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Microsoft Reportedly Scheduled to Introduce Tablet Today

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Apr 12, 2001
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The New York Times reported last night that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is set to introduce a new tablet device during his keynote address tonight at CES in Las Vegas.
On Wednesday, Mr. Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive, will unveil a novel take on a slate-type computer during his evening keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, according to people familiar with Microsoft's plans. The slate will be made by Hewlett-Packard and possibly available by mid-year, these people said.
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According to the report, Microsoft's tablet will be positioned as a multimedia device offering e-reader and multi-touch functionality, very similar to the rumored capabilities of Apple's tablet device. Apple's tablet is rumored to be introduced later this month, with multiple sources reporting that it will begin shipping in March.

Several months ago, Gizmodo published a series of articles highlighting Microsoft's prototype "Courier" multi-touch booklet device. It is unclear what relation, if any, today's rumored release has to the "Courier" project.

Article Link: Microsoft Reportedly Scheduled to Introduce Tablet Today
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/06/microsoft-reportedly-scheduled-to-introduce-tablet-today/
God, I really really really really want to see this train wreck of a device.

Most likely has no special features and costs very little, but if you can get by the viruses, it's good enough for a grandma.
 
I would actually like that! Not that I want to buy MS's product, but this way Apple has to offer more than what has been expected during the last couple of months if they want to be groundbreaking. Competition drives innovation!
 
Good luck to Microsoft. I seriously hope that they prove every single one of you fanboys wrong.

You know full well that if this device had an Apple logo on it, you'd go out and buy it and say it's the best thing like sliced bread.
 
Woo, this is war I guess.

I'm not so sure how I feel about $1000 tablets in general. Same price as a fully fledged laptop, but you can't do as many different things on it, at once, with choice.
 
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I'm hoping it is the Courier. The "iSlate" sounds to be marketed toward those desire mobile entertainment. The Courier would be marketed to businesses and college students. If it is the Courier, then Apple and MS aren't technically competing.
 
PutzMan said:
Good luck to Microsoft. I seriously hope that they prove every single one of you fanboys wrong.

You know full well that if this device had an Apple logo on it, you'd go out and buy it and say it's the best thing like sliced bread.
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If Microsoft came out with this after iSlate, ok, maybe. But since they are coming with it before iSlate, there is not much to copy. Since MS can't innovate, I can guarantee you that this thing will suck. Give it a year, and maybe. But then it will probably freeze like their little MS driven smart phones.
 
If that courier device is the working design, I am curious what MS is aiming for. Foldable devices are inconvenient and yesterday's design limitation.

It makes the screen area divide up, so gaming is limited, apps limit, but book reading seems like book reading... which is stupid. The point of a book isn't to read two pages at a time, it was to put information in a form which is protected from dirt and water and fire, etc. (the elements). People had scrolls before books. The point wasn't the form, the point was to convey information.

Thus, if they cling to form over benefit of function, they're putting the horse before the car.

PutzMan said:
Good luck to Microsoft. I seriously hope that they prove every single one of you fanboys wrong.
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Aw. Poor baby.
 
If the Apple Tablet includes pen based input for sketching/note-taking, and looks more intuitive than Microsoft's Courier, then I'm in. Competition is a great thing! Looking forward to this CES and Jan 27.
 
So much angst in such a young thread. Impressive.
I predict hundreds of hand wringings and cries of outrage.
This should be fun.
 
Should be interesting to see! Hopefully it's a really good product. The people who vote this negative is why I HATE Apple fanboys.
 
darthraige said:
Hahahahaha. This is hilarious. What's the matter Microsoft? Don't want to show if off after Apple introduces theirs? Don't want to be embarrassed, again?
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so microsoft is first to the tablet game and it's their fault?
 
Come on...

It looks fantastic!

I dislike Microsoft as much as the next Apple fanboy, but the Courier concept looks great - and being a designer, taking inspiration from everywhere, it's actually exactly what I'd want for writing and sketching ideas.

Of course, I've no doubt that Apple's tablet will do whatever it does much better/slicker, but let's all grow up a little bit and agree that:

1) The Zune HD does actually look pretty good
2) The XBox is a decent console
3) A bit of competition is good (and badly needed) for Apple
4) Windows isn't the train wreck it used to be
5) Macs aren't necessarily more reliable than similarly-priced PCs

See? That feels better - I have a zen-like calm now.
 
Release it, patent it, and hope that Apple was planning on using the same tech. so can sue them.
 
dwd3885 said:
so microsoft is first to the tablet game and it's their fault?
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His meaning was clear. I think you need to browse the lolcats sites and leave this one alone.

The point made, and it probably true if this happens, is that Microsoft is jumping in front with an announcement despite shipping far in the future because they don;t want to seem like they are always trailing behind Apple. Don't forget that 99% of the public has no idea about what is coming, unlike people here who have been following forever.

Zunetbook. With two amazing choices of shell materials: toilet brown and urinal yellow.
 
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