Can Microsoft Courier compete with the iPad?

<p>I agree that it`s kind of meaningless to discuss this without knowing the price of Courier, but still I think this gadget will be able to beat iPad for some categories of consumers, for example for those who need a device mostly for work, not for pleasure. But also I think that there are quite a lot of Apple fanboys who will buy only Apple`s production and claim it`s the best without comparing it to smth else.</p>

Posted by: application development 28 May 2010

<p>Hey srikanth cuddapah, Your like all the people that said the Apple tablet didn't exist. I sure Microsoft wouldn't sit back and let every company in the industry build a tablet and just sit and watch.</p>

Posted by: ms courier 02 Apr 2010

<p>While multi-touch devices may take off in our home lives on a vertical screen, using multi-touch all day at work would result in lots more people calling in sick with RSI! Increasingly, laptops will be fitted with multi-touch touchpads to make scrolling and browsing easier and if software is designed with this in mind, there may be productivity gains in the workplace from multi-touch. More here: <a href="http://blog.globalgraphics.com/gdoc/2010/01/will-multi-touch-technology-find-its-way-in-the-workplace/">http://blog.globalgraphics.com/gdoc/2010/01/will-multi-touch-technology-find-its-way-in-the-workplace/</a> </p>

Posted by: DanielGlobalGraphics 23 Mar 2010

<p>Not only does the Courier not exist, but it's been four different concepts - from software-only to three wildly different devices - in the space of as many years.</p> <p>I think Apple are sleeping soundly over this. Much like Ballmer is generally.</p>

Posted by: Bligepipe 16 Mar 2010

<p>NO. Courier can not compete with photo frame (I mean ipad). It is like comparing apples to oranges. Book to photo frame. :-) no way. I have no idea why people are going gaga over ipad. folks it is just a digital photo frame with browser.</p>

Posted by: srikanth cuddapah 12 Mar 2010

<p>I so want this to be real. As a student, writer, and someone who thinks better with pen and paper than a keyboard, this would be a perfect solution for my style of living. Add the ablility to surf the web and watch some Flash vids and I'm in heaven. </p>

Posted by: Stephen 11 Mar 2010

<p>I am a massive apple fan and I am so disappointed in the iPad. No flash support? No USB? No camera? No MULTI TASKING??? Bring on the courier, they can have my money today. It looks amazing.</p>

Posted by: Azuza 11 Mar 2010

<p>The courier doesn't even appear to physically exist as yet. Even if it's a great device it's late entry and lack of established apps & media ecosystem guarantee failure.</p> <p>McD</p>

Posted by: McDave 11 Mar 2010

<p>The 4 standard critiques of the iPad are: No flash, no USB, not enough memory, not enough power/not a "real" computer.</p> <p>Some questions that this article raises about the Courier:<br /> -Two screens: added cost? Difficult to watch videos?<br /> - Pen interface: advantage or disadvantage?<br /> - Smaller than an iPad, but if it's too big to fit in one's pocket, does it matter?<br /> - when and, again, how much?</p> <p>Until the Courier has a price and a ship date, comparing the Courier to the iPad is meaningless.</p>

Posted by: FalKirk 10 Mar 2010

<p>OMG – the courier looks amazing; the iPad has a serious contender on its hands. However the two products offer completely different functions, the iPad is a multimedia/entertainment tool, whilst the Courier is a ‘work friendly’ glorified notebook with multimedia capabilities. </p> <p>I think the progression of natural user interface technology should persuade software companies to encourage us to develop more relevant natural skills and enable new technologies. The Global Graphics Blog explains it in more detail... <a href="http://bit.ly/GlobalGraphicsBlog">http://bit.ly/GlobalGraphicsBlog</a><br /> </p>

Posted by: TamaraDigi 10 Mar 2010

<p>Apple should only be worried if consumers think critically about the value of the products we buy. </p> <p>Right now the iPad is entirely driven by hype. No one has actually even seen it (unless you're Stephen Colbert).</p>

Posted by: Rethink 10 Mar 2010

<p>"Aside from die-hard Apple-ites, the iPad is likely to attract those who are looking for a slick, cool looking device which they can use to surf the web, watch online videos, view photos and listen to music with."</p> <p>The iPhone does the exact same thing. All Apple is doing is ripping you off more.</p>

Posted by: Dgourd 10 Mar 2010

<p>Good to have competition from Microsoft. Apple will improvise and possibly include a webcam which is a serious Miss. Also check this out, it has a remarkable display adjustment based on the light <br /> <a href="http://netbookboards.com/2010/02/15/linuxs-tablet-answer-notion-ink-adam/">http://netbookboards.com/2010/02/15/linuxs-tablet-answer-notion-ink-adam/</a></p>

Posted by: Vivek 10 Mar 2010

<p>I would much rather have a courier simply because i write notes and like to be able to sketch a diagram at times. Currently I use paper and a pencil, this will insure that I don't lose that piece of paper.</p> <p>To the apple fans out there this is what the newton would look like in todays world.</p> <p>I was waiting for a good android tablet and thought I had found it, when I came across this and if it works I will be buying a courier.</p>

Posted by: Akbal 10 Mar 2010

<p>Yes. This device looks to be much more flexible and much more useful than the "one trick pony" that is the iPad.</p> <p>It's range of use and it's look and feel are far superior to the oversized apple device.</p> <p>And before anyone cries "typical Microsoft fan", no I'm not. I have several iPods/iMacs, but the iPad looks like a waste of time.<br /> </p>

Posted by: Adam 10 Mar 2010

<p>Not a chance. Microsoft has failed miserably in the mobile space. Windows CE was an unmitigated disaster. Windows Mobile was only marginally better than awful. Both of them fell to competitors that were simpler, faster and more elegant. With Courier, once again, Microsoft is trying to cram the kitchen sink in with the rest of it. It's not intuitive. It's going to require hardware that will price it out of reach of anyone looking for an information appliance. People are complaining that the iPad costs more than a netbook and does less. I'll predict right now that Courier will require hardware comparable to what's found in the extreme high end of the portable market. In order to get it into the form factor that would be useful, either battery life will be abysmal, or it's going to be so slow as to be unusable. And of course, they'll build it on their existing code base instead of considering what a real mobile OS needs to be, which will make it a boated pig.</p>

Posted by: Tim 10 Mar 2010

<p>@Piet Snot<br /> Yes, you can watch online video on the iPad as long as it's not Flash. There's a YouTube app for that. YouTube and other video sites are switching to HTML5.</p> <p>Personally I'm a long time Apple fan but the Courier looks lot more exciting to me. As an artist, this is the product I'm looking for, far more so than the iPad, especially if MS puts Project Gustav on it.</p> <p>On the other hand, this is just a concept video, and MS has a long history of beautiful concepts followed by disappointing realities.</p> <p>Additionally, Apple has a clear environmental policy, switching to recyclable materials and phasing out toxic ones. MS seems to lack this.</p> <p>Like the latest SF blockbuster, the Courier looks exciting, but it's just science fiction.</p> <p> </p>

Posted by: Tanuki 10 Mar 2010

<p>The iPad seems like a giant iPhone, which I already have. </p> <p>Microsoft's Courier seems to be more oriented toward the way I work. </p> <p>I'm not sure what device on my desk the iPad would replace. I'm not going to take meeting notes on a virtual keyboard.</p>

Posted by: Jeff 10 Mar 2010

<p>I too am a huge apple fan, but I'm also a web designer. As a designer, I'm not happy that my flash websites will not be viewable to apple's Ipad customers. As a consumer, I'm not happy that 90% of the internet will not be accessible to me. I hate to say it, but I'm leaning towards Microsoft on this one.</p>

Posted by: Andrew 09 Mar 2010

<p>That is Probably what is going to all boil down to: Microsoft vs Apple. Unfortunately at this point in time, not much is known about the courier -- just a leaked video of an idea. bookmarked</p>

Posted by: William 09 Mar 2010

<p>"Aside from die-hard Apple-ites, the iPad is likely to attract those who are looking for a slick, cool looking device which they can use to surf the web, watch online videos, view photos and listen to music with." </p> <p>Except you can hardly watch online videos, because it doesn't have flash support... </p>

Posted by: Piet Snot 09 Mar 2010

<p>"Can Courier compete with the iPad?"</p> <p>NO</p> <p>This thing is confusing. It's just a Journal program running in Windows CE. And it is a confusing Journal program at that. No competition at all. It might create a nitch market of it's own for journal keepers. But 2 little 7" screens have no practical use.</p>

Posted by: Gary 09 Mar 2010

<p>hello,</p> <p>First off, I need to add a disclaimer - "I'm a huge fan of Apple"</p> <p>I think this attempt by microsoft will fail just as the HTC touch did in competition to the iPhone.</p> <p>thanks.</p> <p>dbax<br /> darrick baxter<br /> owner/operator<br /> <a href="http://www.ipad-release-date.com">http://www.ipad-release-date.com</a></p>

Posted by: darrick baxter 09 Mar 2010