Origami/ UMPC- the real dirt
There has been no shortage of leaks, half-truths, and buzz around the Origami / UMPC announcements that Microsoft and Intel were promising at CeBIT in Germany. Now that the dust has settled we can finally discuss the facts around the UMPC. First of all, Origami is Microsoft’s internal code name for the Ultra-Mobile PC, or UMPC. All of the teasers from both Microsoft and Intel were pointing to the same thing: the UMPC. So what is the UMPC? The answer probably depends on the individual user. Is it a music and video player? Yes it is. Is it a Tablet PC? Yes it is. Is it a full Windows XP computer in a small, handy form. Yes again. If you break it down the UMPC is a handheld computer with a 7 inch screen that runs full Windows XP Tablet Edition. The screen is a touch screen and to take advantage of that fact Microsoft has developed an interface enhancement for the UMPC, the Touch Pack. Besides looking nice the Touch Pack adds a launcher and other interface designs to make it simple to operate using the fingers. ZDNET posted a video that shows the OS manipulated by drawing simple letters on the screen with a finger, like V for video and P for pictures. It couldn’t get much simpler than that. To augment the Touch Pack Microsoft is utilizing DialKeys by Fortune Fountain which adds circular half keyboards in the two lower corners of the screen. You won’t be typing any novels with DialKeys but it looks extremely handy for typing in the odd URL on the fly or entering a new file name for a document.
Several different OEMs will be releasing UMPCs in the next few weeks, with a few more later in the year. Some of the OEMs will be using Intel processors (both Pentium M and Celerons) and others will be using the new Via C7 processor. I have seen the Via running on handheld devices and it runs circles around the Intel processors speed-wise. Big, honking circles. What is interesting to me is which OEMs are going to produce UMPCs. The first three devices we should see will come from Founder, Samsung, and Asus. I have seen photos of all three of these devices and while similar there are distinct hardware control differences. I must say all three of them look pretty nice to me, although beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder, and gadgets are no exception. A little later this summer we will see UMPCs from TabletKiosk and Paceblade. TabletKiosk are the company that sells Sahara Tablet PCs and touchscreen PCs and I can’t wait to see their offering. Their Sahara Tablets are some of the nicest slates out there and I expect good things from their UMPC.
Microsoft is expecting UMPCs to retail between $599 – $999 depending on the hardware options installed by the OEM. They will be available in retail outlets internationally which is good news for non-US enthusiasts. The hardware in the UMPC will vary slightly from OEM to OEM but all should have a 7 inch (or smaller) screen running at least 800×480, similar to the OQO and DualCor cPC. Higher resolutions will be achieved via hardware or video scaling up to 1024×600. Expect the initial battery life to rival that of laptops, 2.5 – 3 hours typical. Given the hardware components available for such a small device UMPCs should have hard drives from 30 – 60 GB, include WiFi and Bluetooth, and weigh less than 2 pounds. Some OEMs are expected to add integrated cameras and GPS units in addition to the basic features. This first generation of UMPCs will run the Windows XP OS the next wave of devices should run on Vista.
The UMPC is designed to provide a full and rich computing experience no matter where you go through the Tablet PC operating system and the UI enhancements. Couple that with the various connectivity options and hardware control components and you have what can be called a true handheld computer. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these puppies. Here are a couple of closeup photos of the Samsung UMPC:
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Am I missing something? What’s the difference between these and a Motion Computing LS800?
They just remarket something that already exists in the marketplace, except they increase the volume and lower the price?
Cliff, this is a totally different animal than the LS800. Touch screen IMHO is critical for a device to be operated by hand. There is no easier way to manipulate the UI than with the fingertip when you are on the go. It’s what I missed most about the Sony U with the touchscreen. These devices will also be about $700 – $1000 cheaper than the LS800. How is this the same?
Thank you for the clarification.
Touch screen is the main difference then.
Going to need a screen protector ;)
jk,
You’re dead-on about the price and screen, but…they’re both Tablet OS, both can have “totathe same RAM (LS800 can go to 1GB), both have WiFi and Bluetooth, both are about the same size. I think it’s appropriate to think that the LS800 and the UMPC are pretty similar. Granted we don’t have all the info on the UMPC yet.
One of the key elements to mobile devices like the Sony U and now the UMPCs for me anyway is the h/w button interface with D-Pad (or joypad) that allows you to do quick and dirty things without pulling out the stylus. This is a key differentiator between the UMPC and the LS800 in my view. It was the single thing I detested about trying to do quick things on the OQO.
Man these devices look so sweet. They look like the perfect student devices. Too bad I am out of college for the most part. I do have a few night classes.
JK -
Can we assume this is what has ultimately become of the TabletKiosk “Mojave” they’ve been showing as “coming soon” since last May or so? Or is their upcoming UMPC something completely different and we can still expect an LS800-like machine?
Also, I’d add one thing to the LS800 discussion (as an owner). Note the default screen resolution for the UMPC is less than the LS800. Hopefully, MS has tweaked up the OS to support this, because it’s a little rough around the edges in its support for SVGA. A lot of people fussed about how small SVGA was when the LS800 arrived, so I’d expect to hear more of that (although SVGA really is fine on the LS800, trust me!). Also, it is possible on the LS800 to put it in a screen panning mode that gives you much more real estate (not sure if this is the same as the “hardware or video scaling” you mention); however, since this is unsupported, it gets a bit tricky to use as far as the pen calibration.
Do you know if the this presumably modified version of XP Tablet will run on existing (i.e. non-UMPC) tablets? Might be interesting to try it out on an LS800, particularly if it helps smooth out some of those “rough edges.”
Matt
Jk looks like all your work of evangalising the 7 inch handheld form factor with tablet OS is done! It can’t possibly fail from here.
I’m holding on for the 2nd generation with Vista, 3G wireless, GPS and an integrated keyboard and those economies of scale that will give more the the price.
This intel site features a few mockups with integrated keyboard so I presume someone will pick these ideas up as the form factors look great.
http://umpc.com/video.aspx
The channel 9 video definately says more compact versions are on there way, current versions look a little bulky, an inch off would seem perfect.
Is UMPC an intel/ms design spec? There’s a rough definition at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/umpc/hardware.mspx
but i’m sure the expression UMPC has been in general use for a long time.
Whats the general term for everything that falls between a 770 low-end ‘pad’ and an OQO?
Matt, I don’t have any word from TabletKiosk but the Mojave may very well be their upcoming UMPC. They make very nice devices, I know that.
Scoobie, you’re correct, I am excited about the 7 inch screen. While the 5 inch screen on the U is very nice a little bigger wouldn’t hurt.