Microsoft Andromeda is a foldable ARM-based Booklet PC rumored for 2018

Microsoft is said to be developing a foldable Windows on ARM device that could be ready for the market sometime in 2018. Windows Central reports that its sources also suggest that the device will not offer telephony, the forthcoming foldable Samsung Galaxy Note, but will instead be focused on productivity. The would be something of a spiritual successor to the Courier Booklet PC concept Microsoft revealed in 2008, before cancelling in 2010. 

Dubbed “Andromeda,” the new device will take advantage of building a device running Windows on the ARM architecture, instead of on Intel's x86 chips. Microsoft announced the initiative with Qualcomm around 12 months ago, with devices from Lenovo, HP and Asus not far away from reaching the market. Microsoft’s Pete Bernard recently revealed that Windows on ARM are proving to deliver outstanding battery life. Unlike the failed Windows RT initiative (which also ran on ARM-based chips, but did not support x86 apps), Windows on ARM devices will run the full Windows 10 OS on an emulation layer that supports x86 apps. 

Andromeda will be a device that users can fold up and fit in a pocket, but unfold to take advantage of a much larger display area. Like the Courier, which features pen input, the Andromeda will also focus on pen input to take advantage of the Windows 10 Ink software interface. The device could be targeted as a ‘digital journal’ aimed at uni students or business users. It would also likely carry the company’s Surface branding, should it make it to market. We certainly hope that it does, as it sounds like a potentially useful and intriguing new form factor. 

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