Steve Ballmer says Windows slate devices by Christmas

By on Oct 5, 2010 at 3:40 PM
General October 5, 2010

Earlier today, while speaking to a group of students and journalists at the London School of Economics, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer revealed that there will indeed be iPad-competing slate products running Windows by Christmas. The catch? Steve didn’t clarify whether these products would be shipping, or just announced, nor who would manufacture them. With HP most likely changing course to offer a webOS-based tablet as opposed to a Windows 7 slate, we’ve got to wonder who will end up being first in this category…

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24 Comments

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  • PAPINYC

    I would have bought it if it had full Windows OS, whether XP or 7; but, not WebOS!

    • http://cameron-schultz.ca schultzter

      Don’t owrry, I seriously doubt a Windows slate will have webOS.

    • Jack

      lmao dude… are you blind?… READ!

  • Scott

    I’m a windows user and as a windows user, I don’t see it working well with a touch only input. Maybe that’s just me, but I feel like a really good mobile OS (iOS, Android, WebOS) would work and play much better on a tablet. Plus, they already have existing markets where apps can be purchased.

    Was it not so long ago that Microsoft tried this and failed horribly? One must not forget the past!

    • superchunk

      Nah, I really want a full ‘normal’ OS in a decent sized tablet. A touch screen on Windows7 is awesome.

      • justin

        agreed and if you absolutely must have a keyboard there are some descent Bluetooth options out there that could easily be supported.

      • Steve

        How is it awesome when just about none of the bajillion Windows software packages are designed to be finger friendly?

        How do people constantly miss this huge elephant in the room?

  • http://www.em-zero.com m0

    Yay, 3-hour battery life on a full operating system that still sucks when used in conjunction with touch input.

    …or crappy “TouchSmart” software that HP designed in order to fix Windows’s terrible multitouch experience. You know, that program everyone uninstalls when they bring home their tablet with an articulating 12″ display because it sucks? It’s going to be the same ballgame on a tablet device.

    All so we can say we have access to the “full computing experience” by having Adobe Flash.

    Windows will never work on a touchscreen. Enjoy your unfriendly user experience (and Flash ads)!

    Yay!

  • Erik

    Look, i know everyone says windows mobile 7 is gonna be a hit, but most things arent once it is released. Remember wobOS, zune, etc? Once people touch this stuff they realize it doesnt stack up.

    Lets not forget, all we know about windows mobile 7 is what microsofts marketing team has carefully released, would you trust a marketing team from any company?

    • superchunk

      This is about Windows 7 not mobile.

      • techjunkieforlife

        Actually as it reads in the article he just said Windows so don’t rule out a version of Windows Embedded, WM7 thou would be stretching the “Windows” tag.

  • Digitaltouch

    Making sure thats not on my list:-)

  • Bugs

    A webOS tablet would be sweet!! The perfect, easy to use, OS for a mobile device. If you want a powerful device with all the specs get a laptop.

    For traveling, internet access and email I’m all for a webOS tab.

  • Androidian

    Windows isn’t designed well for touch input & sleekness therefore this will be a fail.

    Besides tablets nowadays are marketed as fun & sexy, Windows tends to be neither.

  • BG

    For what it is worth…my wife works for a certain company and is receiving a Slate this month to to visit stores in her area. She has nothing to do with WebOS or HP. So take a guess as to what it will be running. I could care less though, because I’m waiting on a good Android Tablet!

  • MacMan

    Windows ? There still around ?

    • Steve Jobs

      Really? they only contain 93% of the market vs apples 2.3%.

  • Jarrett

    Well, at CES he said they would arrive during 2010, so I suppose we can not call him a liar.

  • bob

    We’re Microsoft… give us enough time and we can copy ANYTHING anybody else ever invented…

  • Joseph Johnson

    The problem is alot of companies are not going out of their way to reproduce their product for a mobile OS, and many people are waiting for a tablet that has a real OS on it so they can use it to replace netbooks/most laptops.

    I know I will get a tablet.. but I have a awesome phone (N1) with a awesome mobile OS (2.2.1) so I dont need a tablet with a mobile OS. I am a gamer but I know that tablets will not do what us gamers want them to do (gaming laptops are the best for that).

    This time last year hardly no one knew what Android was.. now everyone knows.. same with Tablets.. this time next year there will be a slew of tablets on the market. The more the merrier.

  • angryshortguy

    It’s very telling that none of these tablets appear to be coming out with a MS OS.
    Is anybody asking why Microsoft is have such a hard time creating an OS for tablets?
    An even bigger question is, does any tablet maker want a Microsoft OS on their tablet?
    It’s all ‘Android’ and ‘WebOS’.
    Very telling indeed…

  • http://uk.linkedin.com/in/davejking Dave

    doubtful it will be a success….

  • Lance

    Frankly…who really cares…the entire world is going Android or iOS…Microsoft it way behind the curve…truly a non-factor in Smartphones and Pads! Balmer and company should stick to what they do well…Windows 7…let it go…just let it go!

  • http://www.apple.com Steve jobs

    what an idiot

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