Origami goes the route of Windows 98

In the world of technology, there is no invention/project considered as perfect for it’s age; meaning it can only either be too advanced, or too outdated. Basing from that, the demonstration of Samsung’s Q1 “Origami” mini-laptop PC is either a huge success or an enormous flop; either way it was a humongous embarassment – expecially for the big bosses.

Samsung Electronics, Intel and Microsoft have all collaborated to bring forth this ambitious project currently named Q1 (or Ultra Mobile PC – would have been better off as an ultra-electro-magnetic top if you ask me) to the hands of the everyday computer user. Unlike conventional laptops, Q1 does not have a built-in keyboard, users are to type on its touch-screen keyboard or on a small external keyboard (think DS Lite), and is about half the size of an A4 sheet of paper. After months of developments (and serious promotions) the revolutionary machine was demonstrated to a viewing public last Wednesday at a news conference in Grand InterContinental in southern Seoul. Then disaster struck.

In a series of freak accidents, Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung bigwigs all experienced uncomfortable, if not downright embarassing, situations as they tried to demonstrate, ironically, how effective and easy to use Q1 is. Kim Hun-soo, vice president of Samsung’s PC division first tried to start the Powerpoint presentation, which was saved in his Q1, apparently the “innovative” computer refuses to turn a page despite the poor guy’s efforts; he was finally aided by a staff after a couple of awkward minutes. Things went on smoothly from there until the large projection screen suddenly went blank. No, Kim didn’t pass out from shame, Origami’s battery just run out proving that the machine has too little battery life (a mere three hours). The VP tried to downplay the incidents by saying “this kind of mistake happens in every presentation, even though you practice it all night”. (Even Bill Gates.)

Microsoft Korea’s president Yoo Jae-sung later on followed the same dreadful path towards failure after he had some problems opening his presentation file – on stage. A staffer once again came to the rescue, but more glitches came as the Q1 suddenly flipped through every page of Yoo’s presentation file in just a few seconds. Just when everyone was about to think that things can’t get any worse, Lee Hee-sung, president of Intel Korea also failed to kick off his presentation by himself and was AGAIN assisted by a personnel.

The Q1 will be sold for 1.2 million won in Korea from next month (around $1,250 USD). Origami’s creators might argue that their machine is just too advanced for our time – even their own bosses’. And that Einstein and Edison was considered crazy during their time, if so, I suggest they should just ship Ultra Mobile PC about 50 or a hundred years from now; but then again, by then laptops may be considered in the same way we regard abacus today. Hey, they may not be able to break any sales record, but at least they managed to break one – the most number of most embarassing moments, in a single day.

In the world of technology, there is no invention/project considered as perfect for it’s age; meaning it can only either be too advanced, or too outdated. Basing from that, the demonstration of Samsung’s Q1 “Origami” mini-laptop PC is either a huge success or an enormous flop; either way it was a humongous embarassment – expecially for the big bosses.

Samsung Electronics, Intel and Microsoft have all collaborated to bring forth this ambitious project currently named Q1 (or Ultra Mobile PC – would have been better off as an ultra-electro-magnetic top if you ask me) to the hands of the everyday computer user. Unlike conventional laptops, Q1 does not have a built-in keyboard, users are to type on its touch-screen keyboard or on a small external keyboard (think DS Lite), and is about half the size of an A4 sheet of paper. After months of developments (and serious promotions) the revolutionary machine was demonstrated to a viewing public last Wednesday at a news conference in Grand InterContinental in southern Seoul. Then disaster struck.

In a series of freak accidents, Microsoft, Intel, and Samsung bigwigs all experienced uncomfortable, if not downright embarassing, situations as they tried to demonstrate, ironically, how effective and easy to use Q1 is. Kim Hun-soo, vice president of Samsung’s PC division first tried to start the Powerpoint presentation, which was saved in his Q1, apparently the “innovative” computer refuses to turn a page despite the poor guy’s efforts; he was finally aided by a staff after a couple of awkward minutes. Things went on smoothly from there until the large projection screen suddenly went blank. No, Kim didn’t pass out from shame, Origami’s battery just run out proving that the machine has too little battery life (a mere three hours). The VP tried to downplay the incidents by saying “this kind of mistake happens in every presentation, even though you practice it all night”. (Even Bill Gates.)

Microsoft Korea’s president Yoo Jae-sung later on followed the same dreadful path towards failure after he had some problems opening his presentation file – on stage. A staffer once again came to the rescue, but more glitches came as the Q1 suddenly flipped through every page of Yoo’s presentation file in just a few seconds. Just when everyone was about to think that things can’t get any worse, Lee Hee-sung, president of Intel Korea also failed to kick off his presentation by himself and was AGAIN assisted by a personnel.

The Q1 will be sold for 1.2 million won in Korea from next month (around $1,250 USD). Origami’s creators might argue that their machine is just too advanced for our time – even their own bosses’. And that Einstein and Edison was considered crazy during their time, if so, I suggest they should just ship Ultra Mobile PC about 50 or a hundred years from now; but then again, by then laptops may be considered in the same way we regard abacus today. Hey, they may not be able to break any sales record, but at least they managed to break one – the most number of most embarassing moments, in a single day.