Filed under: Rumors
Courier new? Gizmodo posts alleged pics and video of MS Tablet
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been focusing almost all of his attention on the company's purported tablet-like device, which is said to be under his Jobsness's fine eye to detail. And if Gizmodo's details of Microsoft's Courier are the real deal, then it looks like Steve Jobs and Apple won't be alone at the touchscreen tablet ball. Courier will purportedly sport dual 7 inch-"ish" multitouch screens, with support for "writing, flicking and drawing with a stylus." In addition, Courier is said to include a camera on its back cover. According to Giz, J. Allard, Microsoft's "Chief Experience Officer," is heading the Courier project, which is said to be in late prototype stage.
Readers, tell us what you think. Apple allegiances aside, what do you think of Courier?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
RPlatt said 8:53AM on 9-23-2009
Call me when Microsoft has an original idea.
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jb.seymour said 8:58AM on 9-23-2009
I will second that one! MS has been playing catch-up for a long time in the design of their products and software.
sockatume said 9:13AM on 9-23-2009
Microsoft inaugurated the tablet computer ages ago. I recall entering a competition in New Scientist to win one back when I only had to shave every other week. It was a total failure outside of the market research industry, mind you, but they came up with the idea.
Remember, Apple's strength hasn't been inventing the computer, or the MP3 player, or the smartphone. Their strength is working at the idea until it can be done right.
retiredmidn said 9:56AM on 9-23-2009
Microsoft did NOT inaugurate the tablet computer; they followed (and arguably stole from) Go Corporation. Read Jerry Kaplan's book "Startup".
Mike said 10:22AM on 9-23-2009
@ sokcatume But Apple did invent the personal computer. Remember that little wooden box thingy in the early 80's?
Kevin Gass said 10:57AM on 9-23-2009
Really? as far as their E&D division goes I think they're at the top of the game. The Zune 30 had a unique interface when it first came out, unlike most iPod Clones that copied, Zune went above and beyond, and improved each iteration. AS well as the xbox. Sure both of these devices have their flaws and short comings (no Zune for Mac?! WTF) but they are far from playing catch up.
Just my 3 cents (cause what can 2 cents get you nowadays? :P)
sockatume said 11:17AM on 9-23-2009
My point is that there's a precident for MS working on tablet computers. They've tried very, very hard to make them work over the past decade. God knows there's no other explaination for the UMPC (Origami) debacle. I can't be said that this concept is just a cynical response to the Apple Tablet rumours. (That said, it can hardly be denied that Microsoft's revisited tablet computing as a result of those rumours.)
Going off at a tangent, there's no doubt that Go Corp pioneered pen-based computing, or that their ideas have been infringed upon (or outright poached) by everyone who's come since. However their products were in the same niche as palmtops and Psions, computing side-kicks in other words. It was Microsoft that decided that what slate computing needed was a full-blown PC OS, standard PC hardware, and a hilarious price tag, and Microsoft that turned it into a universally recognisable smouldering crater in PC history.
xxdesmus said 3:23PM on 9-23-2009
Wow, you're ignorant. Microsoft championed the tablet idea. You want to make claims that someone is being unoriginal then turn your kool-aid blinded eyes at Apple my friend. Get a clue.
Jason said 8:52AM on 9-23-2009
Impressive mockup, though I've never seen any computer work like this. I think that what the people are craving is a computer that works like they do, rather than having to work like a computer--- an intuitive interface that you can touch and write on will go a long way. And two screens, well that's pretty spiffy. Notice that this is not a Windows box-- will Microsoft be going the route of Apple with a new MobileOS?
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Tom Waterhouse said 9:15AM on 9-23-2009
That's what I was thinking with this one too. I know it's a prototype here (or rather a 3D render?) - but the likely hood of it actually working as easily as they show there? I'm doubtful.
Still, if it does come out as intended in the video and everything is great, then well done to them - especially if they beat Apple to it. Then again, maybe Apple have something completely off the wall coming up?
Joe said 10:01AM on 9-23-2009
I agree, but I think we are at a strange intersection where computers have been intensely used in their present form so long that it now IS how we work. Case in point, iphone's lack of keyboard. A good portion of people scream and shout at the no keyboard bit because that's what we are used to. Apple has always been known to introduce us to how we "should" work rather than how we are used to working. I have to give a begrudging kudos to Microsoft for elegantly blurring that line.
jb.seymour said 8:54AM on 9-23-2009
The User Interface looks totally BLAH!
meh
I will stick around and wait for the Apple Tablet whenever that comes out...
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Matt said 9:01AM on 9-23-2009
A good thing with this book-like way is that there is less fear of breaking the screen !
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LD said 9:03AM on 9-23-2009
I think the concept looks ok. But it's vaporware. This is a strategic move by Microsoft in an attempt to rain on Apple's parade. It's basic business strategy where you tip your cards to throw off the competition. But you never tip your cards to something you are actually working on.
If it were ready we'd see real video, not a concept video. If it were real it wouldn't be "leaked" to Gizmodo. The only thing "real" about it is that I'm sure it is from Microsoft, but I'm also sure it's just a concept as we've seen no real video of it.
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Jeff said 12:44PM on 9-23-2009
I'm actually surprised how little the bloggers are mentioning "vapor" which is clearly what this is.
"Photos"? ...those are renders. the video? it's a conceptual mockup. (there are like a dozen usability issues that crop up even in the simple little demo they created.)
I think they're sort of abusing the word "prototype" here - this is the computing equivalent of a concept car – it's MS's Chevy Volt. If it ever comes to market (and that's a big "if") it'll be a thousand times less sexy and a lot more expensive.
btblomberg said 9:02AM on 9-23-2009
Nice looking render. What will be the reality though? The fact is it will likely run off Windows CE/Mobile and the OS will be crap. Also, thought it is an interesting idea, it looks too much like a book. What's the point? to be a fancy two page e-book. Likely all it will be.
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James said 9:05AM on 9-23-2009
Hard to argue the usefulness of dual screens on a computer, and implementing this work flow on the level of a tablet is pretty cool. I am looking forward to seeing how well the device turns out. Don't see widespread adoption, but rather a very niche market that will eat this up.
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smcassara said 9:08AM on 9-23-2009
but, will it play DOOM?
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MysteryQuest said 9:08AM on 9-23-2009
It looks a bit like the Knowledge Navigator concept from Apple.
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Rob Eberhardt said 4:46PM on 9-23-2009
It sure does: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a0t2Eb7YJk