Ballmer Promises Windows 7 Slates
Finally... Windows 7 tablet will hit the market just in time for the holidays.
Microsoft head honcho Steve Ballmer confirmed Monday that Windows 7-based tablets will hit the market by the end of the year. He said that nearly a dozen hardware manufacturers are set to launch the devices including Asus, Dell, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony (gasp!) and many more. The news was revealed during Ballmer's opening speech at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference taking place in Washington, D.C. this week.
"Over the course of the next several months you will see a range of Windows 7-based slates that I think you'll find quite impressive," he told the audience. "This is a terribly important area for us. We are hardcore about this."
He added that there will be a wide range of devices: some with keyboards, and some without. "They'll be dockable, there will be many form factors, many price points, many sizes," he said. "But they will all run Windows 7. They will run Windows 7 applications. They will run Office."
Outside the five manufacturers listed above, twenty-one additional manufacturers were listed to be working on Windows 7 tablets including Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Panasonic and Pegatron. Although Ballmer revealed an HP slate during the slideshow presentation (and at CES 2010 back in January), currently HP hasn't officially confirmed that the device will ship by the end of the year.
Without a doubt, Microsoft is making its big push in the mobile market in 2010. With Apple's iPad dominating the tablet market and an army of Android-based devices gearing up to fill the second-in-command position, Microsoft has a lot of catching up to do. Ballmer even admitted that the company missed a generation in the smartphone sector, falling behind Apple's iPhone, the Android platform, and RIM's Blackberry platform.
"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 and Windows 7 phones," Ballmer said. Windows Phone 7 is also slated to hit the market in Q4 2010.
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And I will buy one! Hopefully a Moorestown device.
Edit: And Hopefully one with with 3/4G support and mobile service. Don't need a smart phone with one of these.
By then, Android or Chrome tablets have already flooded the markets, not to mention about the iPad...
I could easily find my self using Win7 on a slate
Even if I have to give away speed, responsiveness, and design, the thrill of installing what the hell I want on my device is compelling. Way to go Microsoft (omg i just sounded as a fanboy). I will never purchase a console-class device like an ipad.
If the iPad didn't exist, it wouldn't be as "terribly important" as Ballmer said.
I don't get how these would apply for everyday use. Maybe in hospitals a modified, stripped down version could be useful, but as far as an everyday user? It's stuck in the middle ground between smartphone and laptop, and I'll take both of those over a tablet.
Little late to the game Ballmer. This should have been done about 5mins after the ipad launch.
A little late? Who cares, as long as it's better than everyone.
Never in a hundred years unless like a laptop I could wipe the Windows infection off the device and install Android or some other Linux based derivative.
Will these slates come with stickers plastered all over them? (including the COA)
maybe im just being picky but, who wants to run office on a tablet? there are many better applications for it. in anycase windows 7 on a tablet is pretty cool, if i liked tablets i would get one.
"If the iPad didn't exist, it wouldn't be as "terribly important" as Ballmer said."
True, but it's market forces that really drive the importance of such things...
Little late to the game Ballmer. This should have been done about 5mins after the ipad launch.
Late to the game? Windows tablets have exists for at least the last 5 years or more. And if you'd ever used one, you'd know why they'd want to try to get this latest iteration right.
Here's hoping they release an optimized version of Win7 and not just one of the current desktop versions on these new tablets.
I want a slate that can play hi def video, browse the web (incl. Flash sites), be at least as thin and light as the iPad, have WLAN, WiMAX, 3G, 4G, USB3.0, 40GB SSD and cost less than $300. It doesn't have to use Windows tho.
A little late? Who cares, as long as it's better than everyone.
It won't be better than the Ipad, it's battery life will be half or less of the Ipad, they will weigh anywhere from 50 -150% more , and will be acceptable to many Viruses. There is very little a Microsft based tablet can offer that's not already available in the Ipad. I understand that they want to compete, but they fell a sleep at the wheel again and are over a year behind Apple so it's highly unlikely that they will ever be close to the Ipad in features and Price.
I want a slate that can play hi def video, browse the web (incl. Flash sites), be at least as thin and light as the iPad, have WLAN, WiMAX, 3G, 4G, USB3.0, 40GB SSD and cost less than $300. It doesn't have to use Windows tho.
..and I'd like to win the lottery too.
A little late? Who cares, as long as it's better than everyone. It won't be better than the Ipad, it's battery life will be half or less of the Ipad, they will weigh anywhere from 50 -150% more , and will be acceptable to many Viruses. There is very little a Microsft based tablet can offer that's not already available in the Ipad. I understand that they want to compete, but they fell a sleep at the wheel again and are over a year behind Apple so it's highly unlikely that they will ever be close to the Ipad in features and Price.
You actually believe what you just said?...LOL The iPad is a color ereader that can browse the internet. Lots of features there..LOL Any OS can get a virus. It will run a real OS and be able to run real programs and won't be locked into Apple's closed system. Of course they won't be close to the iPad they will be FAR superior. Who in their right mind is going to pay $600+ for a color Kindle? Apple was too early to the show and couldn't produce a real tablet with a real OS so they toss out the iFail.
Once the tablets arrive, you have the option of continuing to use WIN7, or put Android X86 or MeeGo on them (both downloadable now)
The i-pad is for ppl who just want stuff ready to go with no thechnical knowledge required, the Windows tablets will be full hands on tech and mods to ur heart's content. Both have a place, though I do believe Apple got it wrong with the screen resolution and the restricted internet display. Other wise, the i-pad is nice.. we'll wait to see what flavours the Windows ones will come in. I am betting Sony will mirror the apple philosophy of stylish design only with higher res wide screen etc
And unfortunately I bet all these tablets will follow the disturbing trend that is happening in the convertible/slate tablet PC industry - namely the best screen you will be able to get is only WXGA (1280x800).
Why is that a problem? The whole point to a tablet is to use it in portrait not landscape mode. That means you are really looking at buying an 800x1280 screen.
Try this - set your computer to SVGA (800x600) resolution and start playing around with your programs. Most programs are horrible at 800 pixel width, and many require 1024 pixel width.
Adobe products are horrible at 800 pixels wide, many websites are no longer optimized for 800 pixel width (all those side bar ads... oh, and sometimes navigation menus), ArtRage and Corel Painter are designed for greater width, and even office products are not ideal in only 800 pixel width.
If you think I am nitpicking - it is very unnatural and unstable to hold a tablet in your arm in landscape mode. However, in portrait mode is is more like a pad of paper. Try it - get out a paper notebook, hold it in landscape mode, and start writing away.
The only thing that really works okay at 800 pixel width in portrait mode is Windows Journal. Not even OneNote (with all its possible side tabs) is ideal for only 800 pixels wide.
I guess what I am saying is the manufacturers are really missing the mark when they abandoned SVGA+ for WXGA. Sheesh - they could at least of made a tablet with a 14" WSXGA+ screen. Seriously, at $80 for either ArtRage3 or the academic version of Painter 11, laptop makers should bundle these with their tablets and a decent screen resolution and market it to artists: "How do you fit thousand of dollars of art supplies - acrylic and oil paints, conte, charcoals, pencils, pens, watercolors, chalk and oil pastels, ink and calligraphy pens, spray paint, and deco appliques along with canvas, cold pressed paper, handmade paper, rough charcoal papers, and much more - into a small backpack? Simple, buy our 15" WUXGA (1920x1200) artist tablet PC for a mere $2000! Not only will you save money on art supplies and save your back, but you'll never have to deal with nauseating fumes or messy cleanup again! Also great for students to take computer notes in chemistry, physics, or biology - don't use a laptop and a piece of paper, draw right on your screen... and make your professors happy by showing them you are taking notes rather than reading Facebook."
(BTW - the iPad is the netbook of the Tablet PC market... an underpowered machine that has its uses, but definitely not for a hard-core tablet user who doesn't want to spend $2000 on a 1600x1200 20 pound Cintiq 21UX.)
At that time too Windows 8 will be around.
Windows 7 Slates it has to be better than apple, since m$ get to see what apple ipad is like. I will put my money on google for offering a better tablet than apple and m$.
Question is, would the tablets offer phone capabilities?
I am definetely getting a Windows 7-Based Tablet. I am really leaning towards the Asus Eee Pad, while watching what Sony comes out with. No MaxiPad for me!!!
maybe im just being picky but, who wants to run office on a tablet?
Err, anyone who uses MS Office files like Word or Excel?
So millions?
not that i'll likely get one, but I'd like to see and play with a hp with web os utilising moorsetown to see how responsive it is, maybe in another year upon graduation i can get one
Late to the game? Windows tablets have exists for at least the last 5 years or more. And if you'd ever used one, you'd know why they'd want to try to get this latest iteration right.Here's hoping they release an optimized version of Win7 and not just one of the current desktop versions on these new tablets.
I have used one. They sucked. Thats why its a little late to the game. Thats why the ipad is doing so well. They dumbed down the interface, and made it easy to navigate with a finger. Microsoft didnt have a clue, and still doesnt. They are still going to put a desktop os on a tablet. Just like win mobile. Its frustrating to use unless you have a stylus. They have had the better part of a decade to get it right. They showed off a ton of tablets right before the ipad launched, none of them have materialized including the courier (their own tablet). The ipad sucks, and these wont be much better.
If the iPad didn't exist, it wouldn't be as "terribly important" as Ballmer said.I don't get how these would apply for everyday use. Maybe in hospitals a modified, stripped down version could be useful, but as far as an everyday user? It's stuck in the middle ground between smartphone and laptop, and I'll take both of those over a tablet.
Hospitals and medical clinics already use tablet pc's and have been for a while now.
It's the general consumer that doesn't really have any use for a tablet pc. The iPad is only a toy for adults.
ipad will fail and get about 10% market share long term. Same happened with Apple and their mac hardware and Mac OS. Closed environment, long term garnered Apple to
pad will fail and get about 10% market share long term. Same happened with Apple and their mac hardware and Mac OS. Closed environment, long term garnered Apple to a consumer class gadget maker. While Google and MS allow open development and 3rd party hardware manufactures. deja vu.
A little late? Who cares, as long as it's better than everyone. It won't be better than the Ipad, it's battery life will be half or less of the Ipad, they will weigh anywhere from 50 -150% more , and will be acceptable to many Viruses. There is very little a Microsft based tablet can offer that's not already available in the Ipad. I understand that they want to compete, but they fell a sleep at the wheel again and are over a year behind Apple so it's highly unlikely that they will ever be close to the Ipad in features and Price.
Won’t have anything to offer that isn’t on the iPad? Won’t be close in features or price? Are you really that dense to believe all of that?
Apple is almost ALWAYS pricing their products 50% higher than comparable products on the market, even if their product has inferior hardware. The iPad is a closed system which means you are limited to what you can do. Sure the W7 laptop won’t have a bunch of stupid apps you can download at the touch of a button, but you will actually be able to use it like a computer. You know… install/uninstall software, change OS, multi-task, the list goes on and on. Now not to bash the iPad, it does fill a niche market. But to pretend that it can do even half of what you could do with a real OS is a joke.
And as for the viruses… I always laugh at when Mac users throw this in my face. Macs are just as susceptible (not acceptable) to viruses and hacking as a PC, if not more. There simply isn’t as many viruses for Macs in the wild due to Apple’s low market share. Besides, using Avast Free and NoScript, I haven’t gotten a single virus in over 3 years and that includes me going to any and every website I want to. Just so you know, the more people you lure over to Macs means the higher likely hood that hackers/coders will begin writing viruses for OSx and just wait till the poo hits the fan with no real anti-virus.
Also, “A year behind Apple so it’s highly unlikely that they will be close to the iPad”… tell that to Google about their Android platform.
If you’re going to be a fanboi, at least get your facts straight and don’t just regurgitate what every other kid in your Graphic Design on a Mac 101 class says.
Won’t have anything to offer that isn’t on the iPad? Won’t be close in features or price? Are you really that dense to believe all of that? Apple is almost ALWAYS pricing their products 50% higher than comparable products on the market, even if their product has inferior hardware. The iPad is a closed system which means you are limited to what you can do. Sure the W7 laptop won’t have a bunch of stupid apps you can download at the touch of a button, but you will actually be able to use it like a computer. You know… install/uninstall software, change OS, multi-task, the list goes on and on. Now not to bash the iPad, it does fill a niche market. But to pretend that it can do even half of what you could do with a real OS is a joke.And as for the viruses… I always laugh at when Mac users throw this in my face. Macs are just as susceptible (not acceptable) to viruses and hacking as a PC, if not more. There simply isn’t as many viruses for Macs in the wild due to Apple’s low market share. Besides, using Avast Free and NoScript, I haven’t gotten a single virus in over 3 years and that includes me going to any and every website I want to. Just so you know, the more people you lure over to Macs means the higher likely hood that hackers/coders will begin writing viruses for OSx and just wait till the poo hits the fan with no real anti-virus. Also, “A year behind Apple so it’s highly unlikely that they will be close to the iPad”… tell that to Google about their Android platform. If you’re going to be a fanboi, at least get your facts straight and don’t just regurgitate what every other kid in your Graphic Design on a Mac 101 class says.
+1 to that bro!
When 10 differant hardware companies all push out Win7 Tablets they will have to compete on price if they all use the same OS, only Sony will have a price premium as they are the Apple of the PC world, but they usually have the sexiest hardware too and i'm sure Sony is cooking up a tablet that will piss all over the iPad in the "looks good" department. Personally I dont worry about the good looks too much as long as it's functional and would happily have a slightly thicker tablet as long as I knew for a fact it was capable of playing back my ridiculously large collection of torrented TV and music, editting photo's, printing them, burning them onto DVDs, transfering to flashdrive or SD card.
PRINTING, OMG??
Can you print from an iPad? Really? How do you get the printer driver on it?
Err, anyone who uses MS Office files like Word or Excel?So millions?
Open office it is cheaper (free). Supports the same file types and is just as good if not better, and it uses less resources