Bill Gates may have sniped at the MIT-originated laptop in part because he sees it as a competitor to Origami-class machines in the K-12 market.
In fact, the Origamis might very well be a hit in K-12, at least if prices drop.
So what’s does a sixth-grader think of this kind of machine? The What Is New blog reports a thumbs-up from a young lady who tried an $899 TabletKiosk version.
Yes, she’s keen on the idea of e-books replacing the pile of p-books she must tote from class to class: “It isn’t as heavy as those evil textbooks your teachers give you, and it’s just–just cute.” Here’s a video interview in WMV format.
Lately I shock myself with how quickly I’m coming around to this whole Origami/UMPC thing. Initially I found them utterly laughable (still do in some aspects, particularly price-point and battery life). And yet…
1) I am increasingly dissatisfied with reading/ videos / online content etc. on my tiny pda screen, yet a laptop is too bulky. Hmmm, maybe something somewhere in-between ….
2). With my ‘big’ computer anchored at home/work I do create digital content, but otherwise (comuting, travel, relaxing, learning, Starbucks) am primarily an info *consumer* . I really need a device more oriented toward viewing and info access.
3) Am bone weary of the restricted, non-powerful, non-standard capabilites and requirements of my Pocket PC / Windows Mobile 5.0. Special applications are required. Some media content works, some does not. What if I could just run standard XP applications? Wow, it would be like a whole new world.
Laptops do seem rather like dinosaurs lately and definitely look out of place in a classroom full of 11 year olds! While these initial UMPC offerings look like a “swing and a miss” as one commentator described it, I think there is potential for sure. Add an oled screen, drop the price and increase battery life and I certainly could see a very bright future for these devices, especially in education. Will keep my eyes (and maybe my wallet) open!