Microsoft's Courier Could Match an Apple Tablet PC
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Apple has been earning a lot of press lately about the oft-rumored Tablet PC--I did my own scuttlebutt roundup about it earlier this week, complete with an analyst stating that Apple's partners make it harder and harder to keep secrets. They're not alone in either the tablet PC or scurrilous-rumors category, though: Gizmodo has been drilling deep into the Courier, a tablet/booklet that will supposedly run on Windows 7, with Microsoft-crafted hardware, and let you take notes and run applications. On Nov. 4, the blog hit the proverbial mother lode, publishing several slides and a short video of Courier allegedly in action. I'd been hearing rumors about Courier for a while, mostly on the blogosphere, but I thought that all those images and video circulating online would finally persuade Microsoft to offer up some sort of confirmation. No such luck, though; a Microsoft spokesperson offered me the standard-issue "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculative news stories." Which was unfortunate, to say the least; if only because that response yet again crushed my childlike hopes and dreams that one day a major corporation will drop the Scoop of the Week in my lap simply because I asked really, really nicely and said, "Please." If Gizmodo's leaked information proves true, though, Microsoft has a very cool device on its hands. Among the reported features: Infinite Journal, a digital notebook that allows you to write and draw, as well as store images (just like a paper notebook); access to the journal online; a browser; and the ability to clip, "tuck" (i.e., slot away for later use) and paste images throughout your pages. I can see such a device as useful for students, who obviously have a need to take notes, and creative types. I'd certainly buy one, particularly if it has a sub-$700 price point. Taking a more macro perspective, however, it'll be interesting to see how the Courier will match up, in terms of form factor and features, against the iTablet or iSlate or whatever Steve Jobs decides to call the Apple version. Because the Apple version is coming, Cupertino's non-confirmations aside. And then yet another front will open in the device wars. |
Comments (6)
The Microsoft's Courier is load of BS. Until someone leaks a video of someone actually holding and using a Courier then we should hold off on getting excited.
3D Rendered video and conceptual use comes cheap. Actual release and real-world usage is a different story.
I'm not trying to diminish the ideas and concepts that Microsoft is presenting in the Courier. However, it's not enough to get excited about until we see tangible access to the Courier. Until then it's just clever video mock ups.
I'm not a fan of Apple or Creative but it would be a shame to compare Apple's tablet or Creative's tablet to the Courier when we have no evidence that an actual Courier prototype exists outside of fancy images and one 3D rendered video.
Posted by iPhrankie | November 6, 2009 7:42 PM
Its not going to match the Apple iSlate. www.islate.org
Posted by iSlate | November 7, 2009 8:23 AM
The iSlate may be a load of BS. Until someone leaks a video of someone actually holding and using an iSlate then we should hold off on getting excited.
3D Rendered video and conceptual use comes cheap. Actual release and real-world usage is a different story.
I'm not trying to diminish the ideas and concepts that Apple is presenting in their iSlate. However, it's not enough to get excited about until we see tangible access to the iSlate. Until then we don't even have any clever video mock ups.
I'm not a fan of Microsoft or Creative but it would be a shame to compare Microsoft's Courier or Creative's tablet to the iSlate when we have no evidence that an actual iSlate prototype exists outside of "slips" by non-Apple employees and some non-official images.
Posted by iFanBoy | November 7, 2009 1:28 PM
Yeah I agree with that Apple iSlate is far superior in terms of functionality
Posted by Alex Duvot | November 8, 2009 8:23 PM
"Infinite Journal, a digital notebook that allows you to write and draw, as well as store images (just like a paper notebook); access to the journal online; a browser; and the ability to clip, "tuck" (i.e., slot away for later use) and paste images throughout your pages."
I've been using this for years now... It's called Microsoft OneNote and it runs best on a Tablet PC! It's friggin' awesome!
Posted by Brett Gilbertson | November 10, 2009 12:47 AM
iFanBoy, you need to look at the evidence showing that the iSlate is real. So you know the Courier it a rumor it's self. If you eliminate rumor you whole comment is VOID. What that means is you wasted every bodies time with you comment. If you spend a little time researching you will find some things aren't rumor but true!
Posted by Apple iSlate Tablet | November 17, 2009 1:13 AM