Samsung's UMPC / Origami device spotted

We have a feeling there are going to be more than a few ultramobile PC / Origami devices being show at CeBIT this year, but one of the more hotly anticipated and rumored about would be Samsung's device with Intel, which should get the spotlight tomorrow. It's apparently 15 x 20cm (about 6 x 8-inches), runs a low-power 900MHz Celeron, has 512MB RAM, 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, and, of course, Windows XP Tablet, which we can only assume is tricked for the device. We'll get our hands on this thing on your behalf as soon as we can, so stand by.

[Thanks, Gob & Max]

[Zeke Skylar @ Mar 8th 2006 10:53AM]

I'm not sure what the fuss is all about. Hasn't Motion Computing had this same form factor with the LS800 for almost a year now?

[saboola @ Mar 8th 2006 10:57AM]

That looks nice. I am waiting for the torrent of people blasting it (look at all those fingerprints!). Anyhow, it looks PSP inspired, and assuming its functionality is there, this device could take off. I personally want one and look forward to pricing.

[Kelly @ Mar 8th 2006 11:01AM]

Any Chance that this device will have a keyboard?

[Mark @ Mar 8th 2006 11:01AM]

#1, I think price might be the distinguishing factor, this thing is supposed to retail for $500-$1000. I could justify a usable $500 tablet PC.
Mark

[Stu L Tissimus @ Mar 8th 2006 11:03AM]

Uh, guys? Did I just see Celeron? This thing has a freaking Celeron instead of a low-power Pentium M? No wonder they only get three hours of battery life, jeez...

[Dermot81 @ Mar 8th 2006 11:04AM]

Oooh much prettier than the ugly one(s) posted below. Yea very PSP inspired. I like it, I'm back into the potential UMPC market.

[abigsmurf @ Mar 8th 2006 11:04AM]

Needs to hit that golden $500 pricepoint before I'd consider one

[samt @ Mar 8th 2006 11:05AM]

I don't get what the big deal is about with all these handheld pcs. They are all just like pocket pc's, except now u have to boot xp tablet, the battery power is less, and memory is not upgradable.

[eric @ Mar 8th 2006 11:07AM]

Man, who is in charge of industrial design? Must everything Windows oriented be clunky and have a huge black plastic bezel?

It would be soooo easy to make this look sleek. Less is more!

[Jeff @ Mar 8th 2006 11:09AM]

Hey Stu. They do make a Celeron M, you know.

[eric @ Mar 8th 2006 11:10AM]

Someone needs to polish the turd

[kaius @ Mar 8th 2006 11:20AM]

if one of these runs Halo or other games for that matter i'll be buying one.

[Wing @ Mar 8th 2006 11:23AM]

Celeron M doesn't downclock, Pentium M does. So it could have been more energy efficient, but they choose not to.

[bb @ Mar 8th 2006 11:27AM]

Well,
Not to deflate this tooo much, but there are viable alternatives like the OQO and Tatung products out there.

Exhibit 1) Tatung TX-2000
http://www.tatung.co.uk/tabpad/tabletintro.asp.
I have one of these. It is a nice product, has a 10.4 inch screen, removable batteries, Base etc. 700Mhz, Transmeta X86 Procssor running Windows XP. Built in Wi-Fi/512MB memory/10.4 Touch Screen. USB Port for Keyboard and a nifty Kickstand on the back.

I have run Control system software on it for my Home Theater. And I sometimes go down to Starbucks and Cruise the Net with it. I have a Verizon PC5740 Wireless Broadband Card as well. ($Free, with two year sign up,$75/Month).

It has a PCMCIA slot on it, which supports Memory or HD Drives....

Cost < $1000. Oh yeah, this is the exact same product that Control4 sells for $2999.000 with thier software on it. Sheesh.. But I digress. And yes, you can suspend it and start i again. But, does it have Instant on Media? no. Bluetooth, no, (USB Key would solve this).


To sort out what you really have here is another PC form factor,with:
A) Instant On Bios support, well we knew that was coming with Vista/Intel.
B) Smaller more pocketable Screen. Well a tour of WalMart's AV Department will find numerous 7" screen based products that run on battery and can go coast to coast on your everyday commuter flight, for < $150.
C) No stated Storage, but I am gonna guess 20GB? Nice.
Instant tie in to Windows Media Center. Nice.


The nice Garden of Windows solutions is expanding....And this product will undoubtably find some new buyers. Is this right for everyone?

Well, IMHO a Phone with Music playback. Is more practical for Music. I can jog to the Gym with and take a phone call. Soon, even a Video phone call....

The killer question is did microsoft create an unbloated version of Office for this thing. With that, it would be Cranking Cool...... for business.

BadBoy Computer User.....

[apeguero @ Mar 8th 2006 11:29AM]

Damn! That thing picks up more fingerprints than Paris Hilton's ass :)

[FastDrive @ Mar 8th 2006 11:30AM]

If only this thing had an IR transmitter and SIRFIII GPS built in, it would be my dream machine. Cool remote, gps nav, music/video player, web browsing from the couch for around $500.

[ZSX @ Mar 8th 2006 11:31AM]

Video of one in action. Also looks quite nice.

http://www.zdnetasia.com/itlibrary/webcasts/0,39044504,39315918,00.htm

[pedro @ Mar 8th 2006 11:36AM]

kaius, there might be some simple games, but there is no way Halo is going to run on one of these things, as they probably won't have a decent graphics card in them. However, I'm sure there will be a zillion and one emulators for old home and arcade systems, so you'll be able to play a ton of classic games.

[KF @ Mar 8th 2006 11:58AM]

I want one, I wish someone would just release them already. If it runs Outlooks, Quicken and can surf the web, then that's all I need. I have other computers for games, video, etc.

[Matt @ Mar 8th 2006 12:00PM]

"Ultramobile"?

Ultramobile would fit in your pocket - fact.

[Ladderless @ Mar 8th 2006 12:12PM]

#16 - Thanks for the video link. I think I'm understanding the concept a bit better, now. I also understand why this is more than just a smaller tablet running XP (Looks like MS has come up with a nice new interface).

Looks like I have a new tool on the horizon. I'll delay that notebook purchase now.

[mike @ Mar 8th 2006 12:13PM]

If it can run lots of basic XP apps like aim, a full web browser, have all the wmp codecs (decode xvid and divx), decent hd size, run bittorrent, office, macromedia studio 8, photoshop, and any other xp app i throw at it, it should do real well. I could use one of these to go with my desktop, and at 500 it would be much more appealing than a laptop. A gps nav system for the car would be kickass too...

[Q @ Mar 8th 2006 12:25PM]

My only hope with all this babble about the UMPC is that it pushs OQO to drop the price of its Model O1+. With its recent release of a double capacity battery (users are reporting over 4.5 hrs of continuous movie viewing) and tablet functions it's for me personally the UMPC to beat. Most of all lets not forget the fact that it's got a keyboard NOW not two years away like the news man was reporting yesterday.

...Word to your mother Microsoft...

[Fire Hazard @ Mar 8th 2006 12:25PM]

nice, but it needs to cost $500, needs to get at least 4 hours of battery life and be able to run all the normal apps (word, excel, power point) without much fuss.

[free games @ Mar 8th 2006 12:33PM]

If they can hit the $500 price point, as others have said, this can do well. I think the advantage to Origami is a larger, higher resolution screen than a pocket pc or psp, and a smaller form factor than a laptop or recent tablet pc. A touchscreen keyboard would be sweet as well.

[Alex Quant @ Mar 8th 2006 12:37PM]

16. Thanks for that. I can see the potential now - I have a fantasy of packing this in a rucksac along with a mini BT keyboard. I like the touch-screen demo using broad finger strokes to activate features - very smart.

I'm not so down on this as some others appear to be - I guess the hype provoked a lot of expectation. To me, its as if Intel and Microsoft saw where the tech was going, especially with something like the OQO, and wanted to make it mainstream and not a niche item. Its an evolution, not a revolution as with most things.

[skantilous @ Mar 8th 2006 12:39PM]

the reason is has so many fingerprints is because you can use your finger instead of a stylus.

hd size is my concern. I'm not giong to game on it, and i'm sure the 2nd gen of these things will be as fast as the laptops today. If i can have the option to pay for a larger hd, ill gladly put out as much as a grand for something with all the features they are talking about, hopefully has a keyboard, at least 60gig hd, and is fast enough and has enough memory to run bittorrent, browse the web, and play video at the same time, WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN. If it can do that. I'll spend the money.

Think about it, I can go home, work onmy computer, play games, dl torrents, move to my umpc on my way to work or on a business trip, never miss a step, remote login everything else etc. go to work and just keep going. That is worth it. Laptops aren't practical these days for me because they are actually too powerful for what i need. A smaller form factor for travelling is more convenient, and when I go hoome i can game. I can then turn and save the extra grand i'd spend on a laptop and instead use that toward a plasma, or a larger lcd. sounds about right to me.

[wing @ Mar 8th 2006 12:41PM]

Celeron M doesn't downclock, while Pentium M does (variable clock). They have chosen Celeron M for it's price, but it does kill the battery life.

[skype_fan @ Mar 8th 2006 12:42PM]

I thought this might be a big step into the future of computing, however reading CELERON makes me wonder why they didn't use a Pentium III instead. Intel doesn't seem to trust their own Centrino line very much.

[barbar @ Mar 8th 2006 12:51PM]

about 6 x 8-inches.. thats twice the size of Nokia 770 and that isn't small either. Worse it's probably means it over twice the 770 weight, taking it to 400g...500g range. That's not in the comfortable "handheld" region anymore. Also, how long life battery does it have with wlan on?

[Tonicboy @ Mar 8th 2006 12:53PM]

All I can say is that the market for a device bigger than a PDA but smaller than a laptop has so far proved itself to be completely flat. I don't know what research they got their hands on that said this thing would sell well. Niche market at best.

[Slash @ Mar 8th 2006 12:58PM]

everyone needs to watch the video that #16 posted

after watching i want one of those!

[w1f1 @ Mar 8th 2006 12:59PM]

"kaius, there might be some simple games, but there is no way Halo is going to run on one of these things, as they probably won't have a decent graphics card in them. However, I'm sure there will be a zillion and one emulators for old home and arcade systems, so you'll be able to play a ton of classic games."

pedro....have you not seen the Origami video playing HALO???

[tim @ Mar 8th 2006 12:59PM]

re: #16
Justin Jaffe needs to get laid.

[ZSX @ Mar 8th 2006 1:01PM]

Better (fingerprint-free) pictures of the Samsung Q1.

http://www.infosyncworld.com/laptops/tablets/samsung_q1.html

[Stu L Tissimus @ Mar 8th 2006 1:01PM]

Ooooh, thanks for the video. The software looks pretty ugly in its' current state, but I like that gestures system... Reminds me of Black and White. On a side note, it's interesting that they can use their fingers for the gestures sytem... Wasn't the Wacom inductive screen implementation a requirement for Tablet PCs?

[ZSX @ Mar 8th 2006 1:13PM]

There are going to be MANY models of UMPC.

Here is a photo of the one by Asus:
http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/001587.html

For a top-secret viral campaign which is due to explode tomorrow, Microsoft is doing one hell of a poor job!

Doesn't stop me being obsessive though!

[Jnetty @ Mar 8th 2006 1:18PM]

Still ugly

[Sasha S. @ Mar 8th 2006 1:22PM]

I do not understand what exactly is new here? I have worked with one of the first tablets on the market - Compaq Tablet and it had 1Ghz Transmeta processor. This thing was SLOW and only cute for browsing web - which worked nicely only after I have tweaked Windows to run as fast as possible (including reducing color depth and returning to Wim98 like interface).
Want a portable INternet machine - take Nokia 770 - portable, wireless and most important - not infected with Microsoft software.

[rudy @ Mar 8th 2006 1:31PM]

i think they can play this well...especially in the next couple of years.

but what is with marketing to chicks? wtf

rudy

[naylomo @ Mar 8th 2006 1:46PM]

hey...they found my Etch-a-Sketch!

[steve @ Mar 8th 2006 1:51PM]

is it just me or do people actually advertise their products in the comments? I'm just getting this feeling whenever I try to read every comment.

[catbeller @ Mar 8th 2006 2:32PM]

What I see here is my own personal holy grail: a usable e-book reader. Ripping my textbooks... yeah! (note: five thousand dollar fine per textbook ripped, per federal law purchased by textbook industry. Can we put a polarized overlay on the screen?)

Come on, Jobs. Make me one Apple-flavored.

[David @ Mar 9th 2006 9:57AM]

Hey guys, maybe its just me but... wouldn't your photographer want to wipe that thing down of all those greasy prints that are all over it.