Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

meelk · Mar 8, 2006, 07:01 PM

right here:
http://cebitnews.turnpages.com/

moonmonkey · Mar 8, 2006, 07:28 PM

"It has an external DVD player, but movies can be ripped to the hard disk"
Isn't that illegal?

I like the keyboard idea, but not sure how well it will work.

meelk · Mar 8, 2006, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

"It has an external DVD player, but movies can be ripped to the hard disk"
Isn't that illegal?

I like the keyboard idea, but not sure how well it will work.

its fair use. the DMCA can kiss my ass.

I Bent My Wookiee · Mar 8, 2006, 07:30 PM

Super ugly, super pointless.

And I am not just saying that because it is MS.

ambush · Mar 8, 2006, 07:32 PM

Ugly, yeah. Pointless? I see how it could be useful to some people, but not me.

Pendergast · Mar 8, 2006, 07:33 PM

I hate it already.

Don't like the gui at all.

I Bent My Wookiee · Mar 8, 2006, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by ambush

Ugly, yeah. Pointless? I see how it could be useful to some people, but not me.

Ya all 6 of them. I mean if they can't use a Tablet PC or Palm how is this thing any better. It is either a big PDA or small tablet.

meelk · Mar 8, 2006, 07:39 PM

this would be invaluable in doctors offices.

demibob · Mar 8, 2006, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by I Bent My Wookiee

Super ugly, super pointless.

And I am not just saying that because it is MS.

Super ugly, super pointless.

And i am just saying that because it is MS.

PurpleGiant · Mar 8, 2006, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by meelk

this would be invaluable in doctors offices.

How?

Pendergast · Mar 8, 2006, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by PurpleGiant

How?

Something to talk about while in the waiting room?

One good way to get a really good laugh before dying?

el chupacabra · Mar 8, 2006, 07:45 PM

so is it just a watered down laptop?

I Bent My Wookiee · Mar 8, 2006, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by PurpleGiant

How?

They can look up stuff and take notes or something silly like that.

They said the same about PDA's.

demibob · Mar 8, 2006, 07:49 PM

I like the new keyboard but thats about it.
Theres no real need for a portable computer like this when you could buy a twelve inch powerbook. Or some other miniture laptop.

BRussell · Mar 8, 2006, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

"It has an external DVD player, but movies can be ripped to the hard disk"

I doubt that's true, or at least that it's a supported feature. It would need to have built-in copy-protection-defeating software. I hope it is true though, because it would signal a change that Apple could also take advantage of.

rickey939 · Mar 8, 2006, 07:54 PM

Haha, what a bad use of R&D.

TETENAL · Mar 8, 2006, 07:54 PM

I thought Apple had a patent on a keyboard overlay on a touchscreen. How comes the Origami uses this?

moonmonkey · Mar 8, 2006, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by demibob

I like the new keyboard but thats about it.
Theres no real need for a portable computer like this when you could buy a twelve inch powerbook. Or some other miniture laptop.

I think they are trying to let you use it with both hands and no surface to rest on, which is hard with as laptop, but palmptops do well.

Have no idea what pointing device it uses

I still think Apple should do a MacBook Nano with flash storage.

demibob · Mar 8, 2006, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

Have no idea what pointing device it uses

is that a thumstick on the left hand side or is it a speaker. If its a thumstick im guessing thats what it uses as a pointer.

greenamp · Mar 8, 2006, 08:20 PM

I was much more intrigued by the cool flash based magazine than i was with that Origami thing.

alligator · Mar 8, 2006, 08:23 PM

I'll buy one the second they are available. While I'll always choose a Mac first, I still need to run some PC programs to exist. If someone could get XP running on an Intel Mac, I'd drop my PC like a hot potato. Until then, the smaller the PC the better.

Invictus · Mar 8, 2006, 08:24 PM

Cool way to read a magazine online.

meelk · Mar 8, 2006, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by PurpleGiant

How?

complete digital files with handwritten notes, medications with full side effect links, major surgeries with pictures, the list goes on. more like how would it not?

PurpleGiant · Mar 8, 2006, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by meelk

complete digital files with handwritten notes, medications with full side effect links, major surgeries with pictures, the list goes on. more like how would it not?

Other than 'handwritten notes', all of those things are already possible, and in use by doctors on 'normal' desktop computers and laptops. Each to their own, but if I were a doctor I would be much happier with a real sized screen, keyboard and mouse on my desk, than one of those.

I Bent My Wookiee · Mar 8, 2006, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by Invictus

Cool way to read a magazine online.

"Cool" or "Better"?

Hope you read fast as the batteries last less than 3 hours.

Ghoser777 · Mar 8, 2006, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by I Bent My Wookiee

"Cool" or "Better"?

Hope you read fast as the batteries last less than 3 hours.

I think he is referring to the flash program that is displaying the magazine.

Kevin · Mar 9, 2006, 08:38 AM

Looks like a PSP

analogika · Mar 9, 2006, 08:46 AM

I'm strangely underwhelmed.

Super Mario · Mar 9, 2006, 09:23 AM

Me and another MacNN member did a brutal analysis of the Origami tablets on our soon to go live tech site. We'll post a link soon to show you why we think Origami will most likely fail.

ajprice · Mar 9, 2006, 09:54 AM

Its a Tablet PC. With a smaller screen. And no optical drive. Thats it...

Move along, nothing to see here.

Silky Voice of The Gorn · Mar 9, 2006, 10:14 AM

This thing is bigger than a Newton, and *that* was considered a brick. What a joke.

wallinbl · Mar 9, 2006, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by PurpleGiant

Other than 'handwritten notes', all of those things are already possible, and in use by doctors on 'normal' desktop computers and laptops. Each to their own, but if I were a doctor I would be much happier with a real sized screen, keyboard and mouse on my desk, than one of those.

The point is to be able to have it in front of the patient, not in your office. Sure, you'll still have a computer in your office, but you can carry this around and notate charts while talking to the patient, or bring up images or video to show them about their condition or surgery. If you have digital radiography, you can show them their x-rays on it.

Diggory Laycock · Mar 9, 2006, 10:44 AM

Tablets won't really take off until they're the dimensions of an A4 Pad (a bit heavier though - say 2x / 3x the weight.) Sort of like just the screen of a 17" PowerBook but 2x / 3x as thick.

bboisvert · Mar 9, 2006, 11:13 AM

i want one

ort888 · Mar 9, 2006, 11:20 AM

http://www.oqo.com/hardware/basics/

Hasn't this thing been our for a year? Isn't it also smaller and better?

ambush · Mar 9, 2006, 11:31 AM

Tablet PCs were a total flop; Handheld "pocket" organizers don't sell very well; the OQO was a flop.

Do you see a trend.

Why can't Microsoft design something revolutionary? This is th emost boring computer I've seen. It's like a NEW tablet.

bboisvert · Mar 10, 2006, 12:33 AM

i want one

Kevin · Mar 10, 2006, 08:03 AM

bboisvert your record is broken. Go fix it.

The Godfather · Mar 10, 2006, 08:16 AM

If it won't run ALL Windows applications, it is dead already.

Maflynn · Mar 10, 2006, 08:18 AM

In some ways I think this is not a bad thing. While I'm a long time mac user, I need a PDA and the dell axim fits my needs nicely. Now this look kind of cool, but the price tag seems a little high, If I really wanted a pc I could get a cheap laptop for the same amount. The battery seems a little weak and well to be honest its a skosh larger then I'd like.

I wonder of the timing however, sales of PDAs are declining and MS is trying to create another niche, I'm not sure about it. Overall though I think the idea isn't a bad one just the execution. I'll wait and see if the next generation of these babies are any better. Intel promised a more battery friendly cpu for these.

Krusty · Mar 10, 2006, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

The point is to be able to have it in front of the patient, not in your office. Sure, you'll still have a computer in your office, but you can carry this around and notate charts while talking to the patient, or bring up images or video to show them about their condition or surgery. If you have digital radiography, you can show them their x-rays on it.

Take everything you've written, take what Intel describes as the "advantages" of this device. This is nothing more groundbreaking than a smaller version of a tablet PC (with all the portability advantages and functionality disadvantages that entails). Same exact trade-offs as with a full-sized laptop vs. an ultra-portable laptop. It will probably suit a few people's needs but I doubt its going to take off and become a really huge selling form factor. Look at some tablet PC's that are 2 -3.5 lbs and sport at 10.4" TFT. -- this Origami is literally nothing more than a pint-sized version of the exact same thing -- why couldn't a doctor do everything you describe with one of those ? Or is the 7" screen and few ounces less weight going make tons more people start carrying it where they wouldn't have carried a tablet ?

Super Mario · Mar 11, 2006, 04:56 AM

Look on the bright side. If even two of them sell well Apple will push whatever secret thing they have in their labs out the door and rule the world with it.

torsoboy · Mar 11, 2006, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by Krusty

Take everything you've written, take what Intel describes as the "advantages" of this device. This is nothing more groundbreaking than a smaller version of a tablet PC (with all the portability advantages and functionality disadvantages that entails). Same exact trade-offs as with a full-sized laptop vs. an ultra-portable laptop. It will probably suit a few people's needs but I doubt its going to take off and become a really huge selling form factor. Look at some tablet PC's that are 2 -3.5 lbs and sport at 10.4" TFT. -- this Origami is literally nothing more than a pint-sized version of the exact same thing -- why couldn't a doctor do everything you describe with one of those ? Or is the 7" screen and few ounces less weight going make tons more people start carrying it where they wouldn't have carried a tablet ?

yeah yeah, and the ipod is just a smaller version of a pc with winamp on it. and ipod nano is just a smaller version of an ipod. and a theater screen is just a larger version of the television. give me a break. there is a use for it, and people will buy it. making things smaller and faster is "groundbreaking" in the computer and electronic world, so I think this qualifies.