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Tuesday, February 28, 2006 6:00 PM PT Posted by Anne B. McDonald
Skepticism About Microsoft Handheld; Link to Origami Video
One of PC World's correspondent, Erin Biba, poked the Microsoft Origami device story with a stick today and here's what she says."Don't get too excited about the speculation surrounding Microsoft's possible update Thursday of a new handheld device called Origami. After the company began its viral marketing campaign earlier this week, I talked to some analysts familiar with the project. The general consensus appears to be that, although the device appears to be real, it might not live up to all the hype.
{PC World Editor Danny Allen just sent a link to the ad agency video that purports to show the Origami in action: go here to see it.)
"One analyst, who confirmed that rampant Web buzz claiming Origami is a large, handheld, Windows-like device is accurate--said that ultimately he believes that Origami will be a niche product, appealing mostly to women rather than a large audience. "He said that it is unlikely Microsoft will reveal the full details of the product on Thursday: "Origami is a product, but the timing is what it is. It's not an iPod killer. (The frenzy is) the nature of stealth marketing, and people's imaginations get inflamed."
"And therein lies the problem. Imaginations are impossible to control, he said, adding: "If this goes on much longer (Origami is) going to solve the Iraqi war and save the whales." (Note ironic tone here, please!)
"Peter Pawlak, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, agreed: "Microsoft is trying to do some viral marketing. We're not sure that's a great idea. . .when it finally comes out it's like the Segway scooter--where are they today?"
"Matt Rosoff, also with Directions on Microsoft, told us his firm will not even be attending Microsoft's analyst meeting on Thursday in Redmond. The meeting, he said, will be run by the research department, "For us, research is interesting as an organization, but our customers are interested in stuff that's coming out in the next 18 months."
"So what does Rosoff think the research department will have to say? "It might be a reference design for an ultra portable computer. . .(or) some sort of new user interface." Ultimately, though, he believes the meeting "might be interesting, but it's not going to be a product announcement."
"The best bet right now for those still taking Microsoft's bait is to keep an eye on the marketing campaign as it develops. The Origami site says updated info will be available on 3/2."
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Origami to a low price because we are extreme sport folks
who have Origami snowboarding freestyle in the backpack.
After rocks and snow and ice shutdowns several Origami's
will not always survive such shutdowns.
*shock* People trash talking Microsoft products before they're even out!
B: WTF are you talking about?
Ladiesman: who's trash-talking Microosoft products? the article is more about hype/viral marketing backfiring than microsoft not delivering some holy-grail product.
unless ur talking about B's comment, but that would mean u were able to read it, and that's unlikely..no?
By the way, since when are women not a large audience? Last time I checked, they're half the market.
Only the stupid and ignorant think anything from Microsoft will ever work. It will be garbageware like everything else gates has ever produced. Atleast gates is consistent, everything he touchs turns to garbage. The wonders of a total and utter monopoly where the redmond retards can spew out garbage and still make money.
Hm. Put enough $$ behind something and enough user input and eventually you get a decent product. Look at the Xbox360, the ipod, XP, and OSX. Many of us interact with these things everyday and would be hard pressed to go without.
Origami... well it looks too large to be an ipod replacement, but a nice thing to have with you on a plane. It would probably be nice to have them dotted around the house.
I say any step toward the ultimate device is a good step.
Hmmmm
Its like being Goldilocks, something too big?! and not too small. Fickle on size, color or shape, never satisfied. The market drives on this modern trait. I myself have five different sized laptop. OMG gotta get that something new! Oh well its just the flavor of the day..........Thats all: life is good
...what's wrong with today's market, any portable device is seeing as contestant to IPod.
Get a grib, IPod is an MP3 player, and I am not the type of person who need a pair of headphone jacked in my ear everywhere I go. However, a more portable computer would certainly be great. If Origami is an IPod or anywhere near an IPod, you can bet I won't buy it; I am looking for a more portable computer not MP3 player.
Problem with current portable computers
----
Palm/Pocket PC: Small and portable indeed, good bettery life. Only problems, screen is too small, and application support is too limited. Really uncomfortable to work with.
Laptop: Huge with limited portabilites. Better life is awful, 2 hours and it's dead. Need to have my power core everywhere I go; that's addtional space and weight. Overall, it's really cumbersome to carry around.
---------
A new generation of portable device smaller than a laptop and more powerful than the current pocket PC would certainly attract alot of potential buyers. Something with the planar size of a piece of 11x8.5 in. notebook paper and thickness of 200 page novel would be great. Smaller isn't always better, too large is always cumbersome.
As far as the market is concerned, consider the push for improved medical IT. Consider that the rumored form factor for this device seems quite nice for a doctor's jacket pockets. In addition a ruggedized version of it would be far more flexible for many business uses, possibly replacing the units you see UPS drivers and other delivery and warehouse workers using.
Frankly, I'd like a portable PC that allows me to do most of what I can on my laptop, but is easy to carry around with me. My PocketPC is good as an MP3 player, e-book reader, and for basic Internet access, but a little bigger screen would be nice. Also, I'd love to have something that I could jot things onto with little effort. A Tablet PC sounds good, but they are still a little too big. Perhaps the origami may be the answer.
By the way, I teach composition to second-language students and I feel that OneNote is a godsend for writing comments and editing essays. It's a Microsoft product and works better than any other software I've seen for what I need it to do. What other software allows you to write anywhere on the page and includes so many other features useful to a teacher? I wonder why do people have to make such blatant comments about what a company produces? Frankly, all companies suck one way or another.
I got the 'sarcastic tone' but completely missed the irony.
er... no pun intended?
Size is definitely the main issue here. Too large simply means inconveniences, and too small might be too uncomfortable to operate.
If the first origami hit the store with windows xp or windows vista about the size of a piece of notebook paper (as seen in the teaser video), the product will sell. Of coures, within a reason price as well, somewhere less than $800 would definitely sell faster than xbox 360.
Seems to me like the Palm is about the right size. And the best thing about it: it doesn't use any flavor of Windows OS!
the problem with tabletpc was ,its always compared to a laptop. while being very different in usage.
With a price tag under $800, it maybe just what i need for years.
Problem with pocketpc , or palm is , they arent real comps. most usefull software wont work on them.
Pocket pc is way too small, and software support is bad. It's really not a "PC", more of an organizer/mp3 player.