The tech world has the shortest memory and the most hopeful beliefs in the world. The fact that Microsoft’s history contains more FUD than any amount of true innovation, has been cast aside in the face of artful photo editing. Reality has little to do with it.
The observation of the so called origami device points at a failed tablet concept that now has acquired a dock. So lets cash in this reality check by reviewing a few items in the video.
• The device is smaller than a 12″ laptop screen
• The device has no keyboard (optional external)
• The device requires a dock
• The device is wireless, both 802.11x & Bluetooth
• The device may have GPS
The demonstrated features appear to;
• Remote control of linked PC (windows)
• Cell phone linkage
• Graphic editing
• General communication (email, IM, etc)
• long and short range roaming
• Play Music and video
Current examples of this type of device are the Palm T/X and the Nokia 770. These devices while smaller, have a roaming life of about 2 hours, this tends to indicate that a larger (faster?) device would consume even more power than this. And hence a shorter battery life. As an example my old 12″ iBook can operate at about 4 hours, until I turn on my WiFi, and then that drops to 2 or less. Another problem is range, both Bluetooth and WiFi are short range less than 100 Meters, and generally much less probably under 20 meters. So many of the wireless features are restricted to under 20 meters of the docked PC or WiFi connections.
These are real restrictions, in fact the same one’s the Apple Newton faced years ago. The whole video reminded me of the original Newton advertisement teaser. These represent a complete niche device and will not have any better success than the table PC has enjoyed. (Note: I bought one of the Original Newton’s and used it for years)
But getting back to the original point, this device seeing the light of day are questionable. The marketing, I suspect, has more to do with Microsoft one-upping Apple than it does producing a real product. Microsoft has a long history of claiming development of products to short circuit competitors. And this has all the earmarks of just such a product. And I believe that while Apple might have been developing this type of product, the fact that they did not announce such a product was due in large part to the Microsoft announcement. Should Apple choose to produce this type of device, they will wait until MS fails to deliver their FUD device.
Update: As expected, 15 minute battery life, MS to try and fit Vista on it, too heavy, no software, only Gate’s “Vision” and no substance.
I’ve added it to my Myths tag, as that will be what it becomes.
Update: Seems like the press have finally caught on Origami is a paper tiger
Update 2: Origami UMPCs are a disaster