Microsoft Reportedly Scheduled to Introduce Tablet Today

[MacFly123]

Apple is either shaking in its boots or quietly smiling to its collective self. I think the latter.

I think the latter as well lol. But I am getting nervous. There has never been this huge of a preemptive response from all the competition so early! It makes me feel like Apple has waited too long and should have launched this thing last year without delay!

This week with CES and the month with the 27th feel like they are going by soooooo sloooooow! I can't wait to see what happens.

I don't think there is anyway that Microsoft could have an actual production ready Courier this soon. Microsoft is notorious for responding with vaporware and then scrambling to try and whip something up so as to not be completely shafted by the competition lol! The fact that they leaked the Courier last year amid Tablet rumors and are doing this announcement before Apple just reenforces that.

All I know is, that the current state of tablet frenzy are hype and so on, are just continuing proof of the AMAZING influence Apple has on the entire tech industry!

 

[*LTD*]

There have been very few to do a tablet in any way that has a mass market appeal. Apple usually takes a type of device, then does it what soon becomes the standard way, thats why people are getting excited. This, if done right, could have the potential to be Apples 4th market(/world) changing device.

This.

And really, no one's going to be buying anything until they know exactly what Apple has to offer.

 

[NT1440]

Another tablet that is nothing more than a hybrid and totally misses the mark.

Thats what I feel perfectly describes the tablet market current. Lenovo has a great concept so we will see, but "tablet" as it stands now in most peoples minds is just a hybrid laptop.

IF the currier or w/e it was called turns out to be real, sign me the hell up, it is exactly the kind of digital companion i've been dreaming about for years.

I'm highly interested in what Apple has to offer though.

 

[HLdan]

Around 20 minutes of pure Boredom. Can't wait!



Uh . . . Apple's already way ahead. LOL.

Fixed that.

 

[AidenShaw]

Apple's decision to use ONLY USB connections on the iMac meant that suddenly there was a demand for USB devices (since they couldn't use the PS/2 or serial port equivalents), and that helped break the deadlock.

True, that's why I said that "Apple definitely kick-started the USB era" in my post. The infrastructure (silicon) was already in place for Apple to use, though.

Intel's 440LX chipset (P6, released May 1996) had chipset support for USB. When the Imac shipped in August 1998, some PCs more than 2 years old already had USB ports.

But, Apple gave USB mindshare that it didn't have before the Imac.

...Bill Gates said something about Microsoft will not get into the hardware business. But here they are about to release a new improved door stop.

Check the original story again: "The slate will be made by Hewlett-Packard..."

MS will show an HP tablet, not an MS tablet.

 

[Vulpinemac]

No, my "video programming" (whatever that is?) doesn't come from a satellite. I just press record on my Topfield TF 7700 and it saves the HDTV stream to the HDD...

Are you sure about that? You don't have Cable? You only receive 'on-air' programming without the need of any device other than an antenna on your roof? (and I don't mean 'dish' type.) If you get more than 5 channels on your TV, then you're probably receiving either cable or satellite. If you are, Quicktime has been the standard compression format for about 10 years. Yes, with HD there are newer formats, but that doesn't mean they have totally replaced Quicktime yet.

 

[RyanR.]

This could make things interesting. I am on the line of being an appl€ fanboy, but I believe in checks and balances and that is exactly what M$ is to , as are we as consumers.

When I first read this article, my first thought was. "Well if the M$/HP tablet is better, then we will never see the mythical slate". I mean Steve is the kind of guy that would scrap a project in a second if it doesn't shine(or is not thinner).

Second thought,"OS X, Rocks!"

SideNote:
I really don't see why the iSlate would not run iLife. I mainly use my mouse. Plus, the iPhone 3GS has shown us that it could be capable(Video Editing/cropping).If it can do that and the same as the iPhone then I'll get one. I would like a quickbooks App or to be able to put QB on the slate it self though.

 

[*LTD*]

Apple is either shaking in its boots or quietly smiling to its collective self. I think the latter.

Apple very likely has the entire tablet industry figured out for the next 5-7 years. Actually, you can probably go right ahead and call this a lock for Apple. Looking at everyone else's offering, whether before Apple's tablet is released or after, is purely a formality. It's a courtesy, at best.

 

[zacman]

If you are, Quicktime has been the standard compression format for about 10 years. Yes, with HD there are newer formats, but that doesn't mean they have totally replaced Quicktime yet.

What are you talking about? Digital SDTV is MPEG2 and HDTV is MPEG4. And analogue cable TV is neither (guess why...) and still delivers around 40 channels (at least in Germany).

And what does it have to do with internet streaming and QuicktimeTV (1999)?

I think you're mixing some things up here.

 

[conradwt]

Apple is either shaking in its boots or quietly smiling to its collective self. I think the latter.

Apple is in a much better strategic position to make their announcement later in the month because a lot of people have only speculated on what product will be introduced. It could be a laptop/desktop refresh, iPhone 4.0 beta SDK, and/or a new tablet. Thus, they are clearly in the driver's seat. If it's a new product, you can best believe that they have put several years of R&D into it. The initial iPhone was 2+ years of R&D.

 

[MAG.]

Since MS can't innovate, I can guarantee you that this thing will suck.

Yeah, you're right. All Microsoft's 90,000 employees can't "innovate". On the other hand Apple employee's can because they come from a different planet where they have secret connections with Jesus.

 

[flopticalcube]

Apple very likely has the entire tablet industry figured out for the next 5-7 years. Actually, you can probably go right ahead and call this a lock for Apple. Looking at everyone else's offering, whether before Apple's tablet is released or after, is purely a formality. It's a courtesy, at best.

Apple is in a much better strategic position to make their announcement later in the month because a lot of people have only speculated on what product will be introduced. It could be a laptop/desktop refresh, iPhone 4.0 beta SDK, and/or a new tablet. Thus, they are clearly in the driver's seat. If it's a new product, you can best believe that they have put several years of R&D into it. The initial iPhone was 2+ years of R&D.

I'm hoping for some real Apple magic this time. Enough to make me sell my 2 month old netbook.

 

[*LTD*]

Because its relevant to my point. My point is exactly what you said. You're opinion is absolutely worthless because as you stated pretty clear here, you speak. You speak out from your rear end about products you have no clue about.

My beloved tech-enthusiasts on this site simply don't understand the market. They don't understand that the company that targets the Average User successfully and pushes simplicity above all else, will have a lock on the bulk of the market, whether it's the largest segment of the market, or a segment they create and dominate by themselves. Apple's device can become the Gold Standard in either scenario. Apple's entire approach to tech will ensure their success almost every time. They approach tech and the user's relationship to it, from an entirely different place.

The tablet's a big project. We know that now. It's something Apple takes seriously. Betting against Apple in this area is just silly.

 

[fat phil]

Has anyone ever owned a good HP computer?

 

[Macsterguy]

Isn't a coffee table going to be heavy to carry around?

 

[Macsterguy]

Has anyone ever owned a good HP computer?

Nope, but I have had 3 bad ones...

 

[Vulpinemac]

What are you talking about? Digital SDTV is MPEG2 and HDTV is MPEG4. And analogue cable TV is neither (guess why...) and still delivers around 40 channels (at least in Germany).

And what does it have to do with internet streaming and QuicktimeTV (1999)?

I think you're mixing some things up here.

Maybe you should look at the MP2 and MP4 specifications. Even your 'analog' cable programming was digitized starting in the late '90s so more data could be fed through existing satellites in orbit. It wouldn't necessarily be in the receiver/cable box in your own home, but it would be on the uplink/downlink side where it's sent to and received from the satellite itself.

So yes, nearly everybody has been using Quicktime for about 10 years without even knowing it. The codec has changed now, but the new codec hasn't yet replaced all of the old Quicktime channels.

 

[omahajim]

removed

 

[*LTD*]

Quite simply, I trust Apple to get it right. I don't have that same trust with Microsoft.

Apple has gestalt. MS doesn't. It doesn't just magically appear. It comes from your attitude to tech, and to how the user should interact with it.

 

[paulyras]

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?

Trying to resist sophomoric joke about physical attributes....

 

[kdarling]

Has anyone ever owned a good HP computer?

Sure. I have two HP TouchSmart desktops in my home. Both have been powered up for well over a year now.

One's been in the kitchen and subjected to heat, spills, you name it.

They've been a great experiment in how touchscreens both can and cannot be useful for daily tasks and entertainment.

 

[*LTD*]

Look back over the last decade. That's all you have to do. Macs. OS X. iPods, iPhones, etc. Figure out why these are such successful, desirable products, then assume the logical thing - that Apple will take all their experience in this area and apply it to their NEXT big product - like they've done before, and you'll have your answer. Shouldn't take more than a minute of deep thought.

 

[fat phil]

Sure. I have two HP TouchSmart desktops in my home. Both have been powered up for well over a year now.

One's been in the kitchen and subjected to heat, spills, you name it.

They've been a great experiment in how touchscreens both can and cannot be useful for daily tasks and entertainment.

Oh dear, and I seem to recall the last Surface demo I saw involved a bar and placing drinks on the screen...

 

[Reed Rothchild]

I agree. Apple hasn't done anything nor announced anything to show at all. Microsoft might come up with a great product, Apple fanboys will mock and laugh. Apple might come out with a similar product and they will claim Microsoft copied and sucks. lol. I don't get it. Why can't good technology be good technology. There doesn't have to be a hate Microsoft, love Apple relationship. They are tech companies and hardware tools for consumer and business use. They aren't a religion.

Amen to that .


Some of the comments on this thread make me feel embarrassed to admit to using Apple products. From my understanding of the current state of affairs, Apple have not mentioned that they have a fabled tablet to announce, nor have they announced a release date. It's amazing that some here are knocking Microsoft for actually talking about a real product.

FWIW, the mock-ups of the Courier look extremely well conceived. I hope that they will present something that comes even close to that. I also hope that Apple will come up with something that looks equally appealing, but won't be surprised if they end up with a super-sized iPod Touch umbilically linked to their iTunes store. Whatever happens, competition is such a great thing.

 

[Fatum]

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.

Ok Putzy, relax, here is a Lithium and here is a Prozac. Now let me help you get into your winter coat, the one with the very long sleeves.