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General discussion

Origami vs. PDA

Mar 9, 2006 6:51PM PST

I like the idea of Origami, and as a WM 2003 PDA user, I know the limitations of that platform. But what, exactly, will Origami provide as value added beyond the PDA? Well, a bigger screen has many advantages, but also moves the device from the pocket to the breifcase. More power enables practical new applications - but what are those applications? Video playback, I suppose, and maybe IP telephony - PDAs are already pretty capable at GPS and most of the other tasks Origami proposes to do.

I'm not sure about Origami and I'm the perfect target - PDA user (hey, I used an Everex PDA for years back in the Windows CE days) with a device that could justify replacement and interest in new gadgets. Which reminds me of the old rule-of-thumb that MS gets a product right on the third iteration. Maybe Origami will be more interesting with the release of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition *2009* OS and the associated hardware.

BTW, what's the storage strategy on this device? No mention on the MS site of a HDD specification. No rotating media?

Discussion is locked

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some are missing the...
Mar 9, 2006 7:59PM PST

I think some people are missing the point of Origami.

It's not a PDA replacement. It's not a laptop replacement. To steal the subtitle of my HP IPAQ rx3115 PDA, it's a "mobile media companion."

The UMPC.com site says:

"QUESTION: Is the UMPC going to replace the laptop or PDA?

ANSWER: No. The UMPC is a mobile device designed to access online media and content on the go. It is not designed to process lots of work or write a college thesis. You have your laptop or desktop for these tasks. Instead, the UMPC is a great PC companion.

The UMPC is powerful enough to provide a great gaming, music or video experience. People will have to decide whether they want to replace their dedicated electronic device with the UMPC. "

Yes, it would be nice to have a cell phone, mp3 player, bluetooth, gps, remote control, voice recognition, connect to the car, serve cappuccinos, etc... but to get all of that at a lower price that Veronica was talking about? I mean, come on! I want a car with all the features of a Mercedes, but I don't expect to get them in my Ford Ranger for 1/4th the cost.

The other thing is that when devices converge, they do so in a way that will leave some people very unhappy. The integration of the PDA and the cell phone - some people love the touch-screen dialing; others hate it! Some people like the thumb-qwerty keyboards, while others prefer the Grafiti-style writing. I like to take notes and make calendar entries on my PDA while I'm on the phone -- if they're the same device, I can't do that unless I use a bluetooth headset.

I would be leery of using a device with too many things built in, unless those things were easily replaceable or upgradeable.

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Origami = $1,190
Mar 9, 2006 9:37PM PST

According to a CNET report clipped using Avantgo (meaning that I don't have the origianl link handy), but...

Manufacturers unwrap first ultramobile PCs, Graeme Wearden, ZDNet UK...
They weigh just less than a kilogram (2.2 pounds), with hard drives of 30GB to 60GB, and run on Intel's existing ultralow-power Pentium and Celeron chips. Samsung's device, called the Q1, is scheduled to launch in May this year, costing about $1,190 (1,000 euros).

Pass.