Microsoft, HP introduce touchscreen 'slate PC' at CES

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
During his keynote at CES Wednesday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled a new touchscreen tablet from HP running Windows 7, dubbed a "slate PC."



The unveiling might be seen as a disappointment to any who hoped to see the concept Microsoft Courier, a dual-touchscreen device that folds up like a book. Instead, Ballmer showed three versions of what Microsoft now refers to as slate PCs. The HP prototype is said to be arriving later this year.



Ballmer demonstrated the device running the Amazon Kindle desktop application with the hit book "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer. The cover of the book ironically shows a pair of hands cradling an apple.



The HP slate has a multi-touch screen and is said to have instant-on capabilities. Additional slates were shown from Archos and Pegatron. Prices and additional details were not provided.



Microsoft and HP's slate PC announcement was largely seen as a preemptive strike against Apple, which is expected to announce its own touchscreen tablet later this month. Microsoft's choice of the word "slate" could even be viewed as a snub at Apple, which owns the trademark for the name iSlate.







First leaked as a concept last September, the Microsoft Courier was said to be a project under the eye of J Allard, Microsoft's chief experience officer. The Microsoft prototype reportedly included Wi-Fi, an iPhone-like home button, a camera on its reverse side, and an inductive charging pad like the Touchstone for the Palm Pre.



Concept pictures and video of the Courier showed two 7-inch screens held together by a hinge. The multi-touch screens were designed for writing, and could be controlled with either a stylus or fingers.



But the device -- which has never been officially acknowledged by Microsoft -- was not mentioned during Ballmer's CES keynote.



The touchscreen HP device that was shown was just one of many new products and services revealed by Ballmer. The Microsoft executive also noted that Windows 7 is the fastest selling operating system in history, with PC sales increasing 50 percent the week it launched. Months earlier, Apple also launched its latest operating system, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, which doubled the record-setting sales pace of its predecessor, Leopard.



Ballmer's keynote, in its entirety, is can be viewed at Microsoft's CES Web site.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 243
    History will show this for what it is... a desperate move by a floundering company.

    It is almost as if they want to be accused of copying Apple.
  • Reply 2 of 243
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Microsoft's choice of the word "slate" could even be viewed as a snub at Apple, which owns the trademark for the name iSlate.



    Or it could just be the word for a tablet that has no keyboard. Slate computers have been around for years. They just always used a stylus until now.
  • Reply 3 of 243
    smiles77smiles77 Posts: 668member
    I have to say, this is sad.

    I guess all those courier fans on the other thread have to fess up.

    Microsoft blew it.

    Bye-bye, so-called "new, innovative Microsoft"



    More of the same.
  • Reply 4 of 243
    tundraboytundraboy Posts: 1,882member
    The 'preemptive strike' against the Apple tablet turned out to be a preemptive dud. And instead of stealing Apple's thunder, the Windows slate actually helped by lowering the bar for the Apple tablet.



    It also confirms that the Courier was just what critics said it was - vaporware.



    Another brilliant tactical move by Mr. Ballmer.
  • Reply 5 of 243
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    This says it all. As in "subliminal."



















    It's what happens when you have ZERO control over the message. That's right MS, you have to *control* things - what goes in, what comes out. Take a page from Apple. Like what you usually try to do.
  • Reply 6 of 243
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tundraboy View Post


    The 'preemptive strike' against the Apple tablet turned out to be a preemptive dud. And instead of stealing Apple's thunder, the Windows slate actually helped by lowering the bar for the Apple tablet.



    Another brilliant tactical move by Mr. Ballmer.



    I agree. You know what? This was the dullest keynote i have ever seen. It showed that they are out of steam.
  • Reply 7 of 243
    oflifeoflife Posts: 120member
    This HP 'slate' (and it will be, by the press), what, with it's stunning high resolution display, compelling intuitive user interface, app, ebook and multimedia content infrastructure, gorgeous robust ultra thin casing, 6 hour battery life and of course, the innovative docking system mean that Microsoft's partners have once again trounced Apple at their own game.



    First the Zune kills the iPod, and now this.



    Steve must be shuddering in his sandals and wondering why he wasted 5 years focused on his dream project.



    So so tragic, for so many reasons.







    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    During his keynote at CES Wednesday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled a new touchscreen tablet from HP running Windows 7, dubbed a "slate PC."



    The unveiling might be seen as a disappointment to any who hoped to see the concept Microsoft Courier, a dual-touchscreen device that folds up like a book. Instead, Ballmer showed three versions of what Microsoft now refers to as slate PCs. The HP prototype is said to be arriving later this year.



    Ballmer demonstrated the device running the Amazon Kindle desktop application with the hit book "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer. The cover of the book ironically shows a pair of hands cradling an apple.



    The HP slate has a multi-touch screen and is said to have instant-on capabilities. Additional slates were shown from Archos and Pegatron. Prices and additional details were not provided.



    Microsoft and HP's slate PC announcement was largely seen as a preemptive strike against Apple, which is expected to announce its own touchscreen tablet later this month. Microsoft's choice of the word "slate" could even be viewed as a snub at Apple, which owns the trademark for the name iSlate.







    First leaked as a concept last September, the Microsoft Courier was said to be a project under the eye of J Allard, Microsoft's chief experience officer. The Microsoft prototype reportedly included Wi-Fi, an iPhone-like home button, a camera on its reverse side, and an inductive charging pad like the Touchstone for the Palm Pre.



    Concept pictures and video of the Courier showed two 7-inch screens held together by a hinge. The multi-touch screens were designed for writing, and could be controlled with either a stylus or fingers.



    But the device -- which has never been officially acknowledged by Microsoft -- was not mentioned during Ballmer's CES keynote.



    The touchscreen HP device that was shown was just one of many new products and services revealed by Ballmer. The Microsoft executive also noted that Windows 7 is the fastest selling operating system in history, with PC sales increasing 50 percent the week it launched. Months earlier, Apple also launched its latest operating system, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, which doubled the record-setting sales pace of its predecessor, Leopard.



    Ballmer's keynote, in its entirety, is can be viewed at Microsoft's CES Web site.



  • Reply 8 of 243
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Chintan100 View Post


    I agree. You know what? This was the dullest keynote i have ever seen. It showed that they are out of steam.



    They've been on a steady downward slide since messing up Longhorn in 2004. But in terms of attitude, philosophy, and progressive thinking, they've been on a slide since 98 or 99.
  • Reply 9 of 243
    banalltvbanalltv Posts: 238member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    ... The cover of the book ironically shows a pair of hands cradling an apple...



    Flawless. The Lean, Mean Launchin' Machine does it again!
  • Reply 10 of 243
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Oflife View Post


    This HP 'slate' (and it will be, by the press), what, with it's stunning high resolution display, compelling intuitive user interface, app, ebook and multimedia content infrastructure, gorgeous robust ultra thin casing, 6 hour battery life and of course, the innovative docking system mean that Microsoft's partners have once again trounced Apple at their own game.



    First the Zune kills the iPod, and now this.



    Steve must be shuddering in his sandals and wondering why he wasted 5 years focused on his dream project.



    So so tragic, for so many reasons.







    LOL, good post.
  • Reply 11 of 243
    Apple = Company that has spent years, nay, decades funneling money and resources into a secret slate project with a perfectionist mind set, unwilling to release any information regarding the mystery product until it's absolutely perfect.



    Microsoft = Company that reads rumors that Apple will release a mysterious slate device some time next year. Puts less time, and less resources into their product, steals the name of Apple's product, and jumps out of the gates early, displaying a shoddy prototype in apparent hope to steal Apple's thunder, or make the claim that "theirs was first."



    Steve Jobs = Turtle Neck



    Steve Ballmer = Turtle Head
  • Reply 12 of 243
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    Over the past few years MS has seemed like a doll that's lost its stuffing. This confirms it.



    WTH has MS been doing for the past year??



    LOL, even though Apple wasn't at CES, they seemed to have set the agenda. In fact, Apple has been setting the tech agenda for several years now.
  • Reply 13 of 243
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Quadra 610 View Post


    This says it all. As in "subliminal."



















    It's what happens when you have ZERO control over the message. That's right MS, you have to *control* things - what goes in, what comes out. Take a page from Apple. Like what you usually try to do.



    D'oh!... of all the possible covers to showcase they chose one with a big Apple on it? Lots of forehead smacking going on in Redmond this morning...
  • Reply 14 of 243
    bedouinbedouin Posts: 331member
    Why does that ad remind me of a nutsack and an upside down vagina?
  • Reply 15 of 243
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Zendolphyn View Post


    D'oh!... of all the possible covers to showcase they chose one with a big Apple on it? Lots of forehead smacking going on in Redmond this morning...



    Exactly.



    Yes, Steve, we know Twilight is "cool" and you're trying to be "cool" and capture the younger (as in 15-17 year old girl) crowd, but didn't some bright bulb on your reveal team kinda notice the apple? And the apple displayed in a very flattering position at that?



    Oh wait, these are probably the same handlers that for some reason allow Macbooks to be displayed in a not-so-hidden fashion during MS interviews, Windows 7 keynotes, etc. Now I get it.
  • Reply 16 of 243
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    MacDailyNews Take:



    Yawnfest as usual. Someone forgot to provide Fester with some content to go along with all that filler. The amount of nothingness they have to show for all their billions of dollars and 93,000 employees astounds even us. Microsoft is a company bereft of interesting ideas coasting on past intellectual property thefts and the benefits of largely-unpunished monopoly abuse that's headed by a clueless buffoon who once got a very fortunate dorm assignment. The good news is, of course, that The Dark Ages of Personal Computing are rapidly coming to a close. Enjoy the renaissance!



    Our customary toast: May Steve Ballmer remain Microsoft CEO for as long as it takes!




    http://macdailynews.com/index.php/we...omments/23570/
  • Reply 17 of 243
    zindakozindako Posts: 468member
    So is it official that Courier is truly Vaporware?
  • Reply 18 of 243
    jtblqjtblq Posts: 86member
    It's a photo frame running Windows 7.



    Why would anyone want this?



    And why show your cards like this M$?



    This device will get mentioned at the Special Event.



    M$ will get ethered*.



    *those who don't know.
  • Reply 19 of 243
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Quadra 610 View Post


    This says it all. As in "subliminal."



















    It's what happens when you have ZERO control over the message. That's right MS, you have to *control* things - what goes in, what comes out. Take a page from Apple. Like what you usually try to do.



    I think you are bang on the nail. He just looks so awkward holding that. It puts me off immediately, I hope the apple version looks a bit more ergonomic!
  • Reply 20 of 243
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JTBLQ View Post


    It's a photo frame running Windows 7.



    Why would anyone want this?



    And why show your cards like this M$?



    This device will get mentioned at the Special Event.



    M$ will get ethered*.



    *those who don't know.



    Hehe . . . word of the day.
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