| Microsoft has suddenly taken the center stage | | | | the works of a mobile phone, a personal |
| of technology world with its new product | | | | computer, a notebook and a PDA handheld |
| called Origami. Every major media of the | | | | device, Microsoft bosses have the feeling |
| world seems to be running after Origami now. | | | | that may be this is the ultimate portable |
| All the news websites contain more than one | | | | device we all need. GPS, a webcam, |
| article about Origami. It seems that Origami | | | | fingerprint reader, digital TV tuners, and |
| is the next big thing in the technology world | | | | compact flash and SD card readers will be in |
| is going to dominate the market in the next | | | | many Origami computers (UMPC) in very near |
| few months or may be years. Intel is with | | | | future. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Ethernet |
| Microsoft in making Origami. Origami is | | | | networks can be used to connect between |
| expected to address a new market for portable | | | | Origami computers and wide-area networking is |
| computers. It is neither a laptop nor a smart | | | | on the card too.Many people think that |
| mobile phone or PDA but has can do many works | | | | project Origami is an effort to seriously |
| for a user. In terms of size it is in the | | | | challenge Apple's IPOD, the portable music |
| middle between a PDA and a notebook PC. The | | | | player. iPOD has remained largely |
| only shocking thing is that the device will | | | | unchallenged since its birth as a portable |
| not be called as Origami but as Ultra-Mobile | | | | device and many bloggers have speculated the |
| PC (UMPC) and most probably this name will | | | | emergence of Origami from Microsoft as a |
| gradually take place of the name, | | | | response to Apple's supremacy in the portable |
| Origami.Speculations were very high among the | | | | device market. However, Microsoft officials |
| tech bloggers from around the world about | | | | are in no mood to confirm this theory and |
| Project Origami in the last few months. | | | | surely they have a strong point. Origami is |
| Although scare information was available | | | | not just a music player like iPOD but lot |
| until recently, every one expected Microsoft | | | | more than that. Microsoft officials can also |
| to produce something that would create a | | | | argue that many players have been trying to |
| storm in the technology world.Microsoft | | | | make an ultra thin and ultra light but very |
| bosses hope that they have been able to | | | | powerful portable computer but Microsoft |
| address a new market with Origami since it is | | | | could make the breakthrough. Since, Origami |
| a unique device in terms of size, price and | | | | computers run with Windows XP operating |
| performance. It is so light that its weight | | | | system, it will be able to do many functions. |
| is less than 2.5 pounds and it comes with a | | | | This feature will also make the works of |
| 7-inch touch-sensitive screen. Thus Origami | | | | application developers easier.The main |
| is really portable. Microsoft officials are | | | | problem with Origami computers is its high |
| upbeat with their optimism that within a few | | | | price. When Bill Gates first talked of the |
| years Origami computer (UPMC) will become | | | | idea of an ultra light portable computer, |
| indispensable like mobile phone. Perhaps the | | | | most people got the perception that its price |
| main reason behind their high expectations is | | | | would be under US $500 but we already know |
| the versatile nature of Origami computers. It | | | | that the price will be from US $600-1000. |
| runs on Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC | | | | Such a high price may discourage many users. |
| Edition operating system and it can do many | | | | However, it is natural that any technology is |
| works including playing games, digital music, | | | | expensive at first and later becomes cheaper. |
| mobile communication, and surfing internet, | | | | The same will happen for Origami computers |
| checking and responding to emails and so on. | | | | too. Finally, Origami is not just a source of |
| In future, Origami computers will run on | | | | entertainment but alsoMicrosoft's bid to |
| Windows Vista. Origami computers can support | | | | enter into the portable device market |
| both Blue Tooth and Wi-Fi wireless | | | | seriously will surely create pressure on |
| technology. This also means that a user can | | | | other industry players. It is for sure that |
| use his keyboard with the help of wireless | | | | other major players both in the hardware and |
| technology. They run on microprocessors built | | | | the software world will try to come out with |
| by Intel. The only thing that a user may miss | | | | something substantial to answer to |
| is keyboard. However, it has USB 2 ports and | | | | Microsoft's challenge. If another company can |
| thus adding an external keyboard is not a | | | | address the price issue seriously then surely |
| problem. 30 to 60 Gigabyte hard drive means a | | | | Microsoft and its partners will face serious |
| user can really use it like a regular PC | | | | challenge. On other hand, we are yet to get |
| too.Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Taiwan's | | | | any reaction from the open source world about |
| Asustek Computer Inc. and China's second | | | | Microsoft's Origami computers. Are they |
| largest PC-maker, the Founder Group, are the | | | | thinking of their own version of UMPC?Until a |
| 3 companies who are going to produce the | | | | few years ago, the idea of an ultra thin |
| hardware of Origami computers (UMPC). All of | | | | computer was like a science fiction. |
| them are serious players in the technology | | | | Microsoft has successfully brought this idea |
| world and naturally they will try their best | | | | into reality with its project Origami. We |
| to make Origami computers popular in the | | | | have heard in the recent years that the |
| market. Samsung's product (known as Q1) will | | | | computers of tomorrow will be thin like paper |
| hit the market in this May. However, the | | | | and users will be able to fold them after |
| price of Q1 is going to high.Who will be the | | | | using. Project Origami only reminds us that |
| main customers of Origami computers? | | | | the researchers are not sitting idle to make |
| Microsoft officials are hopeful that this | | | | this idea into reality. |
| device will attract everyone. Since it can do | | | | |