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Reports are running rampant about Microsoft's much talked about Origami device. Some say it's an iPod competitor; or, perhaps, a mobile entertainment system; and, maybe even, a handheld PC. The best bet is to assume Origami is a little bit of each, with the possibility of a full 32-bit Windows operating system (OS) running under the hood.

That's right, a handheld PC. Yet, Origami, whatever it is, should not to be mistaken for Microsoft's Windows CE-based handheld PC mini-laptops of yesteryear, which long ago lost favor with consumers and manufactures. It is a brand new concept in the age of wireless and mobile entertainment for the Redmond, Washington company.

According to San Jose Mercury News, Origami is, in fact, a handheld-sized tablet computer. It'll run Windows XP or, possibly, the software giant's next-gen Windows OS, Vista, due in the fall. Microsoft says there will be six versions of Vista Windows: Business and Enterprise for business; Home Basic, Home Premium and Vista Ultimate for consumers; and Starter for entry-level computers.

While that's plenty of OSs for licensees to chose from, it'll likely be a consumer or the starter version of Vista that finds its way onto Origami palmtops. If manufacturers have to wait for Vista, then it won't be until at least the fall when they ship their devices. Or, they may choose to go with XP first and then Vista later.

In both scenarios Origami handhelds should weigh under three pounds (possibly a lot less), have a 7-inch display, and cost in the $500 to $800 range; far less than similar products from a company called OQO. A video from The Digital Kitchen of an early prototype even showed a keyboard. See top images from the blog Engadget.

OQO handheld PCs, the 01+ sell for from about $1900 to $2100 - depending on configuration (Windows XP Home, Professional, or Tablet Edition) - and are geared to the business and vertical markets. Sony introduced the VAIO U Ultra Portable PC, a 1.5 pound Windows XP tablet back in 2004 in Japan, but that palmtop XP computer never made it to the states. And a startup called DualCor Technologies introduced its own 1.2-pound cPC mobile computer for the enterprise and vertical markets at CES in January.

With Origami, Microsoft appears to have consumers and entertainment - game, music, video - as the main entrées on the menu—although Web surfing, e-mail and Word processing are supposed to be side dishes at least. Origami devices should also feature Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities.

Some have speculated that with Origami Microsoft has given manufacturers more flexibility to customize their devices than in the past with PCs and Pocket PCs; at least until recently for the latter, when Palm, Inc. released the Treo 700w in January. With its initial foray into Windows Mobile, Palm tweaked the user interface and brought its own expertise in simplicity and ease of use to the smartphone; to the benefit of itself, Verizon (the carrier offering the Treo 700w), customers and - it turns out - Microsoft.

Gartner analyst Todd Kort explained to internetnews.com, "There needs to be more of a balance between the needs of Microsoft and the needs of licensees to distinguish themselves. Up until the Treo, Microsoft wasn't allowing much leeway."

The internet rumor mill speculates we'll either see an Origami introduction or release on March 2nd, due to a teaser Web site for The Origami Project that says we'll learn more about the device on that date. A live link on the site says week 1, while two others - week 2 and week 3 - haven't been activated yet.

A Microsoft spokesman confirmed with The New York Times that The Origami Project Web site is indeed theirs. But denied an announcement was forthcoming on that date.

Others place the Cebit trade show in Hanover, Germany on March 9th as the day manufacturers will roll out their version of the mystery device. The Microsoft spokesman did tell the Times that there would be something to talk about at an "industry event" in March. Perhaps he was speaking of Cebit?

Envisioneering president Richard Doherty, a consumer electronics consultant, will get to learn more about Origami this Thursday at Microsoft headquarters. He's doubtful about the chances of the portable arriving anytime soon, however.

Doherty said in the Times article, "a device that is near to shipping would be surprising. If Microsoft was working with any of the major chip makers on a new device, it would be a long shot that that piece of information would not slip out until the product was almost ready."

Either way, whether an Origami handheld will ship shortly or later this year, there's little doubt we'll soon discover what's under the hood of Microsoft's most-buzzed about consumer product in ages.

Click here for more on Origami at internetnews.com.