Scoble: I have seen the future, and it is Origami

We tried. Really we did. We wanted to limit today's Origami posts to the one we ran  this morning. But we can't resist the lure of Robert Scoble, whose haiku-like pronouncements on what Origami isn't graced our newsreader a little while ago. According to Scoble (whose sources at Microsoft are, of course, impeccable), Origami isn't an iPod killer, portable Xbox, OQO killer or PSP killer. So, what exactly is it? Coy boy Scoble isn't telling, though he says he's seen it, and that he'll buy one with his own money. We assume he won't be forced to do that. He's more than earning his keep by feeding us these infuriating snippets.

[Thanks, Kyle]

[Jerrell @ Mar 6th 2006 5:27PM]

more than one post is good i cant wait for this thing to come out

[JCollum @ Mar 6th 2006 5:31PM]

Woohoo first post... and ummm... I dunno... that thing looks cool! Yeah!

[Dan @ Mar 6th 2006 5:38PM]

Why is anyone excited for anything microsoft makes? This thing looks boring.

[Ken R @ Mar 6th 2006 5:39PM]

yeah... sounds really awesome. I don't think it will change the world. This whole thing better do something special, if it's just a little computer, then I don't think it's that great.

[BklynKid @ Mar 6th 2006 5:39PM]

Damnit MS, just tell us already! Now I really wanna know.

[chris @ Mar 6th 2006 5:40PM]

lol JCollum

Yeah, definitely, it looks cool for sure

[Eric Davis @ Mar 6th 2006 5:42PM]

No offense engadget guys, but was that story worth telling?

[mike. @ Mar 6th 2006 5:42PM]

I'm sorry if this has already been discussed to death, but have we solved the mystery of what this thing is yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV1WGDW37c0&search=project%20origami

[flip @ Mar 6th 2006 5:47PM]

Sweet JCollum. Nice work. I'll call your mom and let her know what a go-getter you've become.

[eggie @ Mar 6th 2006 5:47PM]

MS has done a reasonably good job at generating some Apple-esque hype for the first time in a long time.
I for one hope that there's some content behind this hype, and not just a platform sitting between a PDA and tablet PC.

[Greg @ Mar 6th 2006 5:47PM]

I wonder how long until Linux is on it? I bought a few domains pertaining to such an idea just as a speculation buy.

[W @ Mar 6th 2006 5:47PM]

Will it play doom?

[hippie @ Mar 6th 2006 5:50PM]

When the fabricated hype wears off, it will revealed to be just be a expensive underpowered PC with a very short battery life and a MS BOB user interface.

[crunchinjelly @ Mar 6th 2006 5:51PM]

This is the same Microsoft that said WebTV is the future. Then Tablet PC.

Yawn.

[Kyoji @ Mar 6th 2006 5:57PM]

I just want to know what the dang thing is. Dang it.

[K.F. @ Mar 6th 2006 5:57PM]

Keep up the origami posts. I'm an Apple fan, but some of us need to use a PC too - and if MS can make a better PC for all of us, then go for it.

Post as much as you want about Origami - after all, I go to this site for gadget news, I don't expect you to hold back.

[Jvijil @ Mar 6th 2006 6:02PM]

All I learned in this post is that it's not what I expected. It's most likely an internet tablet like the Nokia 770.

[James A @ Mar 6th 2006 6:06PM]

Before he started at Microsoft, Scoble gained his reputation by promoting the NEC Tablet PC. So of course he's going to say things like this. (I bought, like, and still use the NEC Tablet he was promoting.)

[Tim @ Mar 6th 2006 6:07PM]

Am I the only one that thinks this is an OQO ripoff?

[qasim @ Mar 6th 2006 6:07PM]

is it just me or does this look like the (REAL VIDEO IPOD) 6th gen >????????????????????????????

[Bob the builder @ Mar 6th 2006 6:10PM]

Is that a a prop from Star Trek TNG?

[djphatjive @ Mar 6th 2006 6:21PM]

Why do I get the feeling that this thing is a desktop extender. Like you can be out and about and use the processing power of your home pc but stream the screen to this devise through high speed wifi. I have a feeling that this is what its main function is. Oh and using a touch screen as imput. Yeaaaaa...

[Dermot81 @ Mar 6th 2006 6:32PM]

If it fits in my pocket, I'll buy it as soon as it's made available for sale.

If not...well then I'll have to wait and see.

[Nathan Weinberg @ Mar 6th 2006 6:36PM]

Scoble did say one thing useful in the comments:

Origami will be able to run Photoshop.

That pretty much sets the bare minimum of system specs at "pretty good".

[Nick @ Mar 6th 2006 6:52PM]

#22: My P1-233 runs Photoshop. He never said "well". ;)

[maxp @ Mar 6th 2006 6:54PM]

For me a spec like this would be the bare minimum to me; ~1ghz cpu, 256 ram, 32mb shared mem gfx card, wifi, ethernet,40gb hdd, and a sound card jack.

[edgore @ Mar 6th 2006 6:57PM]

I believe that Oragami is a revolutionary new product, and one that will influence how we design our cities in the future.

[converge @ Mar 6th 2006 6:57PM]

This thing will be about as popular as the Segway.

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 6th 2006 6:59PM]

I don't realy understand all this Hype around the Origami project. It's just another handheld computer. The only difference is that it's got a bigger screen then a normal Palm device and that it runs XP, or some special edition of XP. Origami is the proof of an old trick. Take something old and re-launch it as something new and revolutionary. It's not that I'm not interested in the Origami project but I think it's a little bit Hyped. You have to see it from what it is.

[apathyangel @ Mar 6th 2006 7:12PM]

I agree with #25!

Lets hope for flying cars. I really want them.

[Dubiousd @ Mar 6th 2006 7:14PM]

Anyone have any idea why it is called Origami? Can you fold it up and put it in your pocket?

[DC @ Mar 6th 2006 7:17PM]

Gotta love all the instant analysis (and rejection) from so many folks when we still don't know what it is or what it does. My guess is that it's some sort of supermagnet for harsh judgementalism and geekdom superiority complexes.

Oh, and I think it'll be absolutely useless unless one can mount a bicycle bell on it.

[Peter @ Mar 6th 2006 7:17PM]

Your not the only one #20... it's something i've been predicting (and waiting for) for quite a while.

Think wireless monitor that receives the image over wifi...

[rafael @ Mar 6th 2006 7:19PM]

http://www.designbum.net/alexandria.htm

[anon @ Mar 6th 2006 7:30PM]

Apple suprises you with new stuff, while Microsoft keeps you hanging while never fully offering you what it primises.

That being said, there is a market for a phybrid tablet/PDA.

[Tom @ Mar 6th 2006 7:42PM]

WOAH, just seen that video, (the one in post #32) and one minute it looks like its a huge laptop and another it looks like a widescreen flip phone! hmm could this be a a new way of sharng things between home computers n mobile technology? i.e the wifi screen mentioned earlier...
its like the end of pulp fiction, i really wanna find out whats on that strangly see-through screen and what is making the little asian dude groan...hmm maybe i don't!

[uberwear @ Mar 6th 2006 8:07PM]

"15. I just want to know what the dang thing is. Dang it."

is this not the funniest thing anyone has read all day?

[Phoneboy @ Mar 6th 2006 8:28PM]

Marc,

You begin by lamenting the fact that this is today's second post about the Orag... but your second post tells us, surprise! that there's nothing new to report. I think you could have gotten away with just one post today.

Silly.

[Sinzen @ Mar 6th 2006 8:30PM]

So yeah, I said it once and I'mma say it again. If this thing is availabe to buy by the end or mid May then I'm sure that I'll be in as long as the price is right and the battery lasts for nearly a days use. Let's hope the HDD is reasonable for its size and that the wifi or bluetooth on it is solid and I'm sold. I'm due up for a new gadget that is easier to take with me. Oh yeah, let's hope it has at least a SD slot on it too. That would be sweet.

[Russ Johnson @ Mar 6th 2006 8:35PM]

So I'm wondering/hoping a couple things...

3G Support? (Ditch my thinkpad z60t)

Vista Support? (and maybe, MAYBE Live TV, like and actual client/server interface.Here's dreaming.

GPS? Integrated and not some lame add-on. And hopefully using a better version than Streets and Trips 06.

Lastly I hope the thing works better than smart displays.

[Andrew @ Mar 6th 2006 8:38PM]

They better release this thing around the time when people start getting their Income tax checks back

[bleh @ Mar 6th 2006 8:51PM]

if by kill... you mean trounce other handhelds with its immense size and weight... then yes. otherwise no.

[Karl Viklund @ Mar 6th 2006 8:54PM]

After all this Hype it better be something good :)

[homer @ Mar 6th 2006 9:00PM]

these apple fun boys are so envy!!!!!!
after months they got an leather case, a box with speakers, and a expensive macmini.

No little cool apple tablet pc, pda, 13inch ipod? AHHH AHHHHHH

[sirshannon @ Mar 6th 2006 9:32PM]

Intel�s Ultimate Mobile PC is a community site for Microsoft�s tiny portable �Origami� project. I was able to register as a user, find out some new info, and a few new pics, as seen on my site: http://sirshannon.com/2006/03/06/umpc-origami-ultimate-mobile-pc-community-site/

[Peter @ Mar 6th 2006 9:38PM]

Dude is this real...?
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34. http://www.designbum.net/alexandria.htm
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Looks cool, and MS's marketing really seems to have improved over the last month or so... have they hired someone new?

-----
Peter
http://peteremcc.wordpress.com

[rjt @ Mar 6th 2006 9:46PM]

Well THIS apple fun boy sure is envy!

[indolene @ Mar 6th 2006 10:00PM]

If it has that book/keyboard attachment thingy that was in the video that mike posted, I'm all about this instead of a new laptop for work trips and presentations. As long as it can play RTCW and ET, I can live with that.

[eggie @ Mar 6th 2006 10:47PM]

It better not be a leather case for my PC!

[Chris @ Mar 6th 2006 10:51PM]

too bad Scoble didn't follow up more on the nokia 770 questions in the comments, i guess he couldn't though without giving to much info. MS is so out of touch, the 770 has been out for many months now and Scoble thought it was a phone. And it's great how everything Scoble asked "can do do ____?" then answerd were basicaly all "yes" (except Quicken, but who wants to carry their financial data aound in their pocket where it can easily be stolen?). speaking of carrying around an always on/instant on wifi/BT device, who really want to expose WinXP to that kind of hostial environment? virus/worm city.