Early Details On Courier, Microsoft's Take On a Tablet

rbanffy points out an article on Gizmodo about Courier, a tablet (or more accurately, a booklet) in development at Microsoft. "The dual 7-inch (or so) screens are multitouch, and designed for writing, flicking and drawing with a stylus, in addition to fingers. They're connected by a hinge that holds a single iPhone-esque home button. Statuses, like wireless signal and battery life, are displayed along the rim of one of the screens. On the back cover is a camera, and it might charge through an inductive pad, like the Palm Touchstone charging dock for Pre." A concept video shows off the ability to use the two different screens for separate purposes, like browsing the web or a photo album on the left and using the right as a notepad or workspace.

Comments

Looks like a nice device

[sopssa]

Courier actually does look really nice. I have been thinking of buying a eBook reader, but the fact this has dual screen with multitouch makes me want to wait for this one, and that it can act as a tablet too. It makes it a lot more book like which you can see from the pictures too.

Besides eBook reader this would be a nice device to browse the web or do some work in the bed or sofa.

And I'm suprised to say this but compared to Apple's tablet this will probably be more open (in the not-restricted-to-apples-store way) and have a Windows platform. I hope they reveal more details soon.

Re:Looks like a nice device

[schnikies79]

It still has a backlit screen. I have yet to be able to read any ebooks on lcd or any other backlist screen. I've tried on my desktop, my netbook and my iphone.

At this point, it's e-ink for ebooks or nothing.

Re:Looks like a nice device

[Anonymous Coward]

It still has a backlit screen. I have yet to be able to read any ebooks on lcd or any other backlist screen. I've tried on my desktop, my netbook and my iphone.

At this point, it's e-ink for ebooks or nothing.

Yep. Only e-ink for me for future readers. What's funny is that the only people that I know who have bad things to say about ebook readers are those who don't actually read. For some reason, they seem the most opposed to this change, yet they're the ones who won't be affected by it in any way (sort of like the hyper-religious and gay marriage). Everyone else seems at least interested, and when they see how you can use an e-ink device in full sunlight, they're pretty much convinced that's the way to go. That's not to say that other devices won't work for casual reading (iThings, netbooks, this thing, etc), but as far as truly dedicated reading devices go, e-ink has a HUGE advantage.

Re:Looks like a nice device

[wvmarle]

on eBook readers [...] the real benefit is an e-ink display, which this most certainly does not have unless Microsoft has made some technological breakthroughs they're not sharing.

I'd say they for sure do not have such a tech. MS doesn't develop hardware, they are primarily a software company that is also putting together hardware devices. They do not develop hardware tech really - they use off-the-shelf (a PC with nice case = XBOX) tech and use that to build their stuff. That is not meant negatively; Apple is doing much of the same, just a bit more successful. It's like playing with legos, the creativity is in how you put the parts together.

Re:Looks like a nice device

[Golias]

Perhaps not, but I find it hard to fathom why anybody would want a 7-inch tablet from ANY company.

There are situations where I don't mind carrying a book-sized gadget around. In those situations, a small laptop is FAR superior in almost every way.

There are situations where I would rather not carry a book-sized gadget around. In those situations, an iPhone or Blackberry slips in your pocket and can do pretty much everything a tablet can do (and then some).

Tablets & eBooks are neither fish nor foul. Too big for a pocket or purse, but very limited compared to laptops or even netbooks.

Re:Looks like a nice device

[Abreu]

The ability to use an e-ink device in the sunlight does not change the fact that when it comes to reading indoors (or in public transportation, etc) a regular LCD usually blows it out of the water when it comes to readability, price and speed.

IMHO, the most critical aspect of E-ink that needs to be improved is the on-screen contrast (the current "grey-on-grey" screens are nearly unusable on regular indoors light)

Re:Looks like a nice device

[BrokenHalo]

I guess its antecedents are open to debate. One thing that concerns me (but only a little) is from having looked at the demo video, it looks rather as if Microsoft have adopted the finger gestures (or whatever they're called) that Apple just nabbed a patent for a couple of months ago. IIRC there was a /. thread about it, but I can't find it at the moment.

OT: Given how long Slashdot has been in existence, one might be forgiven for getting a bit cranky over Slashcode's inability to perform a simple keyword search on their own content.

Anyway, back on-topic, the patent might only extend to mobile phones, but in a way (for once) I hope it doesn't. Having a 400-lb legal team with Microsoft's budget behind it might be just what it takes to nuke the patent from orbit.

Knowledge Navigator

[Toe, The]

Ya know... it looks a little bit like the Apple Knowledge Navigator, a 1987 concept.

About Time...

[ReverendDC]

Two screens double the size of an iPhones. Very nice. The pocket in the middle...very nice. the folding (a 15" combined screen area in a package the size of a small netbook)...very, very nice. If this thing even thinks about supporting Office, Apple may have a tough time competing with this thing if it is all as listed here. Of course, as with any company, things change before release (anyone remember WinFS?).

OS and Software are the biggest question marks

[mantis2009]

The video provided by Gizmodo shows a revolutionary multitouch UI. It might be more related to the system Microsoft developed for its Surface computers, rather than Windows 7's built in multitouch. Whether the mockup described in the video represents an entirely new Microsoft OS or an application running on top of an existing OS will be an interesting clue as to Microsoft's strategy for the tablet market.

I like it... but

[rAiNsT0rm]

I've always been a huge proponent of a dual screen laptop. A ton of people cry about the lack of a tactile keyboard and it always ends there. Haptic feedback is getting better and I can see that as the future but for now something like this is needed. A single screen tablet just isn't useful or natural and they never truly caught on. This type of device is. I think it should actually be oriented as a regular laptop with a simple sensor to know the orientation change to portrait mode and function as shown in the demo videos. Just having the option is better than making it a portrait only device for no real reason.

My other concern is that Microsoft is not good at UI design. Occasionally they have flashes of brilliance but on the whole they fail miserably in this regard. Apple is not always better, so this isn't some fanboy argument. What they should do it farm out the UI to a design firm, something along the lines of Art Lebedev. Let it be truly revolutionary instead of being handcuffed by old ideas and methodologies.

Foe me, you give me those two things and make it a bit thinner but strong and I'm totally sold. I don't think it needs to be netbook cheap even, a fair range of $1200-$1600 and I think it is a winner. Teachers, students, professionals, ebooks, etc. in one device is a disruptive technology.