Yawn... Reality check for the much-hyped Origami PC

[Vin DSL]

Source: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...l/14052834.htm

After months of cryptic Web marketing and word-of-mouth hype over Microsoft's Project Origami, the company finally showed off the product: an ultra-compact computer running Windows XP with a touch screen and wireless connectivity.

It's everything a full computer or laptop is, minus the keyboard. It has a 7-inch touch-sensitive screen that responds to a stylus or the tap of a finger.

Two models from different manufacturers are expected to hit stores shelves by spring, and Microsoft says they will be about an inch thick and weigh less than 2 ½ pounds -- about the size of a large paperback book.

It will run on a full version of Windows XP, the same operating system used on larger tablet PCs, and newly developed software called Windows Touch Pack will handle touch-screen functions. Future editions will support Windows Vista, a version of Microsoft's flagship operating system that's due out in the second half of this year.

For the record, IMHO, anything made by Samsung is crap... and you can take that to the bank!

[Gwaihir]

In that case.. who makes the other one? I'm kind of looking forward to an ultra-portable fully functional computer.

In addition, I am hoping that the production and marketing of just two models will help to keep the price down and the product updated. (I.e. improve software for the existing model with new even better selling features, rather than make that a new model each time, leaving early adapters behind.)

[Vin DSL]

In that case.. who makes the other one?

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1935854,00.asp

Although Samsung will be first to market, Asus will release its own model in the US in June, while Chinese PC vendor Founder will deliver one to the Asian market this summer. Units using processors from Via Technologies will be released in Japan by TabletKiosk and PaceBlade, also sometime this summer.

More pics: http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/0,120...=172991,00.asp

[Gwaihir]

I've read some more about these (I'll skip the source link as it was in Dutch). There's still a real show stopper: use on battery: 2-3 hours. No better (quite possibly worse) than a normal laptop. Come on guys; for a portable tool like this to be usefull, it has to be (reliably) 6 hours minimum, just as MS stated earlier when they detailed the concept.

[Vin DSL]

I think 'thumb drives' are a better alternative these days, at least where I live, work n' play, e.g. spend most of my time. I don't think I'm ever more than a few feet away from a computer terminal -- pop in a USB drive, and away you go...

The only thing I worry about is security -- mine, not their's. However, I suppose if I was too worried, I would get a thumb drive' with a built-in biometric reader -- which, BTW, are already being hacked!

[Gwaihir]

Not for me; I find I spend a lot of my time waiting for one thing or the other, as well as in public transport. Also, I'd like to use it for those tiny, short actions that aren't worth the trouble of getting settled in like that, such as writing down an appointment or quickly verifying something noted earlier.

And that security matter is another thing: how many places can you really just sit down and start using such a device? Either "they" don't allow it there, or I myself will be distrustfull of the computer offered, as anything that open is usually invested with malware of all sorts.

As for those biometric readers: I've not yet seen one that offers it as a "true" security feature, rather than an easy way to forego typing passwords for the least sensitive uses. I must note that I haven't really been searching though.

[jason]

I'm just fine with my PDA for most quick things. Its small and lightweight, has 802.11b wireless and a web browser. The screen is too small for doing much more than jotting down notes or appointments or occassionally finding something quick on the web, but I can live with that convenience for having it fit in my jacket pocket. If I think I'm going to need to do more than that, I'll take my laptop with me.

--Jason

[Gwaihir]

Surely, if you have both those devices, why bother? However, I have the luxury of having neither at the moment and therefore such considerations do not factor in.

I haven't had a laptop in years, nor a need for so semi-elaborate a machine - big but won't match my two screen setup at home anyway. I've been thinking about a PDA but found it a tad too tiny so far and also dislike the limitations of not running "real" (i.e. fully functional) windows. So, all in all I am eyeballing these with interest.

[jason]

Both are "employer supplied." Hey, if they want to throw technology at me, who am I to argue? If they want to throw one of these new devices my way, too, I won't complain.

I have a pretty high end laptop, top of the line for its time (but its a couple years old now), but you're right--it doesn't match my dual monitor setup at all. I use the laptop for programming a lot--when I only need a text editor. I cringe when I have to open Photoshop on it.

--Jason