Maybe Microsoft really was furious about how the manufacturers were handling the roll-out of the UMPC. Reports are now coming out that Microsoft is accelerating development on a new class of Ultra Mobile PC, dubbed the Haiku (expect tons of new sites with names like Haikuportal, Haikubuzz and Hakiunauts to pop up at any minute!).
According to an article over at Infoworld.com, “The Haiku device showed off at the Via Technology Forum was basically a display screen about the size of a paperback book. The idea is to use screen input methods to work the device, which would include a version of Microsoft’s OS for Tablet PCs.”
Boiling down the differences between Haiku and the the current UMPC, the Haiku will have a smaller display (about 5 inches), and a longer battery life (8 to 10 hours). It will still run full Microsoft OSs and include the TabletPC extensions.
Don’t expect the new device anytime soon… the Haiku looks to be at least 2 to 3 years out. Of course, when it does arrive it will further displace the TabletPC, accelerating its death spiral. Long time Ultranauts should appreciate the joke (though we’re only half-kidding).
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