Microsoft may use Windows Phone 7 event to show off tablets
A new rumor suggests that Microsoft, concerned by the success of Apple's iPad, will use next week's Windows Phone 7 unveiling to show off new touchscreen tablets it will have available this holiday season.
The Redmond, Wash., software giant is set to hold a launch event on Oct. 11 for new devices powered by Windows Phone 7. And while it was presumed that the event would focus on phones, Neowin.net claims that the event in New York City may also be used to introduce new 'slate PCs' that will hit the market this year.
"Microsoft has been working closely with several un-named OEMs to produce a genuine answer to the iPad," the report said. "The software giant is concerned that iPad sales are slowly cannibalizing Windows sales and eating away at the recent boom in netbook sales."
Next week's rumored showcase of Windows tablets coincides with what Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said at an event in the U.K. on Tuesday. Speaking to students, staff and journalists at the London School of Economics, Ballmer said consumers can expect to see new, Windows-powered slates this Christmas, according to Reuters.
The report noted that Ballmer declined to say whether the devices would be on sale before Christmas, or who will make the hardware.
Early this year, before Apple even announced the iPad, Microsoft partnered with HP to show off a touchscreen tablet dubbed a "slate PC." The Windows 7-powered product has still not launched, and HP's purchase of Palm and is webOS mobile operating system even led to rumors that the product was scrapped.
However, a prototype of HP's Windows 7 tablet was recently demoed on YouTube, and the responsiveness of the product was widely ridiculed.
Though tablets powered by Windows 7 have yet to see any high profile releases, Apple has found great success with its iPad, selling 3.27 million in its first three months of availability. Ballmer even conceded that Apple sold more iPads than he'd "like them to sell."
Since the launch of the iPad, some reports have even claimed that the iPad has been responsible for a significant reduction in netbook sales. Low-cost, low-power netbooks largely run a version of Microsoft's Windows operating system.
The Redmond, Wash., software giant is set to hold a launch event on Oct. 11 for new devices powered by Windows Phone 7. And while it was presumed that the event would focus on phones, Neowin.net claims that the event in New York City may also be used to introduce new 'slate PCs' that will hit the market this year.
"Microsoft has been working closely with several un-named OEMs to produce a genuine answer to the iPad," the report said. "The software giant is concerned that iPad sales are slowly cannibalizing Windows sales and eating away at the recent boom in netbook sales."
Next week's rumored showcase of Windows tablets coincides with what Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said at an event in the U.K. on Tuesday. Speaking to students, staff and journalists at the London School of Economics, Ballmer said consumers can expect to see new, Windows-powered slates this Christmas, according to Reuters.
The report noted that Ballmer declined to say whether the devices would be on sale before Christmas, or who will make the hardware.
Early this year, before Apple even announced the iPad, Microsoft partnered with HP to show off a touchscreen tablet dubbed a "slate PC." The Windows 7-powered product has still not launched, and HP's purchase of Palm and is webOS mobile operating system even led to rumors that the product was scrapped.
However, a prototype of HP's Windows 7 tablet was recently demoed on YouTube, and the responsiveness of the product was widely ridiculed.
Though tablets powered by Windows 7 have yet to see any high profile releases, Apple has found great success with its iPad, selling 3.27 million in its first three months of availability. Ballmer even conceded that Apple sold more iPads than he'd "like them to sell."
Since the launch of the iPad, some reports have even claimed that the iPad has been responsible for a significant reduction in netbook sales. Low-cost, low-power netbooks largely run a version of Microsoft's Windows operating system.
Comments
Oh Oh -- another idea! -- let's also talk about Windows Home Media Server and the Xbox, because people might buy Apple TVs and Google TVS, and we've got to remind them that Microsoft serves that market.
Oh wait -- another idea! -- let's talk about all the great developer tools that MS is coming out with, and how silverlight is so much better than flash...
Now, let's see, we'll just need about 4 hours, we'll schedule 6 vice presidents to talk, and Balmer can just kick it off by talking about synergies and maybe pump his fist in the air a couple of times to get the crowd warmed up.
This will totally beat Apple -- Apple's so lame that they only talk about one thing at a time at their press events.
It almost seems like a joke by someone who wants to make fun of Microsoft (and possibly HP). Which would make the "I'm recording this on my iPhone" part a sly joke in itself.
A new rumor suggests that Microsoft, concerned by the success of Apple's iPad, will use next week's Windows Phone 7 unveiling to show off new touchscreen tablets it will have available this holiday season. ...
This is great news if true. Rumour has it that the Windows Phone 7 is actually a snappy little device and could be popular. Tying the Windows Albatross around it's neck can only distract and detract.
I was wondering how Microsoft was going to screw it up and now we know.
"Control-alt-delete" key! This has to be a joke!
It's a feature.. just like the required Bing button on every WP7
I wonder if this video is actually a fake. It just seems too much with him saying multiple times how great and fast it is when it's clearly not doing what he wants it to. Plus, it looks *too* much like Windows. I would think if they were coming out with a new OS specific to tablets, they'd make a few more modifications to make it easier to use. Finally - a Ctrl-Alt-Del key? Seriously?
It almost seems like a joke by someone who wants to make fun of Microsoft (and possibly HP). Which would make the "I'm recording this on my iPhone" part a sly joke in itself.
I believe this video is an attempt at stealth marketing by Microsoft. They need to cut into iPad sales as much as possible, especially now that Apple is poised to take advantage of the holiday shopping season.
Looking at the HP tablet's sluggishness, it's obvious the product isn't ready for prime time, regardless how many times the reviewer says how fast, cool, nice, and responsive it is. And the fact that he's "sorry about the video quality" of the iPhone used to record his video, while reviewing a Windows-based product, is a little too obvious.
I wonder if this video is actually a fake. It just seems too much with him saying multiple times how great and fast it is when it's clearly not doing what he wants it to. Plus, it looks *too* much like Windows. I would think if they were coming out with a new OS specific to tablets, they'd make a few more modifications to make it easier to use. Finally - a Ctrl-Alt-Del key? Seriously?
It almost seems like a joke by someone who wants to make fun of Microsoft (and possibly HP). Which would make the "I'm recording this on my iPhone" part a sly joke in itself.
+1
Leave it to microsoft to design a tablet OS that requires the tablet to have a "control-alt-delete" button on the side.
"Control-alt-delete" key! This has to be a joke!
In all fairness, I think that is HP’s doing, but remember that was based on Windows 7 which wasn’t designed with touch UI as the primary I/O, but a bolt on option for developers to use.
I would hope that if MS has a tablet OS they want to show up next week that it will be Windows Phone 7 based. This is, after all, the one area that they aren’t years behind in development compared to Android and RiM.
PS: Speaking of tablets, I haven’t heard much from Notion Ink since they made a huge fuss at the beginning of the year, but it looks like they are closer than many other “me to” products saying how they are better than the iPad.
Not bad video quality though. Did you notice the reflection of the camera... that's right, an iPhone.
Finally - a Ctrl-Alt-Del key? Seriously?
It almost seems like a joke by someone who wants to make fun of Microsoft (and possibly HP). Which would make the "I'm recording this on my iPhone" part a sly joke in itself.
This might explain everything!! I ought to have come to this conclusion myself. Something about this tablet just doesn't seem to be right. It really must be a joke.
Microsoft, let's see what you got. I have an open mind, so if it's something worth buying, I'll buy it. I don't care that you have a shitty record of releasing vaporware. America is a country based on forgiveness and rebirth; I'm sure a lot of us can forget your past sins and allow you to start anew in regaining the trust of consumers by assuring us that you won't release another pile of shit, only to get it right in v34.1.
Stop throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. Come out with a serious product and I'll kick down serious clams (sorry, just watched 'Boardwalk Empire'. Duckets, scrilla, and quids are old).