Live at CeBIT: Intel press briefing -- Origami is dead, long live UMPC

So we hit the Intel press briefing this morning and Intel, did indeed give Microsoft their 30 seconds to stand hand-in-hand and announce those three new UMPCs from Samsung, ASUS, and Founder. Ok, it was more like 5 minutes but that's it, which is actually just about right. Afterall, nothing new was revealed, only that their contribution to the new UMPCs is the inclusion of the Microsoft Touch Pack. Intel also told us they will increase UMPC performance by a factor of 10 "over the next 5 years." The rest of the briefing? Well, do you really want to hear about Viiv and Core Duo all over again? Didn't think so. Money shot after the break of two execs holding UMPCs apparently for the first time.

[Luis @ Mar 9th 2006 6:39AM]

Caption: "How Come Yours is Bigger Than Mine?"

[Frank @ Mar 9th 2006 6:39AM]

Carrying a laptop with you ALL the time?
Don't think so, simply too BIG!
However, the UMPC appears to be doable...

Nice booksize, stick in onto a posh leather case and you've got yourself a nice replacement for your laptop, portable DVD-player and desktop PC.

Cool!

[James D @ Mar 9th 2006 6:40AM]

the teaser prototypes looked so much cooler :/

grr, evil hype machines, ruining all our fun...

yet we fall for it over and over, wtf is with *that*?

[Craig @ Mar 9th 2006 6:57AM]

UGLY!
They might as well be beige!

[Grizz @ Mar 9th 2006 7:07AM]

#1. ...looks like mine was made in America.

[Scott @ Mar 9th 2006 7:11AM]

So, anyone want to guess how long it'll take for someone to port Linux over to this thing. Origami is dead, indeed.

[Frank @ Mar 9th 2006 7:25AM]

What I love about the UMPC is the possibility to replace my laptop AND desktop with one device.

Sure, it goes without saying that I would need hot plug&play keyboard and mouse, plus maybe a slightly smaller (foldable) keyboard for on-the-road.
However, I guess the only way I can connect a 17" TFT to a UMPC - wirelessly, without any extra stuff being plugged into the UMPC - would be via a rather costly device like the austrian WiJET G from Air Access Koller:
http://www.airaccess.at/products/wireless/otc-wijet.html

On the other hand, I guess I'd need to plug-in the UMPC anyhow when I'm at home... a cradle with both power-supply and VGA connector could do the trick.

The UMPC should cost 600 EUR tops!
approx. 750 $... after applying the US vs. Europe "social-cost-factor" (=VAT): 600 $ ;-)

[rayk @ Mar 9th 2006 7:26AM]

Is wacom penable technology supported? Or pressure sensativity??????

Please engadget please fill us in on that information. I'm dying for a digital sketch pad!

[mmoroca @ Mar 9th 2006 7:35AM]

I want to see Linux in this little boxes...

[Me(w) @ Mar 9th 2006 7:37AM]

#7 why is a UMPC in a dock better for replacing your desktop than a laptop hooked up to a monitor and keyboard? :S other than having rippled performance in comparison

[Jeff @ Mar 9th 2006 7:45AM]

Did Microsoft not get the memo that pen-based input is dead?

Stick a keyboard on one of these things and you'd have a nice, small, if underpowered, laptop.

[David L. @ Mar 9th 2006 7:45AM]

I am not sure how these CEOs see in these UMPC thing..it seems to me that if you can't make any faster processor, why not downgrade it, and put it in a smaller box, call it something else, and sell it to the consumer as a new product.

[mchacur @ Mar 9th 2006 7:47AM]

HA HA HA!!!

And you called the last Apple event "disappointing"

HA HA HA!!!

[Razor @ Mar 9th 2006 7:55AM]

No word on ability to run iTunes? Ironically (along with a $500-$600 or so price), iTunes would be the "killer ap" required to preemptively spoil a new apple video ipod announcement.

[Chancellor Martok @ Mar 9th 2006 8:08AM]

#14: Of course they can run iTunes! They can run any Windows XP application, just like their larger Tablet, laptop and desktop cousins.

[Slartibartfast @ Mar 9th 2006 8:25AM]

It's time for these idiots to put up or STFU. I want to know what the exact price is for each model and I want to know exactly what stores I can walk into on my lunch time today and see or possibly buy one. I seriously don't give a rats-ass about what they think they might have in stores 6 months or 10 years from now. What matters is what they have today. If it is available right here and now, the price better be on the spot. $500 or less for the top end model, anything more and I'm better off with a new 12" iBook. Or I could wait for Jobs to announce and show it off knowing I can walk into an Apple Store and buy it right then and there.

So yeah, put up or STFU already.

[Frank @ Mar 9th 2006 8:38AM]

#10

Why?
Easy... the UMPC is smaller and therefore easier to carry around than a laptop.

[Dale @ Mar 9th 2006 8:58AM]

Um. Gee. Is THIS what Origami was supposed to be? Seriously?

Are they not actually calling a device Origami? Wow.

Could this have been more of a non-event?!

[Alan Erickson @ Mar 9th 2006 8:59AM]

I agree with #16. I'm not a big fan of Apple, but at least when they announce something it's often immediately available. I think the industry really hurts new products like this when they announce it and then they don't offer anything for months or even years.

FYI. If you ask me these are a great PMP if they can keep the price around $500. I would definitely buy one.

[Steve @ Mar 13th 2007 10:11AM]

Did you miss the iPhone announcement? good six month lead time on that mofo.

[Korey @ Mar 9th 2006 9:30AM]

Ok wow Hyped up the shot down this sucks i Wanted the green microsoft origami now theyre only offering these 3 tablet PCs thats what they are revamped tablets im buying the Founder one when i see the specs and the price tag
but this sucks they cost to much and theyre not as cool as the prototypes they had
any one know founders website email me [e-mail]

[rjfarquhar @ Mar 9th 2006 9:35AM]

They got it wrong again.

These things should be as tough as tommy guns and as simple to operate as a potato.

Drop the thing on the floor and step on the "play" button.

[Minty @ Mar 9th 2006 9:52AM]

Just like Steve Jobs described:

"Here's what you see at a lot of companies; you know how you see a show car and it's really cool, and then four years later you see the production car, and it sucks? And you go, What happened? They had it! They had it in the palm of their hands! They grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory!

"What happened was, the designers came up with this really great idea. Then they take it to the engineers, and the engineers go, 'Nah, we can't do that. That's impossible,' And so it gets a lot worse. Then they take it to the manufacturing people, and they go, 'We can't build that!' And it gets a lot worse."

And that's what happened with this thing. Big time.

[glacia00 @ Mar 9th 2006 10:42AM]

Another shot over at CNN showing the touchscreen keyboard.

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/

[glacia00 @ Mar 9th 2006 10:51AM]

"20. Just like Steve Jobs described:"

In most companies the "designers" are the engineers. I've been an engineer in many meetings like that and it's always always management that shoots down the cool ideas. Engineers are often nerds, and tech-heads who also want cool looking gear.

Concept designs are very fun to do for engineers. However when it gets to the production phase and it turns out your cool liquidmetal chassis will cost more than the final selling price... well injection molded plastic it is...

[Ken @ Mar 9th 2006 1:11PM]

When you don't hire a hot product model you get photos like that!

[Matt @ Mar 9th 2006 2:57PM]

Maybe I'll get one in 5 years then, when it's 10 times faster.

[Tucker @ Mar 9th 2006 4:33PM]

Wait, so what exactly was everone expecting then? Did you want a magical box that would drive you to work and cook breakfast at the same time? It seems to me that most of the "hype" on things like this comes from people having unbelievable expectations. I'm not just talking this particular instance, I'm talking about every time Apple farts or MS sneezes or Nintendo flicks a booger. It's getting ridiculous.

PRESS RELEASE: Bic announces new writing implement that doesn't require ink.

PEOPLE READING ON ENGADGET: OMFG DID U HEER??? Bic is coming out wif a laser pen dat harness power of the STARZ D00D!!!

ACTUAL PRODUCT: Mechanical Pencil

PEOPLE ON ENGADGET: WTF!!!!!!!!!1 Dat is so LAMERZ, they said NO INK that means lasers and not some gey pencil crapzzz

Honestly, people, what exactly did you expect from this announcement?

[Ian @ Mar 9th 2006 5:21PM]

I think many people are missing the point. (Which is Microsoft's fault for not getting it across well enough)

Microsoft has actually surprised me here. Way back when the buzz and speculation started (a full two weeks ago), my concern was that the user interface would be completely over-looked.

To my surprise, Microsoft has done exactly what I think they should.

First, they have (apparently) addressed the major issue of making a full featured OS function as quickly and easily as a PDA. Depending of course on boot-up time.

What I mean by that, is the Touch Pack gives the ability to turn it on and get directly to the application you need, based on a functionality decision, similar to the way you can quickly pull up the email or calendar functions on a PDA.

That way, you can load as many apps as you like, but when you first turn it on, you will have direct access to the things you use most often. This, all with the touch of a finger. No need to reach for a stylus, mouse or keyboard. Yes, I know you could accomplish a similar feat by placing big icons for your favorite apps on the desktop. But.. in reality, if it's going to take off in a consumer environment, the default setup has to already do it for you. Not to mention the Touch Pack user interface provides a much nicer look and feel.

It also appears that the on-screen thumb keyboard will be a huge user adoption win. The user gets a decent way to type, navigate and hold the unit without having to move their hands from the position they used to pick it up. Seems like that may be a better system than the keyboard/mouse combination I have on my desktop. Yup, I'm used to it, but I still hate having to take my hand off the keyboard to reach for the mouse.

Second, they are sticking to being (primarily) a software company. It's what they know, and also where the profit margins are the best. Not to mention the huge consumer advantage of having competition at the hardware level. Just look at how much power you can get for your dollar in the PC world vs. the Apple world. Yes, I know Apple is getting closer price wise, and you get much more refined design, but ultimately the consumer benefits from competition. Not only will there be price competition, there will also be big competition based on functionality and the variety of form factors that can be crammed into this niche computing platform.

There is already talk about the second generation having full day battery power, and a much lower price, within about a year. So�. I know I�ll be waiting for the second or third generation when these things will also likely be running the new Vista OS.

At that point we won�t have to worry about the current complaints regarding battery life, connectivity options, input options or hopefully even price.

So, thanks Microsoft, Intel, Asus, Samsung, Founder et al, for helping push the mobile computing platform in the right direction.

The best is yet to come.

[Hellene @ Mar 9th 2006 6:58PM]

Apple really should speed up with their tablet - if they have one, that is.

The current tablet products are similar to those uglies we had with MP3s before the iPod came along and forced manufacturers to make more visually (and practically) appealing MP3s.

Those funny looking knobby machines coupled with an untrustworthy OS will keep many at bay.

Apple please put us out of our misery! We need the standards raised.

[Spottyfuzz @ Mar 10th 2006 5:10PM]

Re: #27,

I agree entirely... It's been hypehypehype and now that the devices have been unveiled, the wheels have fallen off.

Most people don't know what it is, why it's "more than just a PDA", or why a 1kg 7" device is any more 'I'll take it everywhere!' than a 3-4kg secondhand notebook from eBay.


As for "having to move hands from keyboard to mouse": That's where IBM's 'Trackpoint' (aka G-spot, nipple, red rubber nipple, 'joystick', 'pointing stick') came from. A way to save secretaries time because their hands never have to leave the home-position to poke the cursor. Extremely effective in office-type apps where you're only moving the mouse a little at a time. It just never found a home until 1995, on the 701C Thinkpad, which was too small for any other kind of pointing device.

Might be time to try to search eBay for one of their trackpoint-equipped desktop keyboards... O:)

[BottomFeeder @ Mar 11th 2006 11:27AM]

http://www.mitsubishi-mobile.com/products/pen/cp/amity_cp.htm

After all the hype, the irony is that there is really nothing new here. Devices of this nature have been available in the past. We used the device linked to above at work for a couple yr back when Win98 was the 'in' desktop OS of the day......and Win2K was *just* coming to market.

Undoubtedly, a few improvements have been made, but the overall concept is nearly identical.