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Does it matter if it runs iTunes? It's not like anyone's going to buy it.

"Unlike PDAs running Microsoft software, the computer would run a full version of Microsoft Windows."

Well, that's the first and foremost problem...

Apple should unleash their PDA PDQ!

Interesting point MDN!

People buying a UMPC aren't in the same market as those who would buy iPods. There may be some overlap, but it's nothing to worry about - especially if "Apple should unleash their PDA PDQ!" (credit: Turd).

Would this device not be simply another computer? Don't ALL computers run iTunes? Are not ALL computers iTunes Store-compatible, capable of playing FairPlay DRM-protected audio and video files?

Why, MDN, are we looking at this device as different from any other computer?

Who cares. It would still be Apple's software (iTunes) and Apple's DRM (FairPlay), so they would still be getting their cut either way.

Besides, these things will cost $600+ so it's not like they're going to be direct competition for the iPod.

'This platform could be next big thing, depending on how good a job it does,' he [Rob Enderle] says. 'If it were coming from Apple, that would be a lot more certain.'

Sometimes, even a butt monkey like Rob has a moment of clarity.

And one thing to say to all of this and how it will fare in the marketplace: TapWave

MS is going to try to do anything they can to make iTunes incompatible with future MS products. You watch, it will happen starting with Vista.

They cant compete so they will choke it out using technology and unfair practices.

"Knife the baby". Anyone remember that one?

if apple restricted the use of itunes on these things (dont know how) then there own tablet (we all know its coming) will have an edge.

At last, MS gives us the perfect "to go with" for Microsoft Bob!

Can't see why iTunes wouldn't run on it to be honest.

Remember though the hardware platform is all Intel and is basically a shrunken PC. On that basis Apple could run a version of OS X on one with little effort. And they having been filing lots of touchscreen interface patents recently.

So imagine the same device but with Apple's flair for design and easy to use consumer software, including iTunes. With Intel committed to developing the processor and battery technology an Apple version may not cost a lot to develop. Is the Newton going to make a return?

justified
- a portable that is fully functional is much desired. Especially ay $500.00. Make it easy to use and road warriors who use Blackberries would rejoice, especailly if you add VOIP.

The big question is will it replace the iPod?
Consumers who purchase iPODs want an easy to use device. Considering Microsofts history this is very unlikely.
Instead it will compete with PDA's - perhaps growing the iTunes market.
But it is an interesting work around the fair-play license. If it's doable is highly doubtful.

Who are these for anyways? They are going to cost more than any complete Dell system. So the average consumer is out, since cheap sells among home users.

These are going to be a niche product and maybe bomb like tablets have for the last 6 years.

Unless you can bring this home and plug an external screen to it and use a bluetooth mouse and keyboard for home use and then unplug and take it with you for travel or work. But what do you gain over a 12" compact laptop?

The hype was more fun than the reality. Typical M$.

RECORD LABELS HALTING DIGITAL DOWNLOADS!!

The restricted sales are evidence that record companies are a re-examining the fledging digital music field, where consumers have become accustomed to easy — and early — access to new stars' work.

Apple is DOOMED!!

Well here's another piece of MS crap that no one seems to care about. It'll crash while someone is trying to "multitask" by checking e-mail and looking at pictures. For everything it "can" do, I could spend $200 less and get a PSP to do 90% of the same things and it wouldn't have any version of an MS OS on it.

MDN word == Couldnt as in "MS couldn't be more proud of themselves for making more useless crap to dole out to the windows woefuls."

2 to 3 hours of battery life and a price of 500 to 1000 are not a sutible replacement for an iPod epecially if you're doing other stuff on it your bat life be even less. This is good to replace a laptop, but not an iPod, not yet.

Macromancer: "MS is going to try to do anything they can to make iTunes incompatible with future MS products. You watch, it will happen starting with Vista."

- I'm not so sure about that. MS may eventually decide that there is more profit to be gained by selling stripped down versions of Windows to all the mp3 player manufacturers that wish to be able to use iTunes as their media player (instead of creating their own) while also having available the iTMS.

Actually, I think there is a lot of potential in this. Imagine having a handheld that can wirelessly access your songs that are stored on your home computer. Imagine being able to purchase iTMS songs anywhere you are directly to your handheld. Apple might soon introduce something like this, but now a lot of other manufacturers might be able to do this too.

HA HA You Kocksucks! Looks like uncle gates beat you to getting the iSlate to market before Stevie could. Of course you won't like it. You'll call it everything from ugly to vaporware, but face it, MS will have it out next month while Apple is pushing an overpriced ipod speaker.

If Apple announced this two weeks ago would be hard with excitement. But now you're angry and envous.

I don't see the problem about this competing with the iPod. It will be a different price point and a different form factor and so cater for different markets. I guess it might allow someone to play music on a long flight as you would a laptop, but it's hardly slip in your pocket size is it? Yes, in some senses it will compete, in the same way that music playing mobile phones do, but they are still very different beasts.

There are some very good reasons why a device like this could be successful. I could see myself buying one as an ultra portable computer/storage device whilst on holiday taking photos for example. I'd like to have a laptop as well as a desktop but can't really justify it - something around the £300-400 could well be justifyable as combining the best of a PSP in terms of media playback, a laptop in terms of functinality, and a ipod in terms of capacity.

Go Apple, I want a Mac OSX ultra portable!

Two pounds and seven inches doesn't fit in my pocket. Even if this thing is a hit (which it won't be), it won't take away from iPod sales at all. I have a laptop that runs iTunes that I can carry around... I still have an iPod. You won't be able to take this "origami" many more places than you could take an iPod.

Regardless of what it is capable of in terms of calculations, It's too small to be usefully functional (with a keyboard, decent resolution, etc), but too big to be fully portable (as in, "fits in my pocket").

I'd like one... but only because I like any tech device. The general public doesn't need this. It's like a segway--too slow to replace a car, but to big to replace your feet.

Your Daddy-

just like all MS products, this will get rushed to market and be a POS from the start. Uncle Gates has a wonderful history of this. Either that or it will get delayed for the next 4 years like Longhorn err...Vista...or whatever the name du jour is for it today.

MDN Word "would" as in "Would you honestly pay $599-$999" for the Art of Paper Folding?

I might---MIGHT---consider getting one of these to replace my Newton. The size is about the same. I'd be more interested if I could get OS X to run on it. There's no way it's going to replace my iPod

ok MDN's comments usually annoy me, occasionally make me laugh hysterically, but this point is a very good one....hmmm definite food for thought....good going MDN.

Is this Micrsoft's Newton killer??

It will run iTunes for Windoze

http://news.com.com/1606-2_3-6047223.html?tag=ne.vid

Newton + iTMS video player. It would be a good combo, if only OS X ran on it instead of Windows.

Still, I expect this will be a really hard market to crack, it's not only the Mac folks who are saying 'Whaaaaa?'

Soon there will be Origamis with the size, form and price of iPods

If it runs a proper version of Windows, then it must surely run iTunes.

But of course it will be a heavy box, with a big screen, running a full Windows OS with all the power consumption that comes with doing that. It will play iTunes, but only for a short period. An iPod is very frugal with it's power consumption because it uses a specialised CPU and goes to extraordinary lengths to switch off unnecessary stuff whenever possible.

There's also the giveaway that Origami offers fast start-up for multimedia files. That presumably doesn't involve Widows, but some other sort of OS - that won't play iTunes.

Cool. Viruses to go.

Can't wait to see Linux running on one of these. I give it less than a week.

This device is vapor ware until at leat late 2007 or 2008.

The proof of concept pieces are really ugly.

Windows XP is too big of a hog to be useful on it. Imagine the Vista OS with all its overhead, looks like another OS sku for MS.

I think the only reason we're seeing anything at all right now is so they can try to gauge public reaction, here's mine....

YAWN

Instead of trotting out these prototypes lets see the real deal.

It's a nice concept when the technology catches up with it, sheesh I hope the done units are better looking than these escapees from a credit card swiping machine factory.

Hey, I think that this is NEAT. Others want Apple to license Fairplay. WHY? Microsoft can access iTunes on its "ultraportable", so no legal issue. Just run the full version of MS.

Sounds like a legal response to me.

As far as Vista not running iTunes, why not. MS can do its own version of Fairplay --- AND --- access iPods thru iTunes. Sounds like having your cake and eating it too. ???

N.

"RIAA" -- I clicked on your link because it was the NY Times. You've completely misinterpreted the article. Some music labels are restricting advance sales of single tracks, fearing they cut into CD sales. It says nothing about eliminating sales of the digital tracks once the CD is out. That would be a stupid move, considering that iTMS is now one of the top five music retailers.

2 lb. device on a lanyard. I'd like to see a silhouette dancer ad with one of those!

iTMS would still make money. If it gets too similar to an ipod I'm sure there's a patent (right, apple?) that would stop them from this. hopefully.

Have you noticed the size and weight of this thing? Why would anyone want to carry it around as a portable Music player? I do not see it as a threat to the iPod.

An interseting concern, but how in the heck am I supposed to stick that thing in my pocket. I saw a news report where the reporter was talking to on of MS's "partners." He said that an unexpected market for origami popped up during market testing was soccer moms. I can see it now. Some soccer mom trying to pull her oversized SUV out of her grocery store parking spot, steering with her elbows while she wrestles with her bigger than a blackberry but smaller than a laptop device just to send an IM to her kids telling them that she is running late to pick them up from soccer practice. First her windows running Origami POS will crash and then she'll crach her SUV into some poor old lady trying to push her cart to her car. Sometimes I REALLY think we are going in the wrong direction with technology.

MDN magic word: greater
Think about the greater good. Stop portable technology abuse.

Replace a laptop, eh? You try reading a 1024 pixel-wide webpage on a 7-in screen.

Origami is just dead-ugly. Why bother to have such a clunky thing when you can have an iBook that is a little bigger and heavier but looks better, has a better battery, keyboard, the list goes on...

Untill they can get flexable screens working and cheep with at least 3 year life. It just wont fly. PDA / Smart Phones decent size but horrble screen. Tablet decent screen size but too pricey and unweeding. This is a marriage of all of the bad parts and not much of the good ones.

If they could have a page size display that rolls up or folds to fit a pocket. Bat live of 8+ hours and flash memory of 20 to 40 gb. OS that is more intergrated than the current MS junk of pices flying in formation but not as a unit. It wont fly.

Just saw a PDA/Phone/Camera/Video Recorder. Small screen but none of the seperate parts fit well.

the iTunes interface is designed to run on large screens. Can you imagine it on a small device like this? I don't think so.

Yeah, I want to swap my compact very sexy, very reliable, very beautiful and functional iPod for an MS iSlab that has a battery life of 15mins and is the size of a ream of paper!!!!!

iPoders will still have the minimal white earbuds and the iSlab crew, with itunes on board will have a full screen chest display hanging from a silver link neck chain, just to show how cool they are. A sort of 21st century version of the Ghetto blaster, modern day, off the sholder look....! yukkkkkkk.

Give us all a break. Stop this rubbish. MS iSlab is a long way off and by the time it makes the shelves of our fav stores iPod will be lightyears ahead of where it is already ahead of MS vapourware and to really make it bad juju, the stupid thing will run Windhoes.... Shit, I can't wait for that one...


Leo

Samsung´s version....due out in April.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/09/samsungs-q1-ultramobile-pc/#comments

http://today.reuters.com/business/newsArticle.aspx?type=technology&storyID=nN09168966

Small is expensive.

Touch screen is expensive.

Enough sauce to run XP/Vista is expensive.

This thing will NOT be cheap.

Elephant? Yeah, white elephant!

Apple may have a better product, therefore a better chance of success. However, I am not too sure about the idea itself. There are simply too many solutions for one single problem, mobile computing. Among them are Blackberry, and whole bunch of other things, it is too confusing.

"Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the tech industry consulting firm Enderle Group." Other members amoung his group are his wife, his dog and his wang. Rob's wang thinks Paris Hilton rocks!!!

iTunes is a browser, a database, a music player, a video and audio sub system, a CD and DVD burning program, have I left anything out? As such it is a very big program when it comes to hard disc space and CPU cycles.

A resource hog if you will. It's like you are running several programs at once when you are running iTunes + Quicktime. Could that piss ant little chip they are going to use run iTunes + Quicktime + XP all at the same time? Remember, XP also includes a browser, a database, a music player, a video and audio sub system, a CD and DVD burning program, have I left anything out?

I don't think there would be the horse power or the hard disc space for iTunes+Quicktime and XP on the same ugly, expensive, underpowered little device.

Who will but it if it doesn't use iTunes?

Reminds me of my Newton..
Typical MSFT - a decade late.

Itunes is possible. Isn't there a version that runs on motorola's cell phones?

One of the issues is that there is a niche for such a product, but is there enough of a niche? can apple go into it, do something different, and make money? unlike the makers of infamous "iPod Killers", apple wouldn't go in as an also-ran.

If this assumption that the MS "ultramobile PC", or whatever they are calling it, can play iTunes, and therefore, get around the DRM, is true. I think it would be great for Apple. It would help relieve anti-competitive issues with the iPod being a closed system and having a 70% market share. It would also mean more copies of iTunes on more PC's. The iTunes program is free. Apple's goal for iTunes is to get as many copies out there as possible, which brings in more iTunes Music store revenue.