Microsoft Courier shots light up the Internet
By Alexis • Mar 10th, 2010 • Category: Industry News
- Photo: HP
When Microsoft and HP introduced the HP Slate together at CES, the response was lukewarm. Lukewarm partly because the announcement came a week before the highly anticipated iPad announcement, and partly because it wasn’t nearly as great as Microsoft’s previously leaked Microsoft Courier tablet. Now, the other Microsoft tablet, the one everybody wants to see, is back in the spotlight.
Getting up to speed
- Photo: Apple
While this video explains much of the conception behind how the device functions, the Courier is basically a foldable tablet that has two screens that each have a dimension of 5×7 inches. This means, when opened, it’s about the size of the iPad and given it has two panels, the form factor works like a book, lending itself well to e-reader functionality. A Tegra 2 is reported to power it, meaning it could pack more processing punch than Apple’s tablet.
The big deal though, is its operating system. Supposedly built on the operating system framework Zune HD and Windows Phone Series 7, the Courier is very pen-driven and intended to work as a notepad, or more specifically, a ‘digital journal’. With little else to go on other than rumours, screenshots and the leaked videos, the device is rumoured for release in the third or fourth quarter, at an undisclosed price.
It’s alive
- Photo: gynti_46
What the Microsoft Courier seems to be doing in encouraging product releases and reveals is playing in the same space Apple is, without trying to outdo Apple at being Apple, but rather to leverage Microsoft’s own sensibilities. This solution seems to be working for the Redmond-based company, who are seeing great success with Windows 7 and their Xbox platform, as well as high expectations for Microsoft Courier and Windows Phone Series 7.
Tags for this article: Microsoft Courier
