The launch of the ultra-mobile PC hasn’t quenched Microsoft’s thirst to find a blockbuster product in the portable PC space. In fact, the company has continued to work on another mini-Tablet PC concept, the Haiku, and expects it on the market within the next few years.“We’d like to see them out in the US$500 to $700 range. The closer to $500 the better,” said Otto Berkes, general manager of Microsoft’s Ultra-Mobile PC operations, on the sidelines of a conference in Taipei on Wednesday.The Haiku device he 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.The original Haiku device was shown off by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates during the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference last year. At the time, the company projected it might ship in 2007. But this year’s launch of the ultra-mobile PC, code-named Origami, prompted speculation that Origami was the portable PC of choice for Microsoft, and it might drop other such projects. That’s not the case, according to Berkes. MS’ Otto Berkes “We don’t think [the Haiku] is feasible today, but we’re very excited about the road map [Via Technologies] shared that will make this possible in a few years,” he said. Via competes with Intel and Advanced Micro Devices in the microprocessor business, and in recent years has focused more on chips for portable devices. With these companies developing ever-smaller chips that run cooler, use less power and require less space inside gadgets, developing portable devices such as the Haiku becomes more feasible, Berkes said. Microsoft delved into developing portable PC concept designs in 2002. The first device from the initiative was dubbed “Go” and had a 4.5-inch display. The company continues to research the segment to find a specification that piques user interest.The idea is to make sure that any portable PC from Berkes’ division provides a full PC experience for users, and doesn’t limit a user to simply playing games or watching movies on a small screen.One of the design challenges is to make sure users have enough screen space so they don’t have to squint their eyes to watch a movie or when using programs such as those in the Microsoft Office suite. Using such applications on screens smaller than 7 inches causes problems in the way the software operates and for user experience, Berkes said. Still, the company remains committed.“We’re very excited about the prospect of this kind of product moving forward over the next few years,” he said.-Dan Nystedt, IDG News ServiceThis article is posted on our Microsoft Informer page. For more news on the Redmond, Wash.-based powerhouse, keep checking in. Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content feature 10 most popular IT certifications for 2023 Certifications are a great way to show employers you have the right IT skills and specializations for the job. These 10 certs are the ones IT pros are most likely to pursue, according to data from Dice. By Sarah K. White May 26, 2023 8 mins Certifications Careers interview Stepping up to the challenge of a global conglomerate CIO role Dr. Amrut Urkude became CIO of Reliance Polyester after his company was acquired by Reliance Industries. He discusses challenges IT leaders face while transitioning from a small company to a large multinational enterprise, and how to overcome them. By Yashvendra Singh May 26, 2023 7 mins Digital Transformation Careers brandpost With the new financial year looming, now is a good time to review your Microsoft 365 licenses By Veronica Lew May 25, 2023 5 mins Lenovo news Alteryx works in generative AI for speedy analytics results OpenAI integration and AI wizardry for report generation are aimed at making Alteryx’s analytics products more accessible. By Jon Gold May 25, 2023 3 mins Analytics Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe