Microsoft's secret 'Courier' booklet device unveiled

(5 replies) #1 AUSSIE_FLOYD_FAN on 22 Sep 2009 - 23:54

ill buy one of these possibly.. it there was a way to run oxs86 on it

actually this is a nice device and i cant wait.. dual 7 inch touch screens. i suspect windows 7 on this,,, i rember the first eee's that came out with a sincle 7 inch non touch screen...... this will be freaking sweet if it has a better solution for on screen keyboarding than the current microfail on screen keyboard

#1.1 cakesy on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:17

How far along is this actual device. It looks good, but is it just Microsoft up to its old tricks again. Don't but the Apple touchpad, we are bringing out something better real soon. They did this with OS/2, Dr-Dos, many many products in the past. They haven't had to do stuff like this for quite a while.

If it is an actual product that is ready to go, then all well and good. It look interesting and very useful. How does it fit into Zune, or does it run W7?

#1.2 Faisal Islam on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:59

It seems like a Zune type device. Hoping it will run on Windows 7 OS.

#1.3 Nexus- on 23 Sep 2009 - 08:09

@AUSSIE_FLOYD_FAN: You or everyone else may hate me for saying so but OS X simply would not fly here. Its all about the custom user experience microsoft is working out for this. If it works as flawlessly as the video suggests it would make this thing. Apple's tablet persumanbly would either us iPhone OS, which is a joke for many reasons, or it would use OS X which is just like running windows on a netbook, its OK, but its not great, because like linux, ubuntu specifically and others, have the custom netbook UI taylored for that smaller experience. This would need a custom book interface shown in the video to make it shine. Apple is just going to give us the 'slate' mode (presumably since we havent seen anything yet) and while OS X has got some handwriting stuff it but that doesnt compare to what MS has done in terms of tablet computing, unless apple is doing that work in their basement and has been keeping it from vanilla OS X

#1.4 Magallanes on 23 Sep 2009 - 20:01

cakesy said,

How far along is this actual device. It looks good, but is it just Microsoft up to its old tricks again. Don't but the Apple touchpad, we are bringing out something better real soon. They did this with OS/2, Dr-Dos, many many products in the past. They haven't had to do stuff like this for quite a while.

who said Natal?

And about DR-DOS. DR-DOS (Digital Research aka CP/M) ---> Novell --> Caldera System ---> SCO ---> Microsoft (in the background).

MS is covering all the bases. :-/

Last edited by Magallanes on 23 Sep 2009 - 20:13

#1.5 dr_crabman on 24 Sep 2009 - 11:46

cakesy said,

How far along is this actual device. It looks good, but is it just Microsoft up to its old tricks again. Don't but the Apple touchpad, we are bringing out something better real soon.

So now it's called a trick when MS shows a protoype, while the Apple-Tablet is nothing but a rumor? Funny how this works. If Apple had already released something similar I could maybe understand where you're coming from.

(5 replies) #2 simon360 on 22 Sep 2009 - 23:56

Want. Would switch from OS X.

#2.1 Ste on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:28

you said that about windows 7

#2.2 cakesy on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:17

Ste said,

you said that about windows 7

Must have come to his senses

#2.3 simon360 on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:00

Ste, I said I could use Windows 7, not that I would switch

#2.4 Quikboy on 23 Sep 2009 - 05:35

I think it's a custom tablet, like how the Zune HD uses a custom version of WinCE.

I doubt it'll run Windows 7.

#2.5 Sam Symons on 23 Sep 2009 - 07:53

cakesy said,

Must have come to his senses

>_>

(3 replies) #3 Rolith on 22 Sep 2009 - 23:56

man... "It's going to be the future soon."

#3.1 PaulDr on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:42

+1 Yah some awesome devices are on the horizon this is one i'm anxious to see how it turns out.

#3.2 xchaser on 23 Sep 2009 - 04:12

Rolith said,

man... "It's going to be the future soon."

yea all we need is self driving and flying cars and its the future.

#3.3 E.Fahd on 23 Sep 2009 - 14:49

Nah ... you forgot about sky-houses attached to earth with long tubes.
http://www.rachelleb.com/images/2004_04_15/jetsons.jpg

(4 replies) #4 Mega Goatlord on 22 Sep 2009 - 23:56

I would buy one just for use as a ebook reader. Looks pretty nice.

#4.1 cakesy on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:18

Do you need two screen for a ebook reader? And you would prob be better off with a e-ink display, with a battery that lasts days, not hours.

#4.2 UHYVE on 23 Sep 2009 - 09:54

My first thought was that this would be really useful for Uni. Unfortunately I start my last year today, so I'll probably be finished by the time a mere mortal can get their hands on one of these.

#4.3 Mega Goatlord on 23 Sep 2009 - 15:02

cakesy said,

Do you need two screen for a ebook reader? And you would prob be better off with a e-ink display, with a battery that lasts days, not hours.

'Need'? No. Want? Yes.

#4.4 carmatic on 25 Sep 2009 - 14:15

its and e-book, get it? as in it actually looks like a book!

#5 andrewbares on 22 Sep 2009 - 23:56

Want one

#6 Sam Symons on 22 Sep 2009 - 23:57

Seriously, I freakin' want one of these. This is exactly the sort of thing I want for university.

(7 replies) #7 Intelman on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:00

This would be perfect for University. I am currently printing slides and manually annotating them. These devices can not come soon enough. An half analog half digital note taking lifestyle is complicated at times.

#7.1 Sam Symons on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:01

Intelman said,

This would be perfect for University. I am currently printing slides and manually annotating them. These devices can not come soon enough. An half analog half digital note taking lifestyle is complicated at times.

Exactly! I tend to view notes on my iPhone, since my uni distributes them as .PDFs. This is all well and good but I can't annotate them at all, so I've got to go and print them all out, which can take a while. This thing is perfect for this

#7.2 Billus on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:21

Brilliant, make life so much easier. No need to waste money printing off lecture slides to write notes on them.

#7.3 E.Fahd on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:26

Exactly ! This this would be brilliant for Uni ! Want ! I hope they don't take too much time before releasing it 'cause i'm gonna start saving for it.

#7.4 ModernMech on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:29

I already use a Latitude XT to do just that.

#7.5 Intelman on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:00

E.Fahd said,

Exactly ! This this would be brilliant for Uni ! Want ! I hope they don't take too much time before releasing it 'cause i'm gonna start saving for it.

I bet it will be pretty far off. Coming 2011 or something like that

There are no real photos of this working. Just that strange mockup.

#7.6 gianpan on 23 Sep 2009 - 09:33

Intelman said,

This would be perfect for University. I am currently printing slides and manually annotating them. These devices can not come soon enough. An half analog half digital note taking lifestyle is complicated at times.

Yeah i've been dreaming for a device like this since day 1! It will be so easy to keep all your notes in one place (I am sick and tired of the millions of paper in my room) and it will make it painless to exchange notes.
If it works the way I imagine it would double my productivity I am sure!
I doubt it's coming soon though

We will have to see what Apple will present if they do.

#7.7 GreyWolfSC on 23 Sep 2009 - 15:15

Intelman said,

I bet it will be pretty far off. Coming 2011 or something like that

There are no real photos of this working. Just that strange mockup.

The Zune HD was in the same position two months ago and it came out on the 15th.

(5 replies) #8 artfuldodga on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:08

"The hinge in the middle will hold a home button, similar to the iPhone"
you think Apple invented the home button or something?

#8.1 Sam Symons on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:12

artfuldodga said,

"The hinge in the middle will hold a home button, similar to the iPhone"
you think Apple invented the home button or something?

Bwaha, not at all! "They're connected by a hinge that holds a single iPhone-esque home button," said Gizmodo. I just said that it's similar to the iPhone, which it is.

#8.2 DJ-Light on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:13

Why not like the ZuneHD? The ZuneHD also have a home button, why always that button have to be compared to a ipod?

#8.3 .Neo on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:14

My god people around here are oversensitive.

#8.4 cakesy on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:21

.Neo said,

My god people around here are oversensitive.

First rule of Neowin, don't mention Apple, unless it is derogatory.

A few people here have a bit of an Apple complex. Apple produce some great devices, that they want, but they could never get over the fact that it is made by Apple. That is why they get so excited over ZuneHD, an actual device that looks good, and made by Microsoft.

#8.5 simon360 on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:02

DJ-Light said,

Why not like the ZuneHD? The ZuneHD also have a home button, why always that button have to be compared to a ipod?

Because this home button looks nothing like the button on the Zune HD, perhaps.

#9 thornz0 on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:11

i want one!

(2 replies) #10 M_Lyons10 on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:14

Wow, that looks wicked. I would buy one in a heart beat (Assuming cost is reasonable).

The only think I do really hope is that they have a place you can put the stylus in... Based on the design of the stylus it doesn't look like this current version supports that, but of course it's early too. That's just a pet peeve of mine for devices that have stylus'. I don't like having to worry about losing them.

The device looks pretty neat so far, I wonder what the software will look like. I'm sure it supports .Net development too, so I'm sure there'll be a lot of options for this in the future.

#10.1 cakesy on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:22

Every single device with a stylus, that I have used in the last 5 years, has had a place for the stylus.

#10.2 M_Lyons10 on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:07

cakesy said,

Every single device with a stylus, that I have used in the last 5 years, has had a place for the stylus.

Yeah, which makes sense. I imagine it will, but this early version has a stylus with a pen cap, which wouldn't really work for putting it somewhere... I'm assuming this is just for the early version, but who knows...

#11 majg on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:31

mmm... noms

(10 replies) #12 mattrobs on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:34

I'm not holding my breath until I see the UI. This is Microsoft after all.

#12.1 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:39

Perhaps WinMo 7 rather than Win 7?

#12.2 mattrobs on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:50

m.keeley said,

Perhaps WinMo 7 rather than Win 7?

Win 7â€”arguablyâ€”has a decent UI. Microsoft haven't had a good track record on well-designed, well-considered, restrained, core-feature-focused, consistent, fluid UIs.

Check out the mockup video of this thing. That's dynamite fluid UI. Microsoft are now just starting to accomplish this (Zune). If they could pull that off, I will be mightily impressed.

#12.3 E.Fahd on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:27

@mattrobs,
- Microsoft are not 5 guys in a garage. Zune, WinMo 6.5, the Expression Studio, the Live Essentials, Windows 7, Office 2010. All these products have sleek, beautiful yet different UIs. People still have Win98 in their mind whenever Microsoft is in the picture.

#12.4 M_Lyons10 on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:28

mattrobs said,

Win 7â€”arguablyâ€”has a decent UI. Microsoft haven't had a good track record on well-designed, well-considered, restrained, core-feature-focused, consistent, fluid UIs.

Check out the mockup video of this thing. That's dynamite fluid UI. Microsoft are now just starting to accomplish this (Zune). If they could pull that off, I will be mightily impressed.

The mockup video does look sharp. I look forward to seeing what comes of this in all honesty. Microsoft has been taking UI quite seriously as of late, and have been coming up with some good ideas. I think they might get it now...

#12.5 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:32

Win 7 does have a good interface, just not sure about it for this type of device. Of course there are no tech specs as yet but WinMo you'd think would be better for low power device. Depending who you believe it's no where near production so wouldn't preclude waiting for WinMo 7.

#12.6 M_Lyons10 on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:39

m.keeley said,

Win 7 does have a good interface, just not sure about it for this type of device. Of course there are no tech specs as yet but WinMo you'd think would be better for low power device. Depending who you believe it's no where near production so wouldn't preclude waiting for WinMo 7.

Well, Microsoft Surface for example runs a version of Windows Vista with some glitz on top. They could do something like this to Windows 7 for this device. They likely want full WPF support and such. Windows 7 is supposed to have a lot of power management improvements as well so that it can run well on Netbooks and everything as well.

#12.7 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:01

Not saying you're wrong but Surface isn't and doesn't need to be low power. Even a netbook may be powerful and power hungry compared to the hardware this will run, I obviously don't know. Don't think anyone knows what they're planning for WinMo 7 but they might introduce WPF etc for that, especially now that mobile CPU's and GPU's are becoming more beefy. We'll just have to wait and see I guess.

#12.8 M_Lyons10 on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:11

m.keeley said,

Not saying you're wrong but Surface isn't and doesn't need to be low power. Even a netbook may be powerful and power hungry compared to the hardware this will run, I obviously don't know. Don't think anyone knows what they're planning for WinMo 7 but they might introduce WPF etc for that, especially now that mobile CPU's and GPU's are becoming more beefy. We'll just have to wait and see I guess.

I agree. I look forward to seeing what they have planned for Windows Mobile 7. I wonder when we'll start seeing something... Should be interesting to see.

#12.9 Gabe3 on 23 Sep 2009 - 04:52

mattrobs said,

I'm not holding my breath until I see the UI. This is Microsoft after all.

zuneHD has a decent UI, so I guess theres some hope.

#12.10 M_Lyons10 on 25 Sep 2009 - 06:19

Gabe3 said,

zuneHD has a decent UI, so I guess theres some hope.

Exactly, I agree. I'm not all that worried, Microsoft seems to be taking UI very seriously anymore.

(3 replies) #13 +bob21 on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:35

Cant really see the appeal of dual screens, Apart from the e-book gimmick a good hardware QWERTY like the HTC Shift's would be a better use of space.

#13.1 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:33

As you can see in the video it works well when sharing information, would be clunky with only the single screen.

#13.2 cakesy on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:27

m.keeley said,

As you can see in the video it works well when sharing information, would be clunky with only the single screen.

No, not necessarily. I imagine that dual screens would only have a few uses. It is not like you are constantly adding users to your diary.

Anyway, this is just a ripoff of Nintendo's DS

#13.3 M_Lyons10 on 25 Sep 2009 - 06:24

cakesy said,

No, not necessarily. I imagine that dual screens would only have a few uses. It is not like you are constantly adding users to your diary.

Anyway, this is just a ripoff of Nintendo's DS

Well, I think that having the two screens would be pretty useful. You could use one for reference and one for a work area, etc. That would be VERY handy. You could use it like a dual monitor setup with some information on the left so it's out of your work area on the right... I think it would be good.

(2 replies) #14 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:37

Don't understand the surprise "you heard that correctly", MS aren't exactly new when it comes to tablets. Anyway, looks really nice but apparently nowhere near production. If it ever does arrive wonder if it will be so wow or end up watered down and just be a single screen?

#14.1 cakesy on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:28

Really? Have Microsoft ever produced the hardware for a tablet before? That is why it is a surprise.

#14.2 M_Lyons10 on 25 Sep 2009 - 06:22

cakesy said,

Really? Have Microsoft ever produced the hardware for a tablet before? That is why it is a surprise.

That's what I was thinking as well... Did I miss something?

#15 MistaT40 on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:40

Wow - I would definitely strongly look into one of these devices...

(1 reply) #16 Sevan on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:47

It certainly is a nice device, but the question is, do we have a confirmed source?

Something just strikes me the wrong way.

#16.1 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:35

If it's fake then someone's gone to a lot of trouble creating the vid and MS should hire them!

(3 replies) #17 Silverskull on 23 Sep 2009 - 00:51

Integration with OneNote, integration with OneNote, integration with OneNote...

Regardless, I want it!

#17.1 M_Lyons10 on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:40

Silverskull said,

Integration with OneNote, integration with OneNote, integration with OneNote...

Regardless, I want it!

I would be shocked if this feature wasn't included in a device like this to be honest. It's really a no brainer...

#17.2 Silverskull on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:28

M_Lyons10 said,

Silverskull said,

Integration with OneNote, integration with OneNote, integration with OneNote...

Regardless, I want it!

I would be shocked if this feature wasn't included in a device like this to be honest. It's really a no brainer...

Agreed, it is, but the new Zune HD doesn't have wireless sharing, so... anything's possible. x.x

#17.3 REM2000 on 23 Sep 2009 - 08:33

i wouldn't be surprised if a version of onenote was derived from the demo above and not the other way round.

#18 Farnush on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:02

That is just wack!!

(5 replies) #19 .Neo on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:20

I'm betting the initial price will be off the charts for something that essentially replaces an â‚¬1 costing paper note block and maybe â‚¬5 worth of agenda. Most people who need it already own a smart phone or laptop. I have a very hard time believing this will become a mainstream product over the next 5 years. It's a cool gimmick a handful of people will buy, but won't really reach the majority of the consumers out there.

Don't get me wrong it looks totally amazing and cool, but I doubt people will pay big money for something like this if they can get a fully featured laptop for basically the same price.

#19.1 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:38

Doubt whether it would be off the charts in the same way as Surface, but who knows. If it only cost the same as a laptop then I'd say it would sell well, I've a feeling it would be more expensive though.

#19.2 Silverskull on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:30

And wouldn't it be awesome if this thing included free data access like the Amazon Kindle?

...agh, it'll never happen. Seems like the only way for something like this to really catch on, what with all the collaborative and location-based services.

#19.3 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:45

You can always dream!

#19.4 Relativity_17 on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:37

.Neo said,

I'm betting the initial price will be off the charts for something that essentially replaces an â‚¬1 costing paper note block and maybe â‚¬5 worth of agenda. Most people who need it already own a smart phone or laptop. I have a very hard time believing this will become a mainstream product over the next 5 years. It's a cool gimmick a handful of people will buy, but won't really reach the majority of the consumers out there.

Don't get me wrong it looks totally amazing and cool, but I doubt people will pay big money for something like this if they can get a fully featured laptop for basically the same price.

I remember people said the exact same thing when Apple started rolling on the iPod.

#19.5 .Neo on 23 Sep 2009 - 12:07

Relativity_17 said,

I remember people said the exact same thing when Apple started rolling on the iPod.

It took three years for the iPod to become an actual success after its initial release. Prices dropped, capacity went up, iTunes for Windows was released, iPod mini was released etc. The product matured quite a bit before it picked up real momentum. So those people were right.

#20 Tech Star on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:27

Bought. If it is as good as it seems.

#21 kInG aLeXo on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:40

AWESOME
This thing can really make huge change, specially if made available everywhere, with good price, without special restrictions.

#22 Kyang on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:43

*Watches as the article rating declines, if nothing else, just because it's from Microsoft.*

(1 reply) #23 jinishans on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:49

Hope they release it within next 1yr, no 6mths, no 3mths. Ya, before someone comes up with something similar/better than this.

Also, I hope M$ doesnt price is at 10k, like they did for surface.

BTW, they should allow us to develop Apps in .NET and allow us to share it with others like Android does, not block us like they did for Zune HD.

If all the above 3 are followed, it'll really be a device for socialnetworking, otherwise, may make noise like ZuneHD, and have our fingers crossed when they'll release the App Store.

#23.1 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:04

Pretty sure it wouldn't be anything like $10K, this and Surface are different beasts. If I had to have a totally wild guess, that means nothing, I'd be thinking $750, can't see it being dirt cheap if they stick with the dual screens. But it would be great if it was!

#24 Tikitiki on 23 Sep 2009 - 01:53

this is amazing.

(1 reply) #25 wakers01 on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:24

I wonder what battery life would be on this thing? I can't see it being too useful if I only get 5 or 6 hours out of it. Could be cool but we will see.

#25.1 m.keeley on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:46

That's part of the reason I thought perhaps WinMo 7 rather than Windows 7, something like a dual core arm cpu?

(1 reply) #26 NfoTech on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:29

Change the title. Secret my ass. If Giz has pics/video it's no secret and they are violating the NDA.

#26.1 GP007 on 23 Sep 2009 - 05:52

Or they didn't sign the NDA and someone else leaked info to GZ? People have their sources within big companies, it's how they get most of this stuff early.

You'd have to be stupid as heck to violate an NDA you've signed.

#27 Slacker on 23 Sep 2009 - 02:34

Didn't Inspector Gadget's niece have one of these?

#28 emzino on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:05

Is that thing for real? It looks yearsssssss ahead of our time!

#29 DATmafia on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:29

Wow, MS was able to have Apple like secrecy on this device apparently. If this pans out to be the real thing in the real world in like a year that would be pretty amazing! Has the potential to be the new killer app for hardware like the iPhone but with a touch netbook dual screen tablet pc. It could kill Sony's eReader and the Kindle. You know there going to make it eBook file compatible somehow, or someone will-maybe Netflix. :-P

#30 Solid Knight on 23 Sep 2009 - 03:50

Awesome. I hope they allow you to change your handwriting to some computerized font because my handwriting sucks so bad that I don't even want to read it. Well, it's not that bad but it displeases my sense of order. And damn it, make my boxes straight too. I don't want crooked lines.

#31 neoxphuse on 23 Sep 2009 - 04:48

The perfect accessory for the University student. If it can import Powerpoint slides, and being able to add notes to the slides, they'll be off the shelves in no time. I guarantee you I will buy one for my gf. She's always printing the slides and what not and then writing on them. Very time consuming. But carrying this digital thing around would be simply amazing. Saves so much more time, money, paper, and not carryiing around all these notes!

(2 replies) #32 powerade01 on 23 Sep 2009 - 05:11

This is a surprise and no, Microsoft does not have its own tablet. This is also a first for them. This also brings into the long term question, will they make their own PC now that they are touching also the tablet region...This may turn out like Surface to be a "platform" (has to have two 7 inch touchscreens, has to have wireless, etc)

Commenting on that, it seems to use a Surface like GUI. a miniSurface almost.

I mean it is great and all but most of you are missing the point which is the marketing strategy: This information has been released to the public to gain/kill that "hype" edge Apple would have if they announced their tablet. Now Apple is forced to "copy" Microsoft. Although after this, Apple has to announce something about a tablet in the following days to try to get some hype. This news was a total surprise and noone saw it coming.

Their intended market with this would most likely be universities.

#32.1 Joshie on 23 Sep 2009 - 12:50

It's unfortunate that many people won't realize how many years Microsoft has spent exploring touch computing. I dislike hearing that it has anything to do with Apple's tablet at all. If anyone thinks MS just suddenly jumped into this game and threw something together, they're grossly misinformed.

#32.2 AnthoWin on 24 Sep 2009 - 21:55

Just hope MS handles the launch well, seeing the competitor that Apple is can introduce their tablet at any price and still manage to sell millions.

#33 Doli on 23 Sep 2009 - 05:25

I want one!!! It would be perfect for taking notes, better than a tablet PC.

#34 helios01 on 23 Sep 2009 - 06:10

This actually looks like something I would use. Let's hope it's not severely overpriced.

#35 Se7enVII on 23 Sep 2009 - 07:44

Awesome!

#36 REM2000 on 23 Sep 2009 - 08:34

This looks like an awesome piece of technology. Microsoft need to produce these themselves as third parties have proved they can botch up some of Microsoft's good ideas. If they can make this robust and as cheap as possible i see these as becoming the next big thing in the IT world. Also they need to work on sharing the information on the pad as hassle free as possible.

(1 reply) #37 Roadrunna on 23 Sep 2009 - 08:41

I'll have one with "Don't Panic!" in big bold letters across the front please.

#37.1 GreyWolfSC on 23 Sep 2009 - 15:18

That would rock... I can already see a HHG app coming out for this.

(1 reply) #38 icie on 23 Sep 2009 - 12:56

Seems to me if they can get Google Wave working on this too, this would have a lot of potential. But of course, unlikely.

#38.1 Silverskull on 23 Sep 2009 - 14:05

Seems like this may in fact be a competitor to Google Wave. The software, that is.

#39 KyleA on 23 Sep 2009 - 14:28

Looks really cool. I wonder how long the battery lasts though.

#40 medium_pimpin on 23 Sep 2009 - 14:33

Looks pretty sharp. <secretly wishes it would sync with iTunes>

(1 reply) #41 -Vivicidal- on 23 Sep 2009 - 15:37

I will buy one of these if/when they come out. Who needs a netbook???

#41.1 RPDL on 23 Sep 2009 - 20:48

I dunno, Vivicidal, netbooks have keyboards, and they run typical operating systems as opposed to purposely-made OSes with limited functionality and applications. I never liked tablets, they try to find middle ground between smartphones and small form factor notebooks, but in the end they can't replace any of them.

I can do these things with either my netbook or my smartphone, but this device isn't going to replace any of them.

(1 reply) #42 C_Guy on 23 Sep 2009 - 16:29

With rumors abound that Apple is bringing out a tablet device at the start of next year, people seem to have forgotten about opposition.

It is amazing how short some people's memories are. (Or perhaps they are just selective). But once again a Tablet article makes Apple look like the innovator whereas anyone who has been in IT for more than a few years knows that Bill Gates envisioned this a long time ago and pushed the Tablet version of Windows on Tablet PC's. Again he was ahead of times, but once Apple decides to follow suit everyone thinks they are the almighty inventor.

Microsoft's "new" device is hardly a new idea from Microsoft. And it certainly had no inspiration from Apple.

#42.1 E.Fahd on 23 Sep 2009 - 17:53

The best part is that when Apple will release their iTablet (if they do), suddenly every other Tablet released will become just a wannabe copy. Seriously, there are times I just can't understand people.

(1 reply) #43 neoxphuse on 23 Sep 2009 - 17:14

Microsoft Surface popped up years ago. Way before the iTouch and iPhone were even around.

#43.1 AnthoWin on 24 Sep 2009 - 21:52

I believe it was 2007. iPhone hardware were RELEASED in June 2007 so obviously Apple worked out the hardware and software by this stage. The difference between Surface and Apple is that this multi touch technology is in the hands of millions driving awareness, competition and cheaper tech.

#44 Magallanes on 23 Sep 2009 - 20:19

Nice but there is a "little trouble". Touchscreen interface STINK!. (with the exception of a real Wacom + stylus).

#45 mrmomoman on 24 Sep 2009 - 00:04

PUT ME ON ORDER FOR ONE!!

#46 oliversl on 24 Sep 2009 - 04:19

Oh no, just when I forgot how to write with pencil... Can I just type in that book? Well, I'm not a designer either ...

#47 AnthoWin on 24 Sep 2009 - 21:49

That's the problem with Apple products - you don't actually know what they're working on till they announce it but when they do, the thing's going to be shipped out to your door in a matter of months.

The way MS handled the UI and hardware of the Zune HD, I have great hopes from this company again (not to mention Windows 7). Let the competition begin!

#48 mrmomoman on 24 Sep 2009 - 23:00

I have to agree. MS is starting to understanding marketing again. They had it for a while otherwise they would not have dominated so early on. Apple the marketing genius comes in and becomes the leader of the game and MS has finally decided to try to beat them at their game. I am a PC commercial when it was first rumored that apple called Microsoft and asked them to pull the Ad. Many people said that probably didn't happen but it DID. They have Silverlight, Zune, Xbox, Pink Phones(questionable), this notebook and I think we will be pleasantly surprised with Windows Mobile 7. Thats when the apps will start to fly.

(1 reply) #49 cmickc on 25 Sep 2009 - 09:23

this looks awsome, definately gonna get one! i wonder if ya open it like a laptop will it have the facility for one of the touch screens to become an on screen keyboard, that would make this unbelieveable! and lefty support please!!!

#49.1 peterish on 25 Sep 2009 - 12:00

I was thinking the same thing about one of the screens serving as a keyboard, essentially convertng it to a laptop. The problem, though, is the difficulty of typing on a touch-screen due to lack of tactile feedback for your fingers. It's the same reason some people shy away from cell phones with touch screen keyboards. Not to mention that its only a 7" screen....isn't that too small of a keyboard?

In any case, I'm very excited and can't wait to get my paws on one.

#50 carmatic on 25 Sep 2009 - 14:03

umm how is this secret when they have stuff like videos with a voice actress and stuff showing it off?

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