Microsoft, HP to introduce touchscreen tablet Wed. - report - Page 3

Microsoft is the FORD assembly line of it's market. A few new accessories every few years and an increased price.

Everyone get ready for about 20 minutes of comedy. I can't wait!

Engadet is a site by morons, for morons.

As for the courier, well, ups is a legendary courier service.

Will the full features include malware, viruses and trojans? I am not buying it if MS don't stand up to their fame and include these too.

I haven't used 7, but it's still Windows, and I'm not sold on your or anybody's experiences.
I need to be paid to use Microsoft products. I won't use them on my own anymore. Until my company upgrades its computers with 7, I'll be in the dark. But everything else I've used from that Redmond corporation has been crap. I have no basis to believe 7 will be different, contrary to the glowing reviews.

they better include blue screens in their courier, otherwise i'm positively not buying one...

You ignore the fact that beyond malware and instability, one of the major things people have against Windows is the UI, as well as the command structure. It's nearly impossible to find what you're looking for, unless you've been taught or read it in a manual. It's unintuitive and counterproductive.

Windows 7 doesn't fix that. You still don't know whether that network information you need in order to configure your router can be found in the network control panel, the "show properties" for the driver or for the network card, of maybe in... I don't know... "International"? Windows is just stupid unless all you do is run programs. Press "Start" to shut down... clever... and yes it's an old joke, but it's never been fixed, has it?

I hope for MS's sake that if Ballmer is going to demo this product that it's truly exciting and innovative.

If not then he only damages his credibility.

You're kidding right? Yes, THIS will be what damages his credibility.

[CENTER]Seriously...

YOU actually have the audacity to post this nonsense given the persistent obtuse attitudes expressed by the vast majority of Apple fans in this forum?

Any opinion not completely enamored with all things Cupertino are treated with extreme hostility in here, yet you accuse others of being rude simply because they use centered text'?

Hilarious!

As an Apple user of some 3 decades, I truly miss the time when we were encouraged to Think Different, because now it appears that too many Apple supporters simply fall in line blindly.

As far as this Hp/MS rumor goes, I'm getting the impression that you (and your like) are simply afraid that the device will be the Courier as previously shown in theoretical form, and that's something that you appear to fear.
[/CENTER]

This would be the first time they beat Apple at anything, so they better not screw it up. I'm sure they will, though. Apple is not just going to introduce a tablet computer, it's going to be something above and beyond what anybody is expecting -- that's what they do. Rots-a-Ruck Microsoft!

Yes! Of course! I want the stupid course navigated! It must be stupid or I'm not for it! You're brilliant, naturally, it's just remarkable how the fog of negative discourse simply dissipates when you walk into a room. All hail!

Dude, stop putting words in people's mouths, it's highly unsanitary. I never mentioned the engineering or construction, I only noted this worn aluminum look is 8 years old now & I'm bored with it. Yawn. I know a bunch of guys and gals who are sick and tired of it as well. We'd all like to buy a new Apple laptop but how would anyone know?

What's stupid is when I buy a laptop every 24-26 months, and each one I buy looks exactly like the last one I bought. Good grief. Throw a change up every once and awhile.

I even bought one of those black MacBooks, not because it was the best laptop for me but simply because it was the first different looking one in almost a damned decade. Something different, thank heavens.

Is this the only fabulous design that can possibly exist then? How about something new, something different? Why does Apple get a free ride when they rest on their laurels?

They need to get up off their complacent fannies and design something new.

or does that Lennovo look like a poorly designed giant Iphone... hmmm, I can't find any comparison between that tablet and an apple product.....

Sounds like great reasons to choose a computer! Lol.

Don't buy a new laptop to look cool. Buy an Italian shirt and get a haircut. Buy a new case for your laptop if you insist. I've got 15 cases for my iPod Touch. I don't need a new color to show my sense of style and my mood. I just swap the case.

I have a brown leatherette wraparound case with an embroidered cityscape for my MacBook Pro. It looks nice and it doesn't look like everyone else's MacBook Pro. If I get bored with the look I'll get a new case. Yeah, the Macbook Pro looks fantastic without it, but the case provides protection and also gives me a chance to be fashionable, without requiring Apple to bring out new colors (which might be ugly) or a new form-factor (which might not be as functional). I don't want Apple to mess with success.

I don't want new fashion in a computer. I simply want the best looking yet functional design possible.

This is the second time you've implied that Apple's tablet is more vapourware than Microsoft's Courier, and you're just completely wrong about that.

Vapourware, is a "fake" product. A possible future product that a company *could* make but hasn't actually made. The whole point of it, it to announce that you have a product early (sometimes years early), when you actually don't have said product, so as to stifle the competition.

Apple never "pre-announces" anything in that way. Microsoft does this with almost every product they release (and many that they don't).

The tablet is not vapourware simply because we know virtually nothing about it except that it's a real product. Even if, (defying all logic), it turns out that the tablet is *not* produced on stage on January 27th, or that it never existed in the first place, it's still not "vapourware" because they never announced it. The rumours were wrong if that's the case, but unless you can find Apple executives fingerprints on the rumours themselves (you won't be able to), you can't link anything to Apple.

The Courier on the other hand, is *classic* vapourware. All we've seen is a concept video. The kind of video that is not only easily faked, but already assumed to be so, in that it presents a "what if this device were real" kind of scenario. It's an understood thing that such concept videos might "fake" some of the device interaction and UI because it isn't actually developed yet. That's kind of the whole point of a concept video.

The tablet is a real product, but one that we just know nothing about yet. The Courier is a *possible* (fake) product that may or may not exist, that we are being "sold" on. Big difference.

Shutdown is under the Windows logo button (use to be the start button) on Windows 7... Makes sense (just like shutdown is under the Apple logo button).

Did it make sense for Apple to put their shutdown command under the "special menu"???

Windows 7 UI has improved to nearly Mac OS X levels...

Ronbo, Addabox +1

Doesn't matter how vaporiciously cool Microsoft, HP, or any other makers say their devices are. \ It should be pointed out that Apple's "Touch OS" has an established app market and developer forum that is both large and successful.

As long as those other devices can only play videos, listen to music, they're just bigger 1st generation iPod Touchs'... and real bad ones at that. The iSlate will succeed on the backs of fantastic applications that will see new and unique expansions due to the added real estate on the device screen sizes, sensors, and hardware upgrades. We are looking at the future of how computers will be in the long run. And you know what, the WinOS will be far behind what Apple will do again to the future line of Macintosh.

Whew! Good thing they weren't listening to you back when they released the PowerBook 140.

stockholm syndrome much?

"Apple's Tablet is even more vaporware than MS Courier"....since when does apple send out press releases about products not announced? Yea we ALL saw the demo video of the RUMORED apple tablet.
You do not know the difference between vaporware and rumors.....
If the Courier makes its appearance...I mean you can not even decide if this will ever be released, but still lay out some hope with your captivated stockholm syndrone that you have received from the past failed MS vaporware...

I think everyone is a little tired of your juvenile attacks, with your ad hominem attacks for pointing out the regular modus operandi of M$

And you accuse others of rapid fanboyism? You are battered housewife of MS who constantly defends the abuser and attacks others who try to point out that you are being abused...LOL..

My responses in bold.
Everything you like about having 2 screens can simply be done by having 1 larger screen.

The one single advantage is that you can fold it.

I want all you windows fanboys to quote my reply later on, will Ballmer have a job after this courier fiasco comes to pass, and Apple will create a whole new industry and usher in technology that has not existed.

The entire tech industry will all flock and copy paste the apple tablet in an effort to be a me too product, just like what is happening with the iPhone wannabees. So where will Ballmer be after the failure of courier? who knows, he may still be head of the company, I guess he is the only thing MS has that is close to true leadership.

I'm hoping for a monkey dance and lots of sweat

I'm pretty sure he implied that using centred text was more indicative of a juvenile, confrontational attitude rather than as you say "rudeness." I must say you've proven his point quite succinctly too.

PS - You're not fooling anyone with the "Apple user of some 3 decades" bit.

PPS - The Courier is both vapourware and yet simultaneously a poorly thought out mess of a product that no one at Apple has any reason to be scared of. It looks like something designed by Kramer from the Seinfeld show. "Ya gotta see this thing Jerry! It's like a book, but it's a computer! But it's shaped like a book!!"

All these guys are going to go down in flames. Why ? Simple.

They cannot produce anything original.

The only reason they are releasing a tablet is because Apple is releasing one not because they have a product that we the public want.

Until MS, HP, Dell, and the rest of the Windows gang start innovating and stop trying to beat Apple they will crash and burn.

Of course there will be a huge market for the product because it will cost $200 and do nothing well. But then Windows was never about quality or security or passion or excellence or any of those adjectives. It was always about making money by selling crap.

Microsoft, HP, Dell, - these guys are the Walmart of computing - lots of cheap crap.

I still prefer to shop at Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus.

JD

are you implying that the apple menu and the start button are even similar things? what are you talking about?

Actually it will probably be the reverse this time. Nobody is going to buy anything until they know what Apple has up their sleeve. The iPod and iPhone has cured that syndrome.

It doesn't do me any good to have _____ on my ignore list if people jump all over the idiot-boy and quote his entire message in their replies.

He's an idiot. IGNORE HIM. PLEASE.

The AAPL slate isn't about hardware, it's about content delivery! While the PC industry has eagerly awaited AAPL's new product, AAPL went behind their backs and made pacts with all the media companies to deliver their content.

As someone who used an HP tx2000, let me say this...

Microsoft, the courier is a really neat idea. It would be a great, professional tablet. Don't let HP make it. The tx2000 was, without a doubt, the worst computer I have ever used. The wifi card died, it ran way too hot and burned my lap or my arm and a month ago had such a bad power failure that it wont turn on no matter what. Why did all this happen? Because HP put it together so badly and used the worst parts. I get what I paid for but DAMN! Keep in mind that this was the SECOND one I had, because the first one they sent me didn't work at all. The screen died within the first twenty four hours.

So please, if this is the courier, do not depend on HP.

I bet quite a few here own an Xbox 360 and love it. When it comes down to it, you're all happy enough to give Microsoft a constant supply of money. Funny how the same people who preach about build quality and total cost of ownership go and buy the worst console out there in terms of build quality and reliability instead of PS3 which is better in every respect.

Please don't feed the trolls!

Sad, pathetic individuals like that particular user, who by his own username's admission is a failure, generally get a kick out of people responding to their online furor. They are best ignored. He can then go back to making puerile comments and sending unfunny emails to people he doesn't know on bookface.

[RIGHT]Perhaps I am archaic, but I use the term all the time.

(PS: Right-aligned it, just for you!)[/RIGHT]

I really liked the concept animation, but this announcement seems rushed and ill-timed. Without some developer support to waltz around the stage this is going to go off like a lead balloon. The rumor out there is that iPhone apps will run on Apple's tablet - that's a huge, inexpensive resource that MS/HP will find very hard to counter without at least a few must-have killer apps. The lack of hype surrounding this announcement makes me wonder if this is just another piece of hardware running Windows, rather than a new UI experience. Not sure I would buy one no matter what, but that would suck.

Apparently it is not going to happen

Microsoft’s Ballmer Will Not Be Showing “Courier” Slate PC at CES Opening Tonight

http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100106/...ening-tonight/

C.

Whatever this Microsoft/HP tablet is, it probably wouldn't be out before the Apple tablet anyway. Think of the Pre, it came out a week before the iPhone 3GS despite being introduced 6 months earlier at CES. Apple holds their products close to their chest further into the development cycle than others. Microsoft is especially notorious for introducing concepts and taking forever to put them on sale.

This sucks for them. Many are expecting something that breaks new ground. This doesn't look to be the case but final judgement will have to wait until this new "product" reveals itself. Kids, this is why you don't release cool concept videos of products that aren't ready for prime time.

But MS has done a poor job in managing expectations and could end up looking like they can't produce innovative products.

I was going to watch the Ars feed of the CES keynote but now I'm not sure it'll be worth the time. Its not like I haven't seen videos of Ballmer sweating up on stage before.

Well, I guess my hat is safe from eating then.

Really, talk of a "Courier" as if it were any kind of product at all, much less a game changer that would put the ball in Apple's court, was always way off the mark IMO.

I think we can look forward to more of the same from Ballmer and MS. A Windows tablet with somewhat better touch integration that still doesn't bother to ask, let alone answer, some basic questions regarding why such a device is necessary.

I don't know that Apple has come come up with a satisfactory answer either, but I know that they have at least given it a lot of thought and endeavored to design something that rethinks the entire experience.

Was "Courier" ever anything more than a "leaked" animation? I don't recall MS saying much of anything, then or now, about any intention of ever building anything like this. It seems like most or all of the expectation came from carried-away tech heads that seemed to be under the impression that a rendered conceptual video was tantamount to a product announcement.

And then some people combined that with a random announcement about an HP tablet and just leapt to conclusions. It didn't really make much sense that MS would be releasing an extremely out-of-left-field product without any kind of press or build-up at all by whipping it out at the CES keynote. So I don't think it really "sucks for them", in that they never made any claims.

I bow down to your powers of prognostication.

Wow, what a collection toasty comments here today. Might as well throw my hat into the ring...

Thing is, I don't really see vaporware from either side. I've seen concept videos, and rumors, but no official announcements from any company.

With that said, based upon all the speculation, I think there are some great ideas for tablet features coming in from all directions.

Some of the ideas from the 'courier' concept aren't bad. Do they actually exist? Who knows. I don't think MS can really pull off a successful product in this category, but they might, we'll just have to wait and see if/when they make an actual announcement (and we see an actual product).

Some of the ideas from the rumored Apple tablet sound great, but those are all pure speculation since Apple says absolutely nothing about products in advance nor do they release concept videos. I hope they have something to announce later this month, but we don't even know if or what they are planning to say.

As for OS arguments, sure Win7 can work with "touch" input - that's been possible since Win95 (with or without support from MS). MacOS X also supports touch input, again it's been possible for ages. Better APIs and support are being baked into both OSes. There has been a difference in product releases though. MS has been pounding the touch drum, and Apple has shied away from touch screens except on mobiles (iPhone/touch).

Apple zealots need to accept that Win7 will likely prove to be the best OS MS has released so far, and it's not completely terrible. They have 'borrowed' enough tech from other OSes (not just Mac) to make it usable, and even come up with a few ideas of their own *gasp*.

MS zealots need to accept that Win7 is still inherently Windows, and the vulnerability problem has been improved but not solved, and Win is still unintuitive - and with Win7 it's become even more 'busy' and distracting. MacOS X is the opposite - nimble, clean, intuitive, and stays out of your way so you can get work done.

In relation to the tablet computer concept, I'm not sure if a full desktop OS (from either camp) is a good idea or not. I'm betting Apple, if they are making a tablet, will use the iPhone OS (which is MacOS X lite) to run it. I'm not sure that's such a good idea. I personally don't want a 'slate' size iPod. I don't see the point. From MS, just slapping Win7 on a touchscreen device is no solution. I've used Windows on a touch screen, and I'm not at all impressed. A menu driven OS just doesn't work for a touch environment (despite various UI paradigms that have been slapped on top). At least Apple figured that out.

I would personally like a full touch-input MacOS X computer in a tablet form factor, where the touch UI has been refined like that of the iPhone, but where I can still have all the features (like access to the file system) of a full MacOS X computer. In the Apple camp, I don't see any "meeting of the minds" - I see iPhone on one end, and MacOS on the other, but I want a meeting in the middle - full MacOS X with iPhone UI.

All we can really do at this point is wait and see. Once we can get real products in our hot little hands, then we can more effectively praise or criticize.