| Microsoft has suddenly taken the center stage of | | | | do the works of a mobile phone, a personal |
| technology world with its new product called | | | | computer, a notebook and a PDA handheld |
| Origami. Every major media of the world seems | | | | device, Microsoft bosses have the feeling that |
| to be running after Origami now. All the news | | | | may be this is the ultimate portable device we all |
| websites contain more than one article about | | | | need. GPS, a webcam, fingerprint reader, digital |
| Origami. It seems that Origami is the next big | | | | TV tuners, and compact flash and SD card |
| thing in the technology world is going to dominate | | | | readers will be in many Origami computers |
| the market in the next few months or may be | | | | (UMPC) in very near future. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and |
| years. Intel is with Microsoft in making Origami. | | | | Ethernet networks can be used to connect |
| Origami is expected to address a new market for | | | | between Origami computers and wide-area |
| portable computers. It is neither a laptop nor a | | | | networking is on the card too.Many people think |
| smart mobile phone or PDA but has can do many | | | | that project Origami is an effort to seriously |
| works for a user. In terms of size it is in the | | | | challenge Apple's IPOD, the portable music player. |
| middle between a PDA and a notebook PC. The | | | | iPOD has remained largely unchallenged since its |
| only shocking thing is that the device will not be | | | | birth as a portable device and many bloggers |
| called as Origami but as Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) | | | | have speculated the emergence of Origami from |
| and most probably this name will gradually take | | | | Microsoft as a response to Apple's supremacy in |
| place of the name, Origami.Speculations were | | | | the portable device market. However, Microsoft |
| very high among the tech bloggers from around | | | | officials are in no mood to confirm this theory and |
| the world about Project Origami in the last few | | | | surely they have a strong point. Origami is not |
| months. Although scare information was available | | | | just a music player like iPOD but lot more than |
| until recently, every one expected Microsoft to | | | | that. Microsoft officials can also argue that many |
| produce something that would create a storm in | | | | players have been trying to make an ultra thin |
| the technology world.Microsoft bosses hope that | | | | and ultra light but very powerful portable |
| they have been able to address a new market | | | | computer but Microsoft could make the |
| with Origami since it is a unique device in terms of | | | | breakthrough. Since, Origami computers run with |
| size, price and performance. It is so light that its | | | | Windows XP operating system, it will be able to |
| weight is less than 2.5 pounds and it comes with a | | | | do many functions. This feature will also make the |
| 7-inch touch-sensitive screen. Thus Origami is | | | | works of application developers easier.The main |
| really portable. Microsoft officials are upbeat with | | | | problem with Origami computers is its high price. |
| their optimism that within a few years Origami | | | | When Bill Gates first talked of the idea of an ultra |
| computer (UPMC) will become indispensable like | | | | light portable computer, most people got the |
| mobile phone. Perhaps the main reason behind | | | | perception that its price would be under US $500 |
| their high expectations is the versatile nature of | | | | but we already know that the price will be from |
| Origami computers. It runs on Microsoft Windows | | | | US $600-1000. Such a high price may discourage |
| XP Tablet PC Edition operating system and it can | | | | many users. However, it is natural that any |
| do many works including playing games, digital | | | | technology is expensive at first and later |
| music, mobile communication, and surfing internet, | | | | becomes cheaper. The same will happen for |
| checking and responding to emails and so on. In | | | | Origami computers too. Finally, Origami is not just |
| future, Origami computers will run on Windows | | | | a source of entertainment but alsoMicrosoft's bid |
| Vista. Origami computers can support both Blue | | | | to enter into the portable device market seriously |
| Tooth and Wi-Fi wireless technology. This also | | | | will surely create pressure on other industry |
| means that a user can use his keyboard with the | | | | players. It is for sure that other major players |
| help of wireless technology. They run on | | | | both in the hardware and the software world will |
| microprocessors built by Intel. The only thing that | | | | try to come out with something substantial to |
| a user may miss is keyboard. However, it has | | | | answer to Microsoft's challenge. If another |
| USB 2 ports and thus adding an external | | | | company can address the price issue seriously |
| keyboard is not a problem. 30 to 60 Gigabyte | | | | then surely Microsoft and its partners will face |
| hard drive means a user can really use it like a | | | | serious challenge. On other hand, we are yet to |
| regular PC too.Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., | | | | get any reaction from the open source world |
| Taiwan's Asustek Computer Inc. and China's | | | | about Microsoft's Origami computers. Are they |
| second largest PC-maker, the Founder Group, are | | | | thinking of their own version of UMPC?Until a few |
| the 3 companies who are going to produce the | | | | years ago, the idea of an ultra thin computer was |
| hardware of Origami computers (UMPC). All of | | | | like a science fiction. Microsoft has successfully |
| them are serious players in the technology world | | | | brought this idea into reality with its project |
| and naturally they will try their best to make | | | | Origami. We have heard in the recent years that |
| Origami computers popular in the market. | | | | the computers of tomorrow will be thin like paper |
| Samsung's product (known as Q1) will hit the | | | | and users will be able to fold them after using. |
| market in this May. However, the price of Q1 is | | | | Project Origami only reminds us that the |
| going to high.Who will be the main customers of | | | | researchers are not sitting idle to make this idea |
| Origami computers? Microsoft officials are hopeful | | | | into reality. |
| that this device will attract everyone. Since it can | | | | |