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[March 14, 2006]

Cornering a new market? Microsoft unwraps its ultra-mobile Origami

(The Herald Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)MICROSOFT yesterday unveiled its Origami - a portable computer the size of a paperback book - which it hopes will create a whole new market.

The gadget is a hybrid between a laptop PC and a host of mobile devices: it will be a hand-held organiser, an MP3 portable music player, a mobile TV set, a games device and a notebook PC.

Lighter than 2lb (0.972kg) with a 7in (17.78cm) touchscreen, the new "ultra-mobile" PCs (UMPCs) use Intel chips and run a modified version of Microsoft's Windows XPTablet PC edition.

Samsung, Taiwan's Asustek Computer and China's second largest PC-maker, the Founder Group, are expected to release the first three ultra-mobile PCs, which Microsoft had codenamed Origami in an elaborate marketing campaign.South Korea's Samsung's product goes on sale next month.


"This is a single ultra-mobile computer that combines the functionality of many different products, " David Steel, vice president for marketing at Samsung's digital media group, said at the CeBIT technology trade show in Hanover.

The new machines will connect wirelessly to the internet and carry full-sized hard drives, but they are not intended to replace current PCs.

Microsoft's track record in promoting an alternative PC has produced mixed results.

The tablet PC has not yet gained broad appeal, despite strong backing from the firm's founder, Bill Gates.

No US name brand PC makers have signed on to make the new devices, which will have a battery life of about three hours, but Microsoft predicted a bright future for them.

The new PCs are expected to sell for between GBP345 and GBP575, but Microsoft said it is possible to sell one for GBP288 if the maker selects components carefully.

Microsoft sparked a frenzy by creating a website to tout "Origami" with cryptic messages such as: "Do you know me?"

This fuelled speculation that Origami would challenge Apple's iPod music player or Sony's PlayStation Portable.

Microsoft aims to lure gadget fans with models that include features such as global positioning systems for car navigation, digital TV tuners orweb cameras.

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