The news that everyone already knows has finally been announced. Today at CeBIT Microsoft took the wraps off of the Origami Project and introduced the Ultra-Mobile PC. There are a number of sites with info on the new devices. Check out this site from Microsoft and the finally unveiled Week 3 site of Origami Project here. There is a press release here with the details. There's also a blog here.
The first thing to know is that Origami was a codename for the project, and the official moniker is now Ultra-Mobile PC. (Microsoft needs to get rid of the folks in the naming department.)
Here's the lowdown. The Ultra-Mobile PC is a small, light-weight, full fledged Windows computer, weighing around 2 lbs. designed for the mobile lifestyle. It runs the 2005 Windows Tablet OS and has a number of input capabilities including enhanced touchscreen input. Target price is between $500 and $1000. The devices won't be manufactured by Microsoft, but various OEM's, including Samsung, at launch with others to follow.
The UMPC is designed to put a full computer in your hands when you are on the go that is capable of playing music, video, web-browsing, email, and much more. They devices come equipped with Microsoft's TouchPack software aimed at the touchscreen entry mode for easy access to the functions on the computer.
While I am sure you are going to see a number of folks back-biting after all the hype and rumors that have been swirling about, the Ultra-Mobile PC does look like a very exciting new advance in mobile computing in my opinion. I'll have a series of posts throughout the day on more about the UMPC.
