The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The first major computing trade show of the year was held last week in Hanover Germany. CeBit is often a look at the year ahead. While its importance has been falling over the past few years Ð companies have been holding on to their major announcements until the fall and the other trade shows Ð CeBit is still a major event. This year it was an event that was especially anticipated for the announcement that Microsoft was going to make. Code-named Origami, this was a much-hyped, much-waited-for project. Advertised as a totally new type of computing device, a few leaked videos, pictures, and blog posts had been passed around online for several months leading up to the event, but no one really knew what was going to happen. In the middle of the conference, the unveiling was done. Advertised as an ultra portable device, this new machine is basically a 7-inch tablet PC. Some of these machines have a QWERTY keyboard underneath the device that is revealed when the screen is twisted around, while other versions will have a touch keyboard built directly into the screen to be used with your thumbs. Microsoft's idea behind this mini computer is that it will be a breakthrough in portable computing power and computing devices. It has Bluetooth, wireless Internet access, a full suite of software and will run a mini version of Windows as an operating system. It is supposed to be power in your pocket that will let you send e-mail, draw using a stylus, type, listen to music, send instant messages, look at your photos, and watch movies no matter where you are. But the reviews right after the show were not good. Too small to use comfortably, too under-powered to do everything as advertised, and with a battery life of only a few hours, this device, that you might want to carry in your pocket to use all day would die off before lunch. This is a powerful idea. Five to six years ago, it seemed that only rich business people carried laptops. Now they account for almost 50 per cent of total computer sales. Five years ago, wireless Internet access was almost unheard of; who would need it? Now I won't stay in a hotel without it. The idea of having a device that you can carry around in your pocket that could have your photos, your music, and your e-mail appeals to me. Information on demand. Contact with whoever you need on demand. As wireless networks expand (did you know some U.S. cities are beginning to consider high speed wireless networks to be basic infrastructure like water pipes or electricity? I don't think this idea has made it to Canada yet, but wait until wireless access is everywhere) a device like this could be extremely useful. But it needs to be done right. Several things need to happen for a project like Origami to have an impact. First of all, something needs to be done about the battery life of devices that run on Microsoft operating systems. The several hours that Windows laptops last is almost criminal, and for something small like this, twelve hours is probably the minimum. Obviously that would vary, depending an how it was used, but it needs to live for the day. Power is essential. A device that you will want to carry around and use whenever you need it needs power. A device with a cheap, small processor with few pieces of software will soon be discarded and used by few people. But if I can surf, send e-mail, watch a movie, and use the tablet as a drawing surface, then I have a device that I can use for almost anything. The first editions of these devices are to be in stores by the summer and sell for around $1,000 US. It will be interesting to see how they make out with this new line of products. ([email protected])
