Microsoft’s Origami 2.0

Leave it up to Microsoft to try, and try again! Microsoft development manager Vikram Madan recently spoke about some specs that they are considering for their UMPC 2.0 platform. Thinner devices, smaller screens, and higher resolutions were all mentioned. Supposedly the new breed of UMPCs will be between 18 and 20mm thick, while weighing less than 1.5 pounds. QWERTY keyboards might be added, the extremely low 512MB of minimum RAM should be bumped to 1GB, and WiMAX, and WANN will possibly all be added as well. The exciting news? Microsoft has said they have hopes of reducing the cost to the $499-$599 range, which is a welcome change from the $750-$1500 prices we have all seen. Other changes might include LED backlighting for the displays to reduce power consumption, while also bumping battery life to three to four hours. Not sure how they are going to target this new breed when the first round of UMPCs really failed to catch on. My OQO 02 is holding up just fine!

[Via ArsTechnica]