Microsoft’s Origami Project
Microsoft has suddenly announced a new project: the Origami Project. This is an odd marketing strategy for Microsoft, who usually announced project years before their completion. The interesting thing about the Origami Project is that no one knows exactly what it is.
Thatededguy reports that, “Well, if you take the time to read through the digg comments, you will find that Origami is the code-name for a device that was introduced in 2001 at Comdex. Press Releases here and here. NSC Product Page here. About the size and weight of a small digital camcorder, the National� Geode �Origami’ Mobile Communicator is a flexible unit that folds and unfolds to perform eight popular consumer electronics functions in one easy-to-use device.”
Meanwhile, Newtwork World claims that it will be a portable computer, which is fully capable of running windows. Network World then quotes an Engadget post about Microsoft’s Ultramobile Lifestyle PCs, connecting that project to the origami project. “According to at least one report, Bill Mitchell, Corporate Vice President of the Mobile Platform Division, showed a slide that outlined specs for the new PC category, including that it be wearable, always on, no larger than 10-inches, connected through 3G networks, pen-based, and have a suggested retail price of $500 or less. Sounds like something of a cross between Windows Mobile smartphones and tablet PCs.”
From Digital Kitchen’s site, we gain this image (which has been on the site for over a year, and now is removed):
Which looks very similar to this little device Bill Gates was holding:
But Microsoft Watch has displayed this image, which might possibly be the Origami Project, with the following subtitle: “Microsoft’s carry everywhere ultra-mobile concept PC showcased at WinHEC Inset: ASUS-designed auxiliary display.”
As for my conjectures, I believe that the Origami Project is a mini-computer, with Tablet-like capabilities (and thus has a stylus). It will also run Windows XP, as that is Microsoft’s brain child, and if it is really available for less than $500, it will fly off the shelves on it’s released date.
Recently, Engadget has confirmed that “Microsoft has not designed any new hardware for the Origami project. Instead, as stated by Microsoft’s CeBIT trade show spokesperson, MS will discuss Origami for oh, about “30 seconds” come March 9th, with the thunder to be unleashed instead by Intel and Samsung…” and will more likely look like the conservative black edged picture that Gates is holding above.
This entry was posted on Sunday, March 5th, 2006 at 2:07 pm and is tagged with origami project, windows mobile smartphones, ultramobile, corporate vice president, flexible unit, platform division, mobile communicator, digital kitchen, project microsoft, digital camcorder, bill mitchell, mini computer, 3g networks, bill gates, mobile platform, conjectures, portable computer, comdex, marketing strategy, windows network. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback.
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on March 6th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
For less than $500, I would think this would be very popular