Origami, Notepad Computing
If you pay any attention to technology circles, you will have heard about a new device that Microsoft have helped design: codename Origami. Up until today there has been a lot of buzz, but very few concrete facts about this device, even now there is lots of scare-mongering, so what is it?
The specs are interesting: 7″ display (800×480 pixels), 1ghz processor, 30-120gig HDD (depending on model), Wi-fi, Bluetooth, ethernet , Compact Flash, USB ports. There’s a lot of potential coolness about it.
The thing is that, while it runs XP Tablet Edition (and Windows Vista will run on it), it’s not a Microsoft product. They helped design it but currently the only two working models I’ve seen are produced by Samsung (as in the above picture) or ASUS. This is not Microsoft’s iPod, or even Powerbook, it’s an attempt to expand what we know as personal computing, to create a new type of PC. It’s pretty bold, but what use is it?
It’s not aimed at replacing mobile/smart phones. Rather it is a new type of machine call the ultra-mobile personal computer, basically a Laptop++, and does it compete with PDA’s? Almost certainly, but it’s not a pocket machine. It bridges a gap between the low-powered, poorly compatible, PDA market and the over-large, inconvient tablet and laptop market.
The question is, is that a large enough market?
Certainly price is a problem. Current estimates place it at around $1000 at launch. That’s far too much, and it’s a shame, because the “intended” price point (that they want to drop it to eventually) is $600, which would be a killer price. At that price I’d save up and buy one, but at $1k? It’s too much, at least for me, to justify.
It’s the difference between potential and the current market. At its launch the price is going to keep the people who might buy it (because it’s cool, and would work well) from adopting it. It’s limiting its early adopter potential.
The thing is - it’s not a laptop, it’s not an iPod, it’s not a PSP. It’s both more, and less, than all of those. It’s an untested market (the Apple Newton doesn’t count), and accordingly it is going to have to be attractive to people.
I happen to like the form factor. It’s not the prettiest thing in the world, but it’s not ugly, it looks a lot like the PSP’s big brother. The 2nd generation’s prototype, codenamed “Haiku”, has a nicer design and form factor, but it’s just a lump of non-functioning plastic right now.
Practically however it’s much more useful than a PDA, iPod, or PSP. It’s not a dedicated media player (though it will be good at it if it’s marketed as such it will die a death), it’s not a games machine (though it can play games). It is much closer to what people want from a PDA - a small, carriable, PC that can do everything they expect from a home PC, but they can also take notes on.
The Origami is important, from an esoteric philosophy of computing stand-point, but will it be successful? I hope so, but it really will depend on what high-quality acessories and software Microsoft (and it’s partners) can make the public aware of. Also it really depends on how long that expensive price point lasts.
Will I get one? Not right now certainly, and probably not for a while, but I’ll admit that I can see the use of it, and give me a year or two and you’ll probably see me thinking about it. That is - if they succeed in giving it a good hold and image in the marketplace, something that MS really failed to do with Tablet PC’s, another product that is important, but of limited practical use.
What are your thoughts?
on March 9th, 2006 at 17:55
I’m impressed by the Origami; it went from being the most hyped, exciting thing on the web to one of the dullest almost overnight. It’s an expensive, unattractive tablet PC that is *just* large and heavy enough to require a bag to put it in. Ho hum.
on March 9th, 2006 at 18:04
The hype is the problem really though isn’t it? It they had just released it then we’d be going “hmm, cool, but too expensive”
It is basically a mini-tablet, but that’s cool. It’s also not that expensive. You can’t find something that size that does that much for that price. It’s also cheaper than a laptop or tablet.
Like I said though - at $1000 they’ve potentically priced themselves out of the market.
Also - the thing that people seem to be missing - it’s not a single unit device, it’s a concept for a whole new brand of PC’s. So you have a progression from regular PC’s, to Laptops, to UMPC’s like the Origami, and finally PDA’s.
To capture that market though they are going to have to get closer to their $600 ideal. They will, eventually.