When it comes to futuristic operating systems most of us have seen movies like Matrix and Hackers that make the “future” computers look ridiculous. Typically when move creators conceived these advanced computers and operating systems they were going for wow factor, but why hasn’t Microsoft done that? It’s simple, in the process of making a cool OS/computer they have to still make it a product device.

Most readers of this blog have read about the new Microsoft tablet/notebook but for those that haven’t, its called Courier. It is a true notebook in that it opens like an old trapper keeper and you can write in it. It has the futuristic look and feel but somehow they have managed to make it at least have the appearance of letting the user be productive.

Microsoft has also released (at least to people with deep pockets) Surface, the coffee table computer. It is beautiful and futuristic but is it useful? It most certainly has its place in the world and has an immense amount of potential but it is not a product that most of us would use day in and day out.

At what point are we going to move beyond standard laptops and desktops and get something truly revolutionary? If Courier is as revolutionary as it looks, Microsoft might just be ready to turn the computing world on its head.

This video might only be a marketing ploy or just an attempt to gather more feedback on what a tablet should like like, but this is still one very cool concept. But cool concepts don’t always sell well. Would you buy one? Or is it just vaporware?

Check It Out> Gizmodo

For only $10 you can get the latest portable device in the form of  i-wood and is perfect for the hippie in your life.  One thing is for sure, if you carry this around you will easily be able to start conversations or at least get a lot of weird looks from people.  Even if you don’t want to carry it around it is great schwag for your cubicle.

Check It Out> i-wood via Wired

For the last 10+ years Microsoft has had a grip on the desktop operating system market but also in the embedded market with Windows CE.  This is an area that Microsoft has had a very dominating control over for a long time but the winds of change are blowing.

Since Google released Android for cell phones people are starting to see opportunities for it in other areas as well.  Android is essentially a flavor of Linux but one that is geared for portable devices.  In the last few months there have been multiple devices coming out featuring it.  Motorola has even been working with Android to power an electronic paper device.  More companies are seeing Android’s potential and are looking for ways to implement it.

Windows CE an OS originally released in 1996 has been around for a surprisingly long time but now it’s position as the embedded operating system of choice is being threatened by Google’s Android.  As hard as it is for Microsoft to swallow they are in a fight for their life and need to innovate more to keep up with the competition.

Check It Out> Gigaom, Moto Labs, Windows CE (wiki)

Android is getting some additional attention but this time by Archos (Texas Instruments). They announced yesterday that they will releasing an Internet Media Tablet running Google Android.  Archos is one of the first mainstream devices that will be running Android and is not strictly a phone based device.

• PC-like Internet experience enhanced by a high-resolution 5″ screen and full-width page viewing
• Adobe FlashTM and Flash VideoTM support, full screen
• Access whenever and wherever to TV, movies, photos, music and games
• Uncompromised TV recording and High Definition (HD) playback, all formats
• Hundreds of hours of video storage, up to 500 GB
• Innovative design: compact 10-mm ultra-thin tablet
• Long battery life, 7 hours’ video playback
• 3.5G 7.2 Mb/s HSUPA
• Laptop-like performance from the first implementation of OMAP3440 processor based on the ARM(r) CortexTM superscalar microprocessor and DSP

If these features are still in the final device this could be a killer device.  With the screen size, hard drive (500 GB!!!), HD Video, 7 hours of video playback, all of this just screams portable DVD player killer.  With the addition of Wireless Internet coming to many airline carriers this is looking more and more like THE device to have for a traveller.  Overall this is a good jump forward for Archos and could possibly give them a much larger market share in the portable device market.

There have been a few other devices that use Android for media but none look as promising as the Archos. With Android being a highly customized version of Linux it is becoming a distribution with a lot of followers and as such is getting people more comfortable with the idea of Linux.

Check It Out> Texsas Instruments

I have to admit that I am very surprised by Windows 7.  I know it is much more legacy hardware friendly than Vista but today’s story really amplifies that point.

Someone has decided to install Windows 7 on a Ultra Mobil PC (UMPC) with only a 600 MHZ Atom processor and 512 MB of RAM.  This machine comes with Windows XP and from my personal experience can barely handle it.  The amazing part is to see just how responsive the machine is when running Windows 7.  The Windows Experience Index (WEI) is 1.2 which is surprising to say the least.  I have seen many Windows Vista UMPC’s that have twice as much power but only get a WEI of 1.0 and are painful to use.

If things continue like this for Windows 7 it is sure to be rapidly adopted by consumers even with economy problems.

Check It Out> UMPC Tips via CrunchGear via Leo