The Consumer Electronics Association kicked off the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) tonight with a pre-show opening keynote by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Entertainment & Devices President Robbie Bach.
During his keynote Ballmer showed current and future hardware shown on stage, including:
• A touch-enabled Windows 7 tablet PC from HP
• A Sony VAIO L all-in-one PC with a 24-inch touchscreen
• The Lenovo A300 with a 21.5-inch HD widescreen addition LED display
In, Ballmer announced that Microsoft and HP are teaming up on search and portal experiences. Bing will be the default search engine, and MSN the default homepage on HP PCs in 42 countries.
Following the release of Windows Mobile 6.5 in October, Ballmer announced the upcoming exclusive availability of the HTC HD2 in partnership with T-Mobile USA, Inc. and HTC.
Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division President Robbie Bach followed Ballmer on stage and outlined the company’s strategy of connecting the personal computer, mobile devices, television and the Internet. Bach also covered “Project Natal,” the controller-free gaming experience that tracks body movements and facial expressions and responds to voice commands and is scheduled to be available in holiday season 2010.
In lieu of an Ambien (or five), watch the video via Microsoft’s web site here.
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!
[UPDATE: Jan. 7, 2010, 11:59am ET: changed “laptop” to “PC” in Sony bullet point.]
So, when does the wow start?
“A Sony VAIO L all-in-one laptop with a 24-inch touchscreen”
I sure as hell don’t want to travel with a 24-inch “laptop” let alone sit it on my lap!
Especially with flights to the US banning almost all carry-on luggage, who’d be stupid enough to pack this in their checked baggage?
The only thing these are good for are presentation machines, and that’s a pretty limited market.
Oh Gawd!
Microsoft- Perpetually boring and DISengaging. Seriously?!? During the time that innovation is swirling about their collective head, they are still only talking about mobile- desktop- living room convergence while Apple is 2-3 years ahead. It’s getting beyond embarrassing here…
But… but… but mossman… you can TOUCH that screen. Actually TOUCH it!
NATAL: Even third-party gaming accessory/controller partners will soon get PlayedForSure!
Bing! Never ask for whom the bell tolls, dreamGEAR, Intec, Mad Catz, Logitech… it tolls for you!
It all sounds like a bad version of Ocean’s Thirteen – and that was bad enough. Balmer is balmy.
Move along, nothing to fear from this
bloated toad.
You forgot the app freeze in there. Though they were quick to fix it. And also Ballmer following that guy around like a creepy rapist.
Apple from 2 to 3 years ahead on touch hardware and software
Ok, I recovered from the shock.
Now the question: what in the hell do I need a “Surface” laptop computer for?
A 24 inch laptop? Is this for real?
24 inchs? Is steve Ballmer compensating for a something?
Surface for the lap- NO, I need drugs!
Blew. Me. Away. Ballmer NAILED IT! MAC smugly tries to peddle little me-too wannabe Zunes while Microsoft is changing the world. Again.
MAC better get their sh!t together to stop the parade of revolutionary innovations that will be marching out of Redmond this year. Brilliant job as always Mr. Ballmer. Already looking forward to next year’s trouncing of MAC.
Your potential. Our passion.™
You are blew away. Layoff the glue, take your meds, and try not to drink any more anti freeze!
I’m sorry, I was always told to be kind to the retarded! Sorry.
Does the mstouchtablet have a keyboard nailed to the back of it?
Because in 2007 Ballmer said of the iPhone: “it doesn’t appeal to business customers because it doesn’t have a keyboard. Which makes it not a very good e-mail machine.”
Since that’s his vision, their tablet should have a nice two pound keyboard. And an optional seventeen button mouse.
You can say what you want about Ballmer, but looking at that picture of him above, I’m reminded of what a snappy dresser he is.
I also like it when he opens his mouth like that. And I hope he stuck his tongue out during the presentation. That’s one of his classic moves.
A 24″ touch screen all-in-one LAPTOP?!?!!?!?! Are they serious?
Looked at the picture again – gosh, what a no-neck genius.
And the 24 inch laptop seems like a Saturday Night Live gag.
I just read the live blog over at crunch gear.
Sounded like the saddest/weakest keynote EVER.
People were leaving during…
Steve Ballmer looks like a penis
The video isn’t playing… anyone else having this issue?
“Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s CES keynote presentation.”
Are you sure it wasn’t a ‘Powerpoint’ presentation?
Just you wait until the end of the week, there will be reports of flying chairs in Redmond. I watched the first few minutes, before Silverlight crapped out on me. It was long enough to see the jelly donut stains on that H(hot)T(terrible)C(crap) phone that Balmer pulled out. If I can get Micro$haft’s website plugin to work, then I will see the rest if it is worth it. So far, I am unimpressed…
Scarbro… I was just wondering the same. Maybe it only plays in Internet Exploder?
I enjoyed the live ‘MacWorld-like’ coverage hosted by several of the gadget sites out there. A couple of interesting points:
The Blue Screen of Death was replaced by the Black Stage of Reboot. Power outage, or stage control system crash? We report: YOU decide. At least it’s a tradition at M$ demos for there to be a crash, hang or some other example of why PC just suck. They just do.
A third of the demo was Seth Green (looked like Jerry Seinfeld material left over from failed 2008 campaign), one third Windows 7 hype redux, and the rest new product intros that aren’t shipping with no prices or delivery dates or even FEATURES (like Natal).
So, if I’m Apple, I’m supposed to be afraid of this? I mean they hyped the Zune, for pity’s sake!
Shows like this with their rambling commentaries, overly busy multimedia pitches made by some poor schlemp in The Borg to pimp the tech equivalent of a McDonalds cheeseburger (not even the double cheeseburger – that’d be shooting for the moon) makes me smile.
Yes, they’ll still be 85% of the new market tomorrow, and will still hold claim on 75% of the worlds desktop & laptop OS systems.
But I remember when it was 95%. And so do they. Keep worrying about (and badly copying) Apple. Google will gladly knife you in the back (as they did Apple) and eat your lunch. Karma is Karma.
Doesn’t Zune Tang have any friends? Certainly not here- the sadomasochist apparently has no life, either… Why not share your joy in a Windows or Ballmer fan club forum? Seriously- get some help…
Microsoft is getting its butt kicked by both Apple and Google. Luckily, Apple is still, as always, the true innovator, which overrides any “New Kid on the Block” misguided enthusiasm. The media is always looking for some kind of “Killer.” The true “iPhone killer” will be the next iPhone.
Crashed the Keynote
Crashed the Keynote
Come on everyone !
The biggest technology company in the world, Crashed The Keynote
Oballmer is actually the king of down syndrome kids,
He’s only king because he’s the oldest.
Enough, There’s one more thing, Zune Bang@, your so000 funny!!! and Oballmer is your father and your mother was ______
Anyone?