Who will hate the Origami?

"Hasn't MS learned anything from Apple in the last few years...Your products NEED to be sexy! This thing is far from anything close to sexy...it would have been sexy in...you know, 1990!"

This blogger from CNET nailed it. This device is about as sexy as bill gates himself.
If you could just let us all know if origami is the actual name of the device or not for information's sake that would be a huge help.
thx.

Chris: it's a code name for a series of devices. Not one device. Many.

what are the individual names?

If you don't give them out here, will the list be rolled out at 1AM in 4 ours? 1AM in what time zone?

thx.

"many technophiles were disappointed with what we saw"

Ouch! My answer to the question: who will LIKE Origami? (why list all the people that won't or all the devices it won't replace; start with the smaller set) was going to be: technophiles with money to burn.

"Chris: it’s a code name for a series of devices. Not one device. Many."

Come on. I hate it when Microsoft and its employees act as if a specification means they create the devices. It is just a software/device spec. In many respects, this device has already existed for a while without the Microsoft codeword attached to it.

Chris: 1 a.m. Pacific Time. Or, whenever I get the video up. If I fall asleep, call my cell phone!

Goebbels: the spec for this device was created at Microsoft. Hope that helps. You'll see the prototype in Otto's office tonight. It was created here, and then shopped around to various OEMs who added their own touches.

>> it’s a code name for a series of devices

I'm guessing it's going to be like ipod mini, ipod nano ect...

That origami will be the prefix to the product name, in which case I'm still ok with my own promo based on that, with the smashing and all. If not, people can simply adjust. I'm guessing scoble is in WA right now, so 4 hours means 9 hours from now.

I'll try this again...
"it’s a code name for a series of devices"
----------
It's a smaller tablet PC...big deal...looks ugly in every carnation I've seen...will probably be as successful...Not!

>looks ugly in every carnation I’ve seen

I'm buying one. It'll look a lot nicer on my coffeetable than what's there now.

"Hope that helps."

No, I knew that. You've said misleading and foolish things like "it's a device." It's not. It's a spec, nothing else. You don't control the features. You don't control the cost. You don't control the design. You don't control the naming of the actual devices. This is nothing.

"You’ll see the prototype in Otto’s office tonight."

No. Why would I wait until after midnight to see a crappy video I've told you for months I won't watch to hear you laugh and giggle and go "Wow, wow, wow" over and over again, when other outlets, media sources, bloggers, people at CeBit, manufacturers, and Intel have been releasing plenty of info as they please?

And I hoped you asked that of your superiors as well; why am I sitting on my ass while Intel, Samsung, CeBit, Engadget, the marketing firm we hired to sell the prototype, Paul Thurott, and others are releasing a stream of better info at their own discretion.

Goebbels: It’s not. It’s a spec, nothing else.

Really? Well, I think you're a spec, nothing else.

>Why would I wait until after midnight to see a crappy video

The other outlets don't have the guy who built it. You'll watch it just to see if Otto lies so you can come here and make fun of him. Or, you'll count how many times I laugh so you can make fun of me.

>and others are releasing a stream of better info at their own discretion.

Better info? Oh, really? So they have an interview with Otto? Got it. I haven't seen one yet.

And, that's the deal. We let our partners have fun before we get to. It sucks sometimes, but that's why it's called a partnership.

I hope there is a trojan horse of some kind for this proudct...because outside of this one blog, there has been very little positive so far...

I still can't believe MS drummed up this much hype for THIS product. It either means MS is desperate or its marketing department has no clue. Or both.

I'm buying one. For browsing and for this: link. Think about it folks. A traditional laptop and tablet is too bulky and a Poket PC or Palm is just too small. If the price is right this will be a no brainer.

My first question is who the hell is going to pay $1,000 for an ugly device that runs a five year old operating system?

Microsoft needs to stop relying on OEMs to come up with good products. As good as Microsoft's visions may be, most OEMs never fail to design ugly hardware and then slap on their ugly stickers and crappy bundled software.

Just look at how OEMs can't even keep a secret. Microsoft tries to generate hype with the Origami website, only for OEMs to come along and unveil the device before Microsoft officially announces it.

When I first saw the Origami web site, I thought maybe for once Microsoft was coming up with their own device. Turns out its just another idea destined for failure like the Tablet PC.

"Really? Well, I think you’re a spec, nothing else."

Is that your version of clever?

"The other outlets don’t have the guy who built it."

Um, Otto built Windows Tablet edition? Or did he build Intel and Samsung, et al.? Or is he a project manager?

"You’ll watch it just to see if Otto lies so you can come here and make fun of him."

No, I won't it because they suck and are in WMV. How many times do I have to explain? How simple do I have to make it?

"Or, you’ll count how many times I laugh so you can make fun of me."

Too easy; no reason to waste time doing that.

"Better info? Oh, really?"

Yeah, really.

>Um, Otto built Windows Tablet edition? Or did he build Intel and Samsung, et al.? Or is he a project manager?

Did Apple build the iPod, or did PortalPlayer and some factory in China?

>No, I won’t it because they suck and are in WMV.

So if I gave you a Quicktime you'd watch? Did you see Ten yet?

"My first question is who the hell is going to pay $1,000 for an ugly device that runs a five year old operating system?"

Ding! That's pretty much all that needs to be said. Origami is either a bloated, expensive PDA/PMC or a skimpy, inadequate Tablet PC. The overhype for this was terrible.

Rob you know what im with you i think that the Origami devices look great so far and if microsoft can bring an affordable on im there.
Ill be there at 1:00am.

"Did Apple build the iPod"

Designed from the inside out in Cupertino, you little bitch.

Try that line next time you meet Jonathan Ives, Scoble.

Actually coming back engadget does not seem to be very exited about the samsung origami can we be expecting more revolutionary news tommorrow?

"Did Apple build the iPod, or did PortalPlayer and some factory in China?"

Are you claiming that Microsoft is actually producing these but some of the tech is licensed and 3rd parties manufacturers are being used, or are you throwing out a completely pathetic non sequitar that anyone can see through?

Yes, Apple uses a chip from a company, they licensed codecs and other techs from others, they licensed parts of an OS from another company. They then hired some of these people, produced their own design, and hired a 3rd party manufacturer. What was your point?

"So if I gave you a Quicktime you’d watch?"

Sure.

"Did Apple build the iPod, or did PortalPlayer and some factory in China?"

Are you claiming that Microsoft is actually producing these but some of the tech is licensed and 3rd parties manufacturers are being used, or are you throwing out a completely pathetic non sequitar that anyone can see through?

Yes, Apple uses a chip from a company, they licensed codecs and other techs from others, they licensed parts of an OS from another company. They then hired some of these people, produced their own design, and hired a 3rd party manufacturer. What was your point?

"So if I gave you a Quicktime you’d watch?"

Sure.

"Did you see Ten yet?"

Am I supposed to know what that means?

Tetra: and this was designed in Redmond.

You might want to look into the iPod more, though. It wasn't done at Apple originally. At least not totally.

Brett: I never promised a revolution. If this were a revolution products would have gotten killed. And I tried to make it clear that nothing was getting killed. Did I not make that clear enough? Or, do I need to put an "option explicit" on top of my posts so that everyone takes me seriously when I write?

>>“So if I gave you a Quicktime you’d watch?”
>Sure.

Bull, cause it only takes me an hour to convert one of our WMVs to a Quicktime here. You telling me you're incapable of converting a downloaded file from one file type to another?

>What was your point?

That I'm tired of you telling me this is a spec when we built the prototypes. We did the shopping for the components. We did the market research. We did the R&D. Then we shopped that around to OEMs.

It's a lot more than just a spec. As everyone else will learn tonight in the video. But, since you can't take the time to convert my crappy format to your crappy format, I guess I shouldn't be bothered to worry about you anymore. Have a good one!

gotta love the negativity surrounding this announcement. it means microsoft is doing something right. i thinks it going to be a great product, that can get use in many an industry. fills a giant void between underpowered, too small for any real work pda's, and cumbersome, expensive laptops/ too large tablets. having a full desktop os experience in this form factor is exactly what i for one have been waiting for. using foldershare on this thing is going to be awesome!

Can we get some troll spray for Goebbels

Scoble:

What Microsoft is doing with Origami is nothing like Apple in terms of supply chain. Your comparison is absurd at best.

billy g has to make it clear that the devices you buy now will be vista upgradeable (cmon xp tablet is 4 years old now 2002), either a nominal fee or for free... no one will buy one now because there are

1. smaller, more functional umpcs coming out later in the year. or next year.
2. they'll have vista.
3. promises of all day battery life
4. wimax will have probably taken off..
5. NAND harddrives...

frankly i wont buy one now if its not in the sub $500 dollar range (for all the 1st gen headaches and behemouth sizes, and old OS) and before i do that i need to be assured vista will run on these...

Why does everyone hate whenevr Microsoft gets into market with a new device? Are you jealous? This origami device is nice. As scoble is saying it may not be revolutionary but looks a good idea to me. Its not possible to watch videos on Ipod and its tough to carry your notebook everywhere. So the solution a device bigger than ipod where you can watch movies or browse internet and smaller than a notebook, low power, GPS. I will definitly buy one. That samsung one is sexier.

Mujibur: you forget my brother-in-law works at Apple. Why don't you ask him why they just laid off a bunch of hardware engineers?

Rafael: I ask that in the video too. Personally there will always be something better to come out within a few months in this industry. Heck, since my son got his iPod last September a few new models have come out. No one complains about that. In fact, they line up for more!

woops. i meant, no one will buy these now because there are (the numbered list) of updates that will come...

ipod is apple, the zealots are used to that, frankly having a 60gbvideo ipod when a fullscreen one is coming out in the next month just really pisses me off. but thats apple for ya..

"Bull, cause it only takes me an hour to convert one of our WMVs to a Quicktime here."

Thanks for telling me what I think. What the hell are you talking about? Firstly: you know this is an issue and are migrating yourself so please don't be a hypocrite. Sceondly, it is a political position: downloading it would be equivalent to viewing it--it could be perceived as marketshare I have no desire to contribute to. And thirdly, HELL No, I am not going to waste an HOUR converting something I shouldn't have to.

"That I’m tired of you telling me this is a spec when we built the prototypes."

You don't have to; I've been saying that all along. In fact, when you said "it's a device" a while ago, I said: "No, you're producing just a spec; other OEMs will produce the device."

So stop repeating something that I've always insisted on and have known from the beginning. And stop pretending you have to repeat it or tell it to me.

"But, since you can’t take the time to convert my crappy format to your crappy format, I guess I shouldn’t be bothered to worry about you anymore."

Awww, boo hoo. You know your company's format is the sh!tty one, and you know the other isn't. Get over it. Otherwise, you are going to look like a hypocrite when you migrate.

scoble,
in the video will they tell exactly who the market is for this thing? it doesn't look like something any normal person would want. what 'scenarios' does it cover? i'm afraid it looks like a product without a market.

The only thing which can get me excited about this is the software - You have to have done some work for the origami... not just port Windows Tablet and call it Origami.

Oscar... all this month.. i have seen nothing but videos that answer your question...

I still don't understand why people keep asking this question of who its intended for..
If you didn't see those videos yet, I am sorry....

try these for starters : http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/platform/fla...

The touch screen is a disappointment. I will be a hater simply because I will want one, and I probably will not be able to have one.

Oscar: yes, we cover a few of those scenarios.

http://news.com.com/1606-2_3-6047223.html?part=...

Thats an origami on video. Intel and MS are competing with each other to be in the limelight :)

Read both the reviews. None of them say they are really excited about Origami. Looking at the pictures, I have to say that I am not excited about this plastic now!

Hey Robert,

Seeing as I am one of the bloggers who have been listed in the CNet article as "hating it" (and hmmm, two of the citations were not even bloggers) I'd be happy to give one a try and let you know what I think. :)

Wow. It's amazing how vocal and insistent people can be while they simultaneously admit they don't have a clue about the topic.

I, for one, will be getting an Origami device as soon as possible, will be developing for it and have already discussed writing a book about it. And that's off of just a very conservative view of what's included in the initial devices...

This is absolutely a killer product. This year, it'll probably appeal mostly to early adopters who'll put up with the 1.0 limitations (like battery life) but next year with Vista and longer battery life this will be a must have for virtually everyone.

Scoble is losing it now that his overhyped pet blew up in his face. Origami? An overpriced, underpowered mini-tablet? Pathetic.

March 9th: The Yawn Heard 'Round the Web!

Tetra: go back to sleep. Nothing is happening here! ;-)

One thing that CNET bit got right is that this is just disappointment from the hype. Scoble, you may have just created hype but it certainly took off in the blogosphere and became overhype. The main problems people are having seem to have come from the high expectations of rumors:

1) Design wise, there were pictures of a sleek looking thing with a very thin border and all-screen
2) Price of around $500 was really appealing
3) Day-long battery life

Getting past that should be simple because its a form factor and there's going to be lots of variety, lots of improvements and lowering of initial price coming along.

Really anxious to see the C9 video.

I think this Origami thing is a wonderful idea. I know its nothing entirely new as it seems to be Wondows tablet pc re-invented...but i see the target demographic for this being evry single person who buya mocha latte at starbucks. People take laptops into starbucks...most pretend to be doing something important. I think theyre just trying to hard to be "cool". Then there are folks at starbucks who sip their coffee thinking it might be "cool" but a laptop is just too much to carry. The origami will definitely strike them. I may be one of them. I love gadgets and technological wizardry. I may early adopt an Origami then sell it off in a year to upgrade to the next generation device. I enjoy getting in on the 1.0 versions because it allows me to learn the device from its roots and base form. Then I can layer the knowledge leaf by leaf into my cerebrum so I can easily adopt to software changes and future builds and versions. WTF did I just say?!

"This is absolutely a killer product."

You accuse others of being vocal and insistent but you're calling it a 'killer' product? Some hypocrisy there.

"Origami device as soon as possible, will be developing for it and have already discussed writing a book about it"

I'd be interested in knowing what your customer base will be... You, Microsoft employees and um,... yourself.

Hey Robert,

I'm seeing a few things here I like, but I have a question. First off though - it's a platform, not a device. Which means your OEMs are welcome to design whatever variant they like. That's cool, not exactly a single "iPod killer" device, it's a platform. I should have guessed that, classic Microsoft.

The most important question of the day - Very very important: will the Vista version of these devices have media center extender support? Can I stream my MCE PVR content to an Origami over wireless? I read the Samsung supports 802.11A. The Intel videos indicate extender support. What's the answer?

Justice Fish hath spoketh!!

I find it funny how so many people were complaining about overhype by Apple for their most recent product release.

The origami hype vs the actual product really pushes over-hyping to the next level...

>First off though - it’s a platform, not a device.

Good point. But to most people it'll look like a device.

>Very very important: will the Vista version of these devices have media center extender support?

I ask that in the video. Let me know if the answer doesn't answer the question and I'll get more details.

Jon,

You didn't read very closely, did you. I said what I was doing just based on what was already known. If it's better, great. This is a killer product based on even the "we're disappointed" postings.

Jon, you do realize that all the heat on this product contributes to the hype, right?

Well, somehow I don't think Jon's postings are contributing significantly to the buzz on Origami. After all, CBS had in on the CBS Evening News tonight and much as reader comments on Scobleizer are important, I kind of think that quite a few million more people saw that then are reading Jon's comments.

Ha, and I got bashed on CNET for "going from site to site spreading supportive 'memes' for Origami." I believe I only placed posts on scobleizer and one post on CNET. I recall saying some glowing items about the future of the platform yet not being totally pleased with the first Microsoft iteration. Just goes to show that much of Microsoft bashing is irrational. Heh, you Microsofties must have some pretty thick skin...

Bobby, you know there's no way to win here. Just get naked and spray on troll repellant.

Technology has become as partisan as our politics here in the US. The typical liberal/Democrat won't hear anything but evil in what the typical conservative/Republican has to say, no matter what's being said. And 100% vice versa, lest you think I align with a party instead of simple common sense.

It's become one big emotional debate that no longer has anything to do with reality. It's all spin, hype and bias.

Another type of device that could potentially evolve into something decent or better is always good for users, no matter if it's made by Sun, Micrsoft, Apple or other channel partners.

If we woke up tomorrow and the one true set of 'right' technologies had been ordained by some omnipotent force, what would people talk about anymore? Politics and Barry Bonds?

The blogosphere is one amazingly cynical and snarky disappointment. You don't want better, you don't want advancement. You just want to hopefully constantly evolve your point of view so that someday, just maybe, you'll feel entitled to abstractly tell some anonymous and theoretically vanquished audience, "I told you so".

We could have done so much, we had so much promise.

Grant: agreed, well said.

Grant's right -- The majority of the blogosphere seems to hate Microsoft. It's probably best to just take the attacks with a grain of salt. When you're angry or dislike someone or something, many times objectivity and judgement are lost.

Also, paradigm shifts are really difficult for many in the early stages of change. How did Copernicus or Newton handle the ridicule of their ideas? Never mind, this is a poor comparison as they didn't work for the "Evil Empire."

Heh, and what are the anti-ms haters going to say when apple comes out with a competing product? Something tells me the majority of the blogosphere will conveniently forget the "doesn't do anything well" argument and focus instead on aesthetics.

Time will tell and the usefulness of the platform will eventually be undeniable. It's probably best to just handle the criticism with grace and dignity.

>It’s probably best to just handle the criticism with grace and dignity.

Hell with that! :-)

Personally I am happy to see an expansion of the UMPC market. I own a Sony U750p and love it (except for the fact that it is very difficult to legally put windows tablet os on it). I am a director in a two hospital medical system and have been waiting for a device portable enough and powerful enough to use at the patients bedside. I think there is a huge potential for these devices. People are fed up with the current limitations of their Pocket PCs and Palm devices. I am really looking forward to the evolution of the UMPC. I just hope it takes hold better than the tablet form factor. I was very dissapointed when Sony removed the U series from the US.

I can't imagine hating a device I'll never have to use.

Now, if my employer were to require me to carry one around for some reason, THEN, I might hate it.

"You might want to look into the iPod more, though. It wasn’t done at Apple originally. At least not totally."

Oh, for crying out loud..

Tony Fadell pitched the idea of a music player combined with an online store to several companies, including Apple. When Apple hired him to develop the product, there was a bit of work to do on it.. Like, DESIGN and IMPLEMENT it.

Trying to spin this as "wasn't done at Apple" is like trying to blame DEC for the NT disaster. Cutler brought you clowns a decent design for an OS, which you proceeded to botch to a truly incredible degree.

I am still away from all this pointless techie geek fluff, but I knew it, I just knew it. Tablet PC small-form factor part 2. Tech is there, plodding OEMs backed by the equally plodding Microsoft with a hit from Intel, with poorer specs than most Tablets and prices near it. Niche at best. But give it a few rounds, might be something in 2008 or in the instant-on and fuel cell eras. Another Mobile Device rathole for Microsoft to sink tons of investor monies into. And another one for all the OEMs to get a royal acid bath with, Tablet PC redux.

PS - And oh, I still don't see any 360s in the stores.

Christopher: Xbox 360s are getting to stores, but are getting snapped up. I saw a pile go within minutes at the local Best Buy. There's still EXTREME demand for these things.

"There’s still EXTREME demand for these things. "

EXTREME As in: LESS THAN THE FIRST XBOX.

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