By Yogesh Mehra
The software giant Microsoft has laid yet another technological milestone by revealing its ultra-compact computer. The recently unveiled Microsoft ultra-mobile pc (umpc) is also termed as “Microsoft Origami”.
The project, erstwhile codenamed ‘Project Origami’, is a small form factor tablet PC. The project was developed as a joint development exercise between Microsoft, chipmaker Intel, Samsung, Asus and the Chinese manufacturer Founder.The gadget was named “Origami” in Microsoft's cryptic Web-based marketing campaign, but the makers christened it as Ultra-Mobile PC later.
The current umpc has the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system and low-voltage Intel Pentium or VIA C7-M processors in the 1 GHz range.
The umpc plays back music & video, and also allows users do other computer works such as e-mail and Internet searches. The ultra compact inch-thick paper book sized PC looks like a handheld video game console. Its weight is two and half pounds and has a seven-inch touch-sensitive screen that responds to a stylus or the tap of a finger. The screen is wide, bright and easy to see, even in low light. The device also has jacks for connecting digital cameras, headphones and speakers.
The device has everything that a computer or laptop has, except the keyboard. The device runs a full Windows XP computer operating system, accessed with a pencil-like stylus, and supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless hook-ups. The ultra-mobile pc, equipped with a 60-gigabyte hard drive, has 3 hours battery back up. Intel made Celeron M and Pentium M microprocessors power the device.
The umpc runs the same operating system as used on notebook computers known as tablet PCs and newly developed software called Windows Touch Pack, which handles touch-screen functions. The future versions of device will support Windows Vista.
The gadget was unveiled at CeBIT, the annual technology trade show in Hanover in March 2006, and the two-umpc models hit the market by early April. The two models of umpc are priced at around $600 to $1,000.
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Source: www.isnare.com
