Microsoft's Courier 'digital journal'

[Hornet331]

03-05-10courier.jpg


http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/05/m...s-and-de/?s=t5

We've been dying to know more about Microsoft's Courier tablet / e-book device ever since we first caught wind of it last September, and while our entreaties to Mr. Ballmer went unanswered, we just learned some very interesting information from an extremely trusted source. We're told Courier will function as a "digital journal," and it's designed to be seriously portable: it's under an inch thick, weighs a little over a pound, and isn't much bigger than a 5x7 photo when closed. That's a lot smaller than we expected -- this new picture really puts it into perspective -- and the internals apparently reflect that emphasis on mobility: rather than Windows 7, we're told the Courier is built on Tegra 2 and runs on the same OS as the Zune HD, Pink, and Windows Mobile 7 Series, which we're taking to mean Windows CE 6.

Holly molly, i dont belive it that there is no thread for this in the news section
Two words: DO WANT!

[Helmore]

I second that, DO WANT!

Here is some video of the concept from around 6 months ago: http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-f...-secret-tablet
This new footage does bring a little extra information though.

[Mabyboi]

First there was the non-usable tay Ipad.. then microsoft decides to make a WORKING model... i like... i like

[Zigosity]

Damn, that's cool.

[zalbard]

Looks excellent, it just might end up being way more pricy than competition. Also, no crappy / slow / buggy / non-multitasking OS please.

[Mabyboi]

anyone know the cost? i could use one!

[zerazax]

I hope this is real. Makes the iPad look like what it really is... a giant iPhone

[Katanai]

Holly molly, i dont belive it that there is no thread for this in the news section
Two words: DO WANT!

Maybe there was, I know about this for months now. But I'm on engadget and gizmodo on a daily basis...

The most disappointing thing for me is that from these last rumours it comes out that it will use a modified version of Windows Phone 7. I was hoping for Windows 7 with a Microsoft designed custom shell. This way although it looks great I think it will turn out to be a very limited and locked down device. If it will use Tegra 2 though and it will come out soon I will be tempted to get it over the HP slate. Anyway I'm just now in need of a mobile device and there couldn't be a better time for that.

[mursaat]

If it wasn't like a journal but like a ereader... at least for me ofc.

[Mabyboi]

If it wasn't like a journal but like a ereader... at least for me ofc.

Will it not work like an e-reader? just the journal?

[Frank M]

The most disappointing thing for me is that from these last rumours it comes out that it will use a modified version of Windows Phone 7. I was hoping for Windows 7

Sure. Also, it should've packed in an 8-core Nehalem-EX with Fermi and
HD6970 using Lucid's next hydra, and should also run for a full day on a
charge. Right.

Get a grip. Win 7 is not designed to run on hw like this; furthermore, it
would make no sense to use Win 7 on hw like this, as it would be slow as
a crippled snail.

OT: nice, but I'd still take a good pda-phone over this, it still has more
features and functions while having most if not all the features of this.

[mursaat]

Will it not work like an e-reader? just the journal?

I mean I don't like it's "two pages".

[ryan92084]

i would love to have an e-reader made in this style, back pocket sized would be optimal.

[Marios]

Cool e-Note. Great portability for surfing, reading ebooks, watching videos, listening to music, using live and GPS with bing maps 3D.

[Hornet331]

Maybe there was, I know about this for months now. But I'm on engadget and gizmodo on a daily basis...

The most disappointing thing for me is that from these last rumours it comes out that it will use a modified version of Windows Phone 7. I was hoping for Windows 7 with a Microsoft designed custom shell. This way although it looks great I think it will turn out to be a very limited and locked down device. If it will use Tegra 2 though and it will come out soon I will be tempted to get it over the HP slate. Anyway I'm just now in need of a mobile device and there couldn't be a better time for that.

Actually if MS sticks to there mobile os tradition, it will be very "open". Not the the point where you can modify the sourcecode, but to the point that everyone can develop apps for it, without any stupid store or paying royalties to certain someone...

And with decent driver support from NV i see even better apps coming.

[Katanai]

Sure. Also, it should've packed in an 8-core Nehalem-EX with Fermi and
HD6970 using Lucid's next hydra, and should also run for a full day on a
charge. Right.

Get a grip. Win 7 is not designed to run on hw like this; furthermore, it
would make no sense to use Win 7 on hw like this, as it would be slow as
a crippled snail.

What's your problem? You get a grip. It should be pretty clear from my comment what I've meant as I've compared it with the upcoming HP Slate which is exactly in this range and it will be running Windows 7. And no it won't be slow at all. W7 works ok on a 1.3Ghz CPU as long as it has enough RAM I'm not talking about games here, I got my PSP to play games while on the road but please don't underestimate how important an open platform is. For example I really wouldn't like to waste my time converting video just to be able to play it on that thing like I do now on the PSP. Under W7 you just use Media Player Classic which opens all types of files. On Windows 7 Phone, I don't know. The examples could go on an on with all type of media and applications. The bottom line is, what I'm after is a true mobile PC not an alternative, like this thing or the ipad wants to be. But as I've said if it has Tegra2 and they make a good job of customizing the OS for it and make it trouble free for the user, I could be convinced to get one...

Actually if MS sticks to there mobile os tradition, it will be very "open". Not the the point where you can modify the sourcecode, but to the point that everyone can develop apps for it, without any stupid store or paying royalties to certain someone...

And with decent driver support from NV i see even better apps coming.

Yeah but the thing is W7 already has apps for everything, better yet I already know the ones I need.

Anyway between this, the maxipad, the HP Slate and the rumored PSP phone it will be one hell of a year for mobile gadgets.

[Hornet331]

Seems your only concern are apps, thats a real non issue for windows mobile.

The best media player for win mob is coreplayer, though now it costs money, it supports everything. If your a mobile media nuts its worth the money. But if the Courier is a success and some decent winmo7 devices surface, im sure there will be a revival of the open source players.

[Katanai]

Seems your only concern are apps

Not really, my only concern as a consumer is to be able to do stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I was really excited when I first saw this device and I really wish that it will develop into a great product. I just keep some skepticism in reserve, that's all.

[s1nykuL]

Anyone remember spiral bound notepads and pencils?

Those were the days when the consumer had control.

[Hornet331]

Anyone remember spiral bound notepads and pencils?

Those were the days when the consumer had control.

Oh that time isn't over yet...

[Russian]

I'd still take a Notion Ink Adam.

[Serra]

I want to see a video review. Not sure what to think until I see one.

[zanzabar]

I mean I don't like it's "two pages".

i would rather have 2 pages then one page for an ereader, i hate how there is no pastoral feeling with ereaders or computers it makes reading feel like information osmosis and not for the enjoyment of the media

[dieqast]

I'd still take a Notion Ink Adam.

Yeah +1

[Hornet331]

I'd still take a Notion Ink Adam.

But that thing is huge compared to the courier, you effectively need bad to carry it around.

So it falls into a different category. Adam is tablet, while Courier is a handheld.