“New tablet or slate devices — small, hand-held, wireless computers — running Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system are in the pipeline from Acer Inc., Dell Inc., Samsung Electronics Co Ltd., Toshiba Corp., Sony Corp. and several other PC makers, Ballmer said at the company’s annual partner conference in Washington, D.C.,” Rigby reports. “‘This year, one of the most important things that we will do in the smart device category is really push forward with Windows 7-based slates,’ said Ballmer. ‘This is a terribly important area for us.'”
Rigby reports, “Apple’s iPad, launched in April, has already sold more than 2 million units worldwide, and threatens to take customers away from Microsoft-dominated desktop computing.”
MacDailyNews Take: Make that 3 million sold in 80 days and counting, Bill.
Ever notice how the media’s “mistakes” in Apple numbers almost always severely undercount? In fact, we’d be hard pressed to come up with an example where some “reporter” actually vastly overstated Apple numbers by “mistake.”
Oh, yeah: May Microsoft shareholders remain catatonic so that Steve Ballmer can stay CEO for as long as it takes!
Full article here.
The worst thing Microsoft can do is let these Windows 7 “slates” come out. Such devices will have to run low-powered hardware like a netbook. Have you ever seen Windows 7 on a netbook? Horrible. And that’s before you get into the poor UI, touch design, etc. If you’re rooting against MS, then wish for more and more of these offerings to hit store shelves.
Another round of bad imitations from Apple’s would-be competitors. How exciting!
Isn’t every venture they try “terribly important” to them? Like retail, phones, etc.
said Ballmer. ‘This is a terribly important area for us.'”…..he is describing every product that they ship….terrible….except for that big ass table……now that is an awesome product, I just wish that I could carry it to the ball field or to work every day!!
Bring it, Ballmer…
It will merely illustrate to the world what an abject FAILURE Microsoft is at developing original, stable OS’s.
Please… in the name of all that’s good and pure in the world, release a ‘tablet OS’.
Make my decade.
“… For as long as it takes, to do what?
To Bankrupt the company?
To Run the company into irrelevance?
To Etc.,?
Great to see you back!
Funnier than ever!
Absolutely hilarious!!!
Thanks.
“terribly important”
Well. This will certainly be interesting. Sound like Microsodt will be really pushing this. The problem all other tablets have is the start up time. A tablet has to be instant ON like an iPad thanks to a light OS like iOS. A tablet Thad has to be booted up will not stand a chanse.