PortalPlayer branches out to Microsoft

We're not sure if it's because some sort of behind the scenes exclusivity contract with Apple expired or something, but PortalPlayer, best known for creating the guts of the iPod, looks to be making good on their intentions to take on work with Microsoft. Apparently they've got chips on the way to power those Vista-enabled external / auxiliary laptop displays (aka "personal media displays") we've all been so stoked about, which are basically small, independent embedded systems, not too different from an iPod, we'd imagine. Careful now though, PortalPlayer, you don't want to go pissing off Stevie J. -- it's his checkbook that's putting most of the food on your table.

[Damage @ Mar 14th 2006 3:38PM]

Huh? It's BillyG whom you don't want to piss off. Last time I checked, BillyG had several more zeroes in his check book.

Maybe MicrosoftPod isn't too much far off in the future.

[omni @ Mar 14th 2006 4:03PM]

What are we looking at in this photo?

[o rly @ Mar 14th 2006 4:14PM]

"Careful now though, PortalPlayer, you don't want to go pissing off Stevie J. -- it's his checkbook that's putting most of the food on your table."

Right Ryan, as if Steve Jobs has more power than Bill Gates. That's only applicable to those that are Apple biased fanboys, as they may fight the evils of Microsoft when "Stevie J." (that must be ApplEngadget's new nickname for their iMaster) says iCharge! iKill! iDecimate!

[kinyo @ Mar 14th 2006 4:38PM]

BillyG might have more coins in his wallet but it would be suicide to take the risk of giving up 90% of your revenues to do a deal with another company especially if the company is Microsoft and the deal is done "?a Sendo" http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/01/06/microsofts_masterplan_to_screw_phone/ .

[Snappy! @ Mar 14th 2006 4:40PM]

Read the article and you will find that they are responsible for the guts of iPod. And iPod fanboys cry foul about Microsoft over every single little thing.

Back to this topic, maybe MS should get their OS to support instanton instead of complicating the whole design.

[Dark Gigolo @ Mar 14th 2006 4:43PM]

Portal Player is a public company and analysts are always warning them that they should branch out to other markets, and that is what they are doing. It makes sense.

[Damage @ Mar 14th 2006 4:59PM]

RE #3
That's the risk you may have to take.

Somehow, if you do get bought out by BillyG, just make sure he comes alone. I don't think I want to be bought out the way Homer was.

[sidewinder @ Mar 14th 2006 5:10PM]

RE#2 you are looking at a prototype ASUS laptop that MS has been using to show of their SideShow technology, which is part of Vista

[Eric @ Mar 14th 2006 5:29PM]

no one wants to get on Stevie J's Fuck list...

[Boobstine @ Mar 14th 2006 7:52PM]

Microsoft is a Sideshow

[Colin @ Mar 15th 2006 12:05AM]

i thought portalplayer lost the apple contract?

[Kolohe (it's Hawaiian -- look it up) @ Mar 15th 2006 10:09AM]

@Boobstine
[Microsoft is a Sideshow]

Come on. I'm an MCSE but a Mac-owner by choice (CoreDuo Mini at home running alongside a coupla M$oft MediaCenter & Extender boxes and laptops & an Xbox360). Apple is great. Granted. But Microsoft a "Sideshow"? I guess in the world of politics you'd consider the US an "afterthought"?

Grow up. Don't be a hater.

I can accept that people have preferences: if you don't like Microsoft -- hey, fine for you. But make no mistake. M$oft is still the number one software company in the world. Flat out. And your life is in one way or another affected by M$oft software. Consider, top down: your Federal government, your State government, your County and City government, your bank, your Utility companies, your real estate or leasing agency, your auto maker, your auto service station, your cell phone company, your ISP (and don't say no -- Akamai shapes US network traffic and they use M$oft), your mom, dad and girlfriend (assuming) all use M$oft. Yes, M$oft tends to produce bloated, buggy code. They're also the largest target for those who enjoy tearing apart other's products. And they annoy the hell out of some very intelligent people who don't agree with their business model.

But to call them a sideshow is just ignorant.

[DG @ Mar 17th 2006 7:27PM]

What LAPTOP is that in the picture. it looks like a W5F with an external DISPLAY.. someone please give me a MODEL # i want one NOW!