quote:
CEBIT started today and I got a chance to get to play with "Origami". So here come some of my impressions for the "Origami" enthusiasts in GAF!
UMPC? What happened to Origami?
Ok, so what is "Origami"? The helpful Intel person demonstrating the various devices explained that "Origami" was Microsoft's internal codename for the OS and UI layer, what essentially is now Windows XP Tablet edition + Touch Pack. So the device is not "Origami", the OS + UI layer is - and that was only a codename like "Longhorn".
What is the device called then, if not "Origami"? Well, the category is called UMPC - Ultra Mobile Personal Computer. An attempt to create a new category like the Media Center PCs did. Basically what happened was that Intel did a reference design and got a bunch of companies to execute upon it - including Samsung and ASUS, both of whose Orig... UMPCs I got to try out. Samsung's UMPC is called "Q1" for example. With no reference to release date, I guess.
Trying to establish a causal relationship between my and onscreen actions
Time to take the device for a test ride. Alright, there is the normal Windows XP desktop. The left side of one of the UMPCs on display has some inexplicable keys that I can't figure out. The right side has a track pad type of mouse not unlike the red ThinkPad thing, just bigger. It might or might not feature a click function. I couldn't tell for sure. Getting anything done with it was rather tedious. Luckily the kind lady adviced me to use the touch screen instead to get things done - that worked out a lot better. Makes one wonder why they bothered with the other interface in any case.
Touch Pack, the ultimate shortcut interface layer
Having established a loose causal relationship between my own actions and what happens on the screen of the UMPC I wanted to actually do something. This is where the new, supposedly innovative Touch Pack (formerly known as "Origami") user interface comes in. I'm adviced to go to a folder to launch the application that takes over the screen interface with an interface similar to Windows Media Center. The Intel lady called it the "7 inch experience". I had to bite my tongue. Quite hard, I might add.
The new Touch Pack UI lists some of the basic things you'd want to do, simply and elegantly. The real kicker comes when you click one of those elegant options. You fly back to the grass field of Windows XP, where a folder view of applications is shown, where you can select the one you want. For example: Open full screen Touch Pack UI, click Games, fly back to desktop to Games folder, double click game icon to open. I kid you not.
Ultra Mobile, NOT RLY.
Let's assume that Microsoft showed the software a bit early, and they'll figure out a way that the device works more elegantly, and take a look at the hardware itself and what types of promise it holds.
The first thing one would wonder is where U and M in UMPC come from. "Ultra Mobile" they say. Hell, if this is "Ultra Mobile", I don't want to know what is "Mobile". A desktop computer? That's right, the UMPCs are big, bulky and very ugly, with the Samsung one being best looking of them. Which is not much, I'm afraid. The thing is no way comfortable to hold. The best way to use it seems to use the table top ministand on the back of the device. Walk around with one of these like they did on the concept video, and you'll get arms like Popeye. Guaranteed.
The devices seemed to lack an iconic button interface as well. Just random buttons in random, inconsistent places was how it felt. Buttons for nothing. Forget about playing Halo like the cool looking kid does in the subway tunnel in the concept video, there are no controls for that. I voiced this regret to the poor lady demonstrating the device, and she was quick to point out that the concept video was "Microsoft's and a year old, and just a concept".
Reassembling the laptop
Finally, as a cherry on the cake were the accessories. That's right, Samsung has got that cool keyboard accessory seen on the video. Not only that, but they also have a OD accessory. "OD?" I hear you ask. Optical Drive. A different, cool way to say DVD in this case. Imagine hooking up your UMPC with the external Optical Drive in your car and watching a DVD, how cool is that? Not too cool, it turns out. The battery of the device lasts 1.7 hours. That's 1 hours 42 minutes for mathematically challenged. Which is why the final accessory from Samsung is a huge battery pack. No idea how much juice that will provide at this point. I must admit that I'm not too interested to find out.
Bottomline
So, to recap what has happened. Intel and Microsoft teamed up and decided to create a new category that would create great new growth for both processors and operating systems - the UMPC. What they came up with was a disassembled laptop with a bad user interface. Using accessories you can re-asseble the laptop by plugging in the keyboard, the DVD drive and the proper battery. Then what you end up having is a $2000 laptop with a weak processor and 7" screen. Sounds like a good business model!
http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=89706