Microsoft promises "Haiku" PC as penance for UMPC

Maybe it's a bit early to call the UMPC some sort of failure, but with the prices as they are, and the current usability so lacking, we're not really thinking Microsoft and company hit much of a home run here. Now they're promising a followup in a few years, called the Haiku, which has been in the works for a while but finally is starting to look feasible with small and not-so-power-hungry components in the works. Microsoft mentioned Via's mobile processing road map specifically, and LCD tech is clearly advancing to a point where a 7-inch display isn't as much of a burden on a handheld form factor. Turns out the Haiku is going to look a lot like what Microsoft was demoing at WinHEC back in 2005, which was quite sexier than what we've seen so far from this generation of UMPCs. Unfortunately, we're scared that we'll get burned on pricing once again, since according to Otto Berkes, Microsoft's general manager of UMPC ops, "We'd like to see them out in the $500 to $700 range. The closer to $500 the better." Hmm, that sounds rather familiar, doesn't it?

[slyecho @ Jun 7th 2006 7:45PM]

I'm waiting for the first comment posted in haiku form.

[Elliot @ Jun 7th 2006 7:53PM]

When was the last time
Microsoft got something right
Don't believe the hype.

[adm @ Jun 7th 2006 7:55PM]

big and expensive,
origami disappoints.
now wait for haiku.

[itanshi @ Jun 7th 2006 7:58PM]

:-P in haiku form perhaps, but you need to mention something about the seasons or nature for it to be true haiku

[Bobgorila @ Jun 7th 2006 8:03PM]

Handheld devices present a real challenge.

The internet is more and more about contributing, rather than dumbly consuming media, as such, data entry is pretty common. Rare is it you will use a computer for more than 20 minutes without touching the keyboard.

As such, and especially with HWR still being so very very dire, any device that eschews a useable keyboard throws away a whole host of functionality, and thus limits the applications of the device.

So, in conclusion: Flybooks all round!

[Matt @ Jun 7th 2006 8:09PM]

PC versus Mac
Funny video online
Both of them still suck

As seen on Break.com

[Brad @ Jun 7th 2006 8:10PM]

Don't like this version?
We'll do better the next time!
Just wait a few years.

[brad77 @ Jun 7th 2006 8:19PM]

we're in no hurry
it will take ms three tries
to get this thing right

[DMIlls @ Jun 7th 2006 8:35PM]

I hope Haiku the OS sues Microsoft !

[DT @ Jun 7th 2006 8:39PM]

Ha! Nice one, adm!

[rutsy5 @ Jun 7th 2006 8:41PM]

bobgorilla,

Data is entered
as you should really know
with that big stylus
(duh)

[Ben18 @ Jun 7th 2006 8:43PM]

I feel Microsoft really missed the mark here. What I would have like to seen would be your slim and sleek average pda or palm pilot with wifi and a 40gb hard drive. Even 20 would have been fine. If you have a nice looking handheld with a good touch screen and you add wifi for internet and email, plus the hard drive space for music and movies, I think you've created quite a little machine. I'm not in to the blackberry scene because I don't feel like paying for crappy internet, when my laptop does it so much better in hot spots, which is my whole city and campus. I would like to see a slim ipod with a big touch screen, and some sort of wifi and an easy os on it. I feel that's what the umpc should have been. A pda with a hard drive and wifi.

[Tmortn @ Jun 7th 2006 8:48PM]

The success or failure of the UMPC will not be determined till they get the price down. They currently are priced similarly with very capable laptops, and even a few tablets which is completely insane.

At 4-500 I would pick it up as a highly mobile companion for my laptop. The thing has serious potential as a meeting reference material gadget. But at 1000 it pretty much needs to be a primary device or have some highly compelling functionality just not provided by a typical laptop form. Even at 500 it is at the extreme outside of 'periphial' range and without an elegant input solution it just isn't going to make primary usage ranks.

Bluetooth or even worse USB cable plug in keyboards just are not going to cut it with this thing. Its to awkward to have to connect the damn things. Blue tooth has some potential at least. But you still have to haul the extra bit around and then arrange everything so it works.

ONe answer might be the new projected keyboard tech. If that tech could be rolled into the form factor that might make a dandy solution. Just put it up on its kickstand and a full sized keyboard is projected in front of it to use. Thinkgeek has a stand alone example out there. Still expensive at 180 but that form is the size of a deck of card and that is hiding batteries. Seems to me that could be probably be incorporated into a UMPC if someone wanted to do it.

[Bobgorila @ Jun 7th 2006 8:57PM]

rutsy5:

recognising script
is very hard for Windows
god I miss Newton

[bliss @ Jun 7th 2006 8:57PM]

How about...

We are Microsoft
Give us all of your money
And your first born child

[scott @ Jun 7th 2006 8:57PM]

"we're in no hurry
it will take ms three tries
to get this thing right"

apple, save us from
this horrible crap
give us mac tablet

[vger @ Jun 7th 2006 9:00PM]

bait thrown in water
make the fishes laugh each time
they are not stupid

[BWhaler @ Jun 7th 2006 9:08PM]

I laugh at Scoble on his blog Scoblizer. Talking about how amazing it was going to be.

Looks like he fell for the marketing and Microsoft Think.

Was it hard to tell this is just a re-named tablet pc? The original failed. This failed. The next one will fail.

Microsoft should do what they do best: copying Apple. The fact that Apple has figured out this is a bad idea and not doing it would of saved Microsoft a ton of money and embarrassment.

[Pixelbox @ Jun 7th 2006 9:40PM]

Once these things come down in price to a reasonable level, I'd love to get one as a little sketchpad for Photoshop. (That is if they use the same Wacom technology for the touchscreen.)

[Korey @ Jun 7th 2006 9:42PM]

im buying the linux based pepper pad3 i cant stead the monopoly MS is trying to create i ordered linux a month ago (Ubuntu) and i love it so microsoft is over in my mind though i own a windows phone until a real nice linux phone comes out im stickin with it
OPEN SOURCE for life

[iambic @ Jun 7th 2006 10:03PM]

The real problem with tablet PCs running Windows right now is the UI. I have an older one kicking around the apartment, and it's great for hitting up a website while you're sitting on the couch, but Windows Tablet PC Edition seems so half assed to me. They should put some time into researching how people use these things and coming up with a new UI that is actually tailored towards touch screen usage. As it stands, the handwriting recognition is error prone and hard to work with and the pop-up on-screen keyboard is tiny, slow, and a pain in the ass to actually use.

I keep waiting for Apple to come out with a tablet since they actually seem to care about user interface design, but until then I'm holding off on these UMPCs.

[Mike Klein @ Sep 26th 2007 7:20PM]

Handwriting recognition on tablet pc is fubar? No way...I get 99% accuracy with mine.

For my small # of complaints about tablet pc (no accomodating lefties) hw recog. isn't one of them.

Use cursive and not printing.

[Paul @ Jun 7th 2006 10:33PM]

My question is what is with the japanese names?

Quite frankly I dont see the market for a UMPC or this, which I guess is why I am not a market analyst. If it was priced around the $400-500 mark, I could see it having serious potential, but at the rate it is going with the cost trending towards $1000, you can buy a decent, not nessessarily good, but a decent laptop for that much.

I know the emphasis is on MOBILITY, but common, without a keyboard I think text entering would be cumbersome to say the least, and if you are putting a keyboard on it, why dont you just use a laptop? I think a something like a suped up PDA would be a better route.

[cycomachead @ Jun 7th 2006 10:36PM]

I got a missle
so send it on to Redmond
so this can be over

please apple save me
so MS doesn't kill me with crap
I don't want to die

[cycomachead @ Jun 7th 2006 10:38PM]

opps misscount

please apple save me
so MS doesn't kill me soon
I don't want to die

[James @ Jun 7th 2006 10:58PM]

Apple fanboy can't even count. Priceless.

Does everyone conveniently forget that MS said the UMPC platform would GET to $500, not just COME OUT at $500. What part of that don't you all understand?

With MS you have your CHOICE of desktops, laptops, tablets, UMPC's, now this, smartphones, PDA's, and everything inbetween.

With Apple you get your choice of TWO COMPUTERS!

Wake up, sheeple.

[Intrepid @ Jun 7th 2006 11:18PM]

Don't blame MS for the percieved failure of Origami - it was their stupid partners and Intel. And for MS haters / Apple lovers think of Origami as a Gen1 crApple product - with less problems.

[Hey Alex @ Jun 7th 2006 11:34PM]

It's too early to judge the UMPC as a failure. My company has been looking forward to the device for use as a portable entry system with a JAVA based web application. We were having to buy laptops for the application anyway, so cost is not an issue, but we needed something a little more portable. PDAs, in comparison offer portability, but Windows CE or Windows Mobile OSes are really lacking when it comes to browser support or the ability to use certain applications.

The UMPC is a perfect fit. We pre-ordered one several months ago, and finally received our trial unit about a week ago. If I'm not mistaken BestBuy sold out in 24 hours! Should our trial be successful, we'll easily order quite a few units.

[bophojones @ Jun 8th 2006 12:18AM]

The fact that Microsoft is realizing that the community is unhappy with the initial release of the UMPC is a fairly extraordinary thing in my opinion, and while promises in this industry mean relatively nothing, it is still a start.

Though I hate to engage in the usual Apple/Microsoft war, I must say that after seeing how wonderful Apple's hardware is, I'd be first in line to buy an Apple UMPC and slap a hot new copy of Windows on it... and even deal with the small problems of a beta release.

The idea that Apple would someday release a portable touch-input device is amazing, and adding to it the fact that one would most likely be able to run some iteration of a Microsoft product CAN make everyone happy, at least to some degree.

Although, I suppose fanboys will never cease to exist.

[TIMMAH! @ Jun 8th 2006 12:53AM]

"My question is what is with the japanese names?"

I'm waiting on the n-th generation of this product: the Harakiri...

[andrew @ Jun 8th 2006 1:51AM]

nth + 1 generation: the Bukake

[Oddmanout @ Jun 8th 2006 2:45AM]

" :-P in haiku form perhaps, but you need to mention something about the seasons or nature for it to be true haiku"

One more form factor
Does little and costs too much
Burns us like Summer

Sore ga ii ?

[Jeff Lewis @ Jun 8th 2006 2:54AM]

Sitting under summer trees
Images on book sized screen
Restful days.

THAT gentlemen, is a haiku.

[wisnu @ Jun 8th 2006 4:16AM]

Hehehe,

Jeff, not to be picky, but haiku must be written in 3-5-3 format, not 4-5-2

[Major Malfunction @ Jun 8th 2006 5:15AM]

3:5:3??

Isn't it 5:7:5 which is a tanrenga aka hokku aka haiku?

[Ed @ Jun 8th 2006 6:22AM]

@wisnu A haiku is 5-7-5. The numbers refer to syllables not to the number of words.

[John @ Jun 8th 2006 7:29AM]

James,

Please show us all these MICROSOFT desktops, laptops, tablets, UMPC's,smartphones, PDA's, and everything inbetween that you speak of, because I've never seen a MICROSOFT desktop, laptop, etc.

Apple? Heard of something called the iPod have ya? Apple MacBook? PowerBook? Macintosh? iMac? Yes.......... they make those.

Microsoft fanboi, wake-up.

[Intrepid @ Jun 8th 2006 9:02AM]

John, did we ask you to speak? James is talking about Microsofts use of partners to encourage competition - does that word even exist in crApple land?

[Your Mom @ Jun 8th 2006 9:42AM]

Don't you buy this thing
Something better will come out
Surely in a year

[Ben18 @ Jun 8th 2006 1:47PM]

In regards to Microsoft not manufacturing their own hardware products, that's where I really feel Microsoft should have stepped in, and produced my idea (the pda ipod with wifi thing) and then they would have offered some real competition to apple, rather than trusting other companies to see your vision the same way.

[bizjoe @ Jun 9th 2006 12:30PM]

PDA - Dying
Webpad - Dead
SmartDisplays - Dead
Tablet PCs - Struggling
UMPCs - ???
Haiku? - ???

[Tim @ Jun 10th 2006 4:55PM]

What we really want is a cheap web browser to go. Not an ultra-tiny Windows XP PC. A big screen with a simple processor (say 200-700 Mhz) with embedded Linux (Or Windows if Microsoft still wants in this deal) and WiFi support would probably do really well.