Microsoft "Courier" Concept?

[jhoff80]

Not sure if this is the proper location for it, though it doesn't appear to have any keyboards, but I can't believe there aren't any threads on here about the new Microsoft Courier concept that was leaked on Gizmodo a few nights ago. It might be just a little too big to be considered pocketable, but I don't think it belongs in the Mini Notebooks 5.6" to 10.3" section either.



http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-f...-secret-tablet

I'm a little concerned about the execution of the thing, but if done right, this could be my perfect portable device to compliment my smartphone and my main PC / convertible tablet. And an important thing to note is that a lot of this is based on prototypes and betas from a few years ago, Ken Hinckley's Codex project and also Microsoft InkSeine, so it's not entirely vaporware like you'd expect from the video.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/23/c...softs-courier/

The navigation in the video looks a little complicated, so hopefully that would be improved upon to be made more intuitive. And who knows what type of hardware they'd use for something like this, other than we know it's a dual- 7" screen book configuration with multitouch and pen input (which I'd have to imagine would be an active digitizer). My totally uneducated guess would be it's ARM-based and running on an embedded Windows that incorporates Windows 7's pen technologies, but we have no idea. That also means no idea on the price range, but I'm not sure that'd stop me either unless it's absolutely ridiculous.

The other huge concern if my guess about being ARM-based is right would be software. Other than the journal application and browser shown in I'd need a few more programs to make this a no-brainer for me. While the Journal application looks interesting, it'd really preferably be OneNote compatible and have OneNote's organizational features to be useful for me. InkSeine, which the Journal app appears to be based on, has great search but not so great organization. Then, I'd need some sort of PDF Markup program, preferably something like the excellent Bluebeam PDF Revu that I'm using. Finally, I'd need an eBook reader, preferably with ePub support and again that can be marked up.

Added software bonuses would be versions of Ink Crossword, Ink Sudoku, and an art program like ArtRage.

Regardless though, I can't wait to see and hear more. And if this was done right, I'd only need my main PC for document editing and extended text entry on the keyboard. And as an entirely pipe dream thing, they could put Office on it spanning both screens and let me plug in a USB keyboard and I'd probably be able to entirely replace the main computer if the resolution was decent enough (I assume two 7" screens spanned would be sort of the equivalent of a 10~11" screen probably.)

[JDGAFFLIN]

It appears to me that Microsoft is trying to beat Apple to the punch in the tablet pc genre. I personally don't have a use for one, but I have to admit, if it's done properly, it would be dead sexy. Given the forum factor leaked, I could see a multiple of uses from a multi-media standpoint that I would be interested in.

Definitely something to keep on eye out for.

[jhoff80]

Originally Posted by JDGAFFLIN

It appears to me that Microsoft is trying to beat Apple to the punch in the tablet pc genre.

Well, if that's the case, Microsoft beat them to the punch by around 5 years.

But seriously, I honestly don't get what market segment Apple is going after with their rumored tablet. Apple has horrible pen support, so I don't see that ever being included in an Apple tablet. From all of the leaked rumors, it sounds like a larger iPod Touch. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it'll sell like crazy for some inexplicable reason, but Microsoft tablets both in the past and with this concept seem to have more of an actual purpose.

And also, while I mainly just got my convertible tablet in the first place because it seemed cool, and because it wasn't that much more expensive than a regular laptop (bought refurbished with a coupon), I really don't know how I managed before I had it (and OneNote). Actually, on second thought, I know how I managed, I had a ton of .txt files all over my computer with different notes to myself that I could never find when I needed them. While I'd definitely use OneNote without a tablet too now that I've discovered it, the ability to just take notes with a pen is great.

[Thranx]

I salivate at this product. I will own.

OneNote's just met it's match.

[kendallbarrett]

Originally Posted by Thranx

I salivate at this product. I will own.

OneNote's just met it's match.

I couldnt agree more!