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Intel, MS unveil ultramobile PCs

updated 12:50 pm EST, Thu March 9, 2006

Ultramobile PCs unveiled


Intel and Microsoft today announced the first three units developed around the ultramobile PC form factor, which both companies developed in a project known as Origami. The companies said Microsoft fine-tuned its Windows XP Tablet edition for the device style, while Intel focused on the hardware aspect, according to a report from ComputerWorld. "You can count on the continued partnership of Microsoft and Intel to bring together thousands of developers to work on this category," said Bill Mitchell, vice president of mobile platforms at Microsoft. Samsung Electronics, Asustek Computer, and a company tied to China's Founder Group showcased their ultramobile devices. The devices feature touch-screens, wireless 802.11 A/G networking, Bluetooth, and optionally support for 3G wireless networks.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. jpellino

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 1999

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    03/09, 01:09pm | report spam | Reply |

    2-3 hour battery...

    yikes.

    looks like a photoshopped newton

    http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/mar06/03-09Mobile.mspx

  1. Zaren

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    Joined: Aug 2001

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    03/09, 01:18pm | report spam | Reply |

    Mmm, Newton...

    I still use my 2100 every day for work. As the rumors and leaks spread about this Origami thing, I kept thinking "this thing is a Newton on steroids". I don't think the market for such a large device has grown much in recent years. If it has, Apple better have a Newton 3 on a shelf somewhere.

  1. OtisWild

    Junior Member

    Joined: Feb 2005

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    03/09, 02:15pm | report spam | Reply |

    for these to be worth...

    ... half a damn, they need at least 10hr battery life. Traders would love something like this, but not if they have to put it down during the trading day.

    large flash (8gb range) and OLED touchscreen is a better way of going, and hopefully Apple resurrects the Newton as an OS X version of this with inkwell and a 'Newton' app where you write down what you want and it figures it out for you (like a hwr area where you can write, say, "set appointment with Dr. Foobar @ 8:30 tomorrow", and it finds Dr. Foobar in the Address Book, then creates the appropriate entry in iCal).

  1. paulc

    Junior Member

    Joined: Aug 2000

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    03/09, 04:03pm | report spam | Reply |

    Indeed...

    ...when I first saw some images, I thought "oh, a thinner Newton... boy, that was a good product."

    However, I doubt we'll see a NuNewton or anything like it from the fruit. Would take away too much from Jubz desire to be the King of all Content Moguls. At this point, my only real hope is that they continue making boring old computers for the next 10-15 years.

  1. devilla101

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    Joined: Dec 2003

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    03/09, 05:05pm | report spam | Reply |

    Sweet

    Man that thing looks sweet although its a bit out of my price range and I can't think of any use of it that my laptop can't do.

  1. Mac-a-Bayan

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    Joined: Jul 2004

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    03/09, 08:04pm | report spam | Reply |

    I bet this is why ...

    Steve Jobs only showed less cool new products when he invited the world's press to a launch last February. And maybe the same reason why Apple WWDC was pushed back to Aug 7-11.

    Honestly, I did got intrigued with MS origami "teaser" . But now after glancing its initial picts-- well, I still think its a great idea-- but I'm sure Apple can do a lot better.

  1. mjtomlin

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    Joined: Oct 1999

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    03/10, 12:55am | report spam | Reply |

    yea, right...

    Microsoft is excited about creating a whole new market? Oh they mean a brand new rebranded tablet pc market. Oh I get it. Look! It's smaller, cuter and, and, uh, lighter!

    Me thinks if Microsoft doesn't do something to help these hardware manufacturer's make more money, they're going to go else where for innovation and software to run on their cool hardware.

    It's not that people don't get tablet pc's, it's that the interface and interaction built in to the design of the OS does not work with hand gestures. Why force your hand to do what a mouse or keyboard can do more efficiently? Make the interface and method of interaction more natural to the capabilities of the human hand or voice.

    Take a look at all the patents that have been flowing out of Apple on this subject. They are basically redefining the way we will use computers in the future. Current touch screen technology is very primitive and basically just emulates mouse clicks and movements and keystrokes.

    The method of input should define the interface and hopefully advance it... 1. switches -> lights 2. Keyboard -> command line -> type commands 3. Mouse -> two dimension corresponding natural movement -> clicking, selecting, dragging, moving 4. Fingers -> multi-simultaneous clicks and drags. gestures, variable pressure

    Imagine if the touch screen could sense you had five fingers on the display and you made a gesture, swiping your hand in a particular direction, and the OS determined that to mean you wanted a clean workspace and then followed through by throwing the windows off the screen and out of the way. That is natural and a very intuitive method of interaction.

    With the lack of a keyboard what else could we possibly use to put words into the computer!? Well how about voice? I sure as h*** know i can talk a lot faster than i can type and with the computer dictating, i wouldn't have to worry about spelling errors.

    anyway, blah, blah, blah, Microsoft won't be the ones to figure this out, but i'm sure they'll be around to reap the benefits.

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