Intel Shows Off Origami-Like Devices
At the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco Tuesday, the chipmaker offered the first real peek at Microsoft's much-hyped "Origami" platform for ultra-portable PCs. The devices sport a 7-inch touch screen and run full versions of Windows, although Microsoft plans to offer a custom variant of XP for Origami.
According to Intel, initial versions of the device will appear like a small Tablet PC designed for consumers. Internet functionality will be key, along with entertainment features such as listening to music and watching video.
Pricing is expected to start at around $1,000 and drop to $500 in the next two years.
Although Intel is utilizing its low-voltage x86 processors, the devices will only get about three hours of battery life. The company hopes to improve this in the future, along with expanding the form factor. Intel showed off prototype models with smaller screens and keyboards that twist out from behind the display.
It's not entirely clear whether the Intel devices will differ from Microsoft Origami Project, or if the Redmond company has simply developed a custom operating system for the platform based on Windows XP.
Origami entered the public consciousness in late February after Microsoft leaked out a teaser Web site at origamiproject.com. The site offered cryptic hints of the project, such as "Do you know what I can do? Or where I can go? Or how I can change your life?" and "I am everywhere you are, but never in the way."
Source code of the site revealed last week that Origami is a "Mobile PC running Windows XP." Microsoft is expected to officially show off the device on Thursday at CeBIT in Germany.
News of another project at the Redmond campus also began to spread this week. A rumored entertainment service, code-named Alexandria, surfaced in an advertising video and sparked another round of rumors of Microsoft's plans with Origami. Industry watchers expect Alexandria to serve as a content download service aimed at Microsoft's new platform.
Despite the hype, however, it's not clear how such devices will fit into the competitive marketplace. Microsoft is notorious for announcing new form factors that never make it off the ground, like Smart Displays and SPOT, or take years to evolve into a workable product.
"My expectation is that Origami Project, whatever it is, may not be easily defined--initially, anyway. That would be consistent with some other Microsoft products (like Outlook 10 years ago) or life changing products (like DVRs and Blackberries) that pretty much defied explanation," remarked Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox.
Still, Intel at least is confident in the new ultra-mobile PC platform. The company expects technology enthusiasts, business and educational customers to be early adopters -- even at the $1,000 price point.