewhere that it will run some new-named OS, rather than the current XP OS.

[DoctorDoom]

It will switch to Windows Vista (XP's successor) once it is released, but for now it's XP-based.

[BEST45CAL]

It will switch to Windows Vista (XP's successor) once it is released, but for now it's XP-based.

I'm waiting on Vista, too.

I had Windows95 and I'm currently running WindowsMe.

I skipped Windows98 and WindowsXP. Not on purpose, it just worked out that way.

I like the looks of this Vista. The graphics aren't all cartoonish.

[DoctorDoom]

XP's default Playskool "theme" is okay for the Wal*Mart package puters, but the first thing I do is switch it to Windows Classic (9x/Me) view. Personal preference.

[Native American]

Anyone know when the item is supposed to be available in the stores? (It may say on their website, but I'm limited to dialup out here in the boonies of northwest Arkansas, so it's a bit painful trying to dig through their graphics-heavy website.)

[RayChuang]

XP's default Playskool "theme" is okay for the Wal*Mart package puters, but the first thing I do is switch it to Windows Classic (9x/Me) view. Personal preference.

Actually, the default Luna theme for Windows XP looks better at higher resolutions like 1280x1024 and 1600x1200. For lower resolutions I do agree that the Windows Classic theme look better. :thumb: