CES 2010: Microsoft Keynote a Total Disappointment
Despite high hopes for the Slate PC debut, the Microsoft Keynote at CES 2010 was a complete fizzle.
What's the deal, Microsoft?
There is very little in the way of positive comments for Steve Ballmer and the house that Gates built after its less than stellar keynote/press conference. Before the keynote even started, a power outage in the conference hall delayed the start by 10-15 minutes and put all the computers on the stage into Recovery Mode.
Confirmed details for Natal (coming in time for Christmas 2010) and the Windows Mobile flagship HD2 from HTC (launching on T-Mobile this Spring) are great. However, the Microsoft keynote was all sizzle and no steak...or at least no new steak.
When it came to "new" hardware during the keynote, many of the products on the stage were already announced or already on sale. The Asus G51 gaming laptop has been on sale since the mobile Core i7 chips were released, and the same goes for products like the Toshiba Qosmio X505 laptop, Dell ZinoHD mini PC, and several all-in-one desktops.
The one shining moment during the keynote was the introduction of the slate PCs, from companies including Pegatron and HP. These keyboard-less tablet PCs are about the size of a Kindle, run Windows 7, and (probably) have the latest ULV or Atom chips under the hood. I say probably because no specs were released, and all we know for sure are the hardware partners and Windows 7 as the OS.
Besides Ballmer showing off the HP Slate and its Kindle eReader software, the Microsoft keynote was a total disappointment. There was a lot of talk about Windows 7 sales figures, as well as speeches about the solid future the tech industry has after a shaky last couple of years. If Microsoft really wanted to instill confidence and enthusiasm in the audience (the part that wasn't comprised of Microsoft employees), then it failed miserably.
- CES Las Vegas,
- HP,
- Microsoft,
- CES ,
- Keynote
- Mad Catz New Gaming Mice Are Cyborg R.A.T.s
- Half-Life 2 Graphics MODernized With Extra Shine
- OCZ Tech Sporting USB 3.0 SSD @ CES Too
- 6Gb/s SATA Crucial SSDs Arrive in February
- Wednesday Deals on Sherlock Holmes' Birthday
- Seagate Unveils USB 3.0 Laptop HDD Upgrade Kit
- Quattro Confirms Acquisition by Apple
- MSFT, HP Slate PC to Beat Apple to Tablet Punch
- WoW: Boy Finds 42-Year-Old Woman 'Soulmate'
- MSI Reveals Dual-Screen Netbook, eReader
- AMD Ships Two Millionth DirectX 11 GPU
- 14-inch Transparent OLED Laptop Needs Clothes
- CES 2010: Nvidia and 3D Blu-ray
- ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5000 is DX11 on the Go
- The Other 16 "GodModes" For Windows 7
- Thursday Deal: $500 Off HP Envy 15
- Nvidia's Fermi Cards Said to Run Very Hot
- Thermaltake, Nvidia Jointly Launch Gaming Case
Is that really the best picture you could find of Steve Ballmer or do you simply don't like the guy?
I wish Microsoft would give up on Windows Mobile it's arguably the worst mobile OS on the market today and HYC should stick to Google's Android which was very successful on the G1
Microsoft company is about buying other companies and trying to copy good ideas. You should not expect anything really new and exciting. So there is nothing disappointing in Microsoft´s keynote.
So Microsoft should delay the release of any good products just to satisfy the morbid curiosity of a few expo journalists.
"Sorry guys, all out good stuff we already released a few months ago"
Don't they get any credit for not feeding sensationalist propaganda? Or are we reserving our Ooo and Ahh reflex for the inevitable Apple offering from Steve "PT Barnum" Jobs, the consumate showman and bullshit vendor...
No company is obligated to release anything new at a keynote... Apple did the same thing within the past few years. It's no big deal.
Was there only 1 computer on the stage, or did you mean "computers"?
I still haven't purchased WIN7.... with all these new android devices coming out, I hope I won't need to! yeeeehaw!
The windows environment is basically stagnant. Nothing drastically new.
yes, MS gets bashed for actually releasing their products when they're ready, not when the media hogs are ready. And who's doing the bashing? The media, of course. Nothing new here.
I can't wait for Steve Jobs to pull his next rabbit out of his sleeve and watch all the media go ballistic over it.
A lackluster Keynote for Microsoft and people here are forgiving, while if any other companies have something similar (say a certain fruit company) and people here are taking pot shots. Now I know I'm going to get flamed for that last comment, but I should say that Microsoft FINALLY got it's act together with windows 7 and I can be a happy MS user again.
It's a bit tough for a software vendor at an electronics trade show, but still since M$ doesn't actually MAKE PCs, there really should have been no mention at all of PC hardware, Win7, etc, that was just a marketing attack...
No mention of Zune? New controllers for xbox360 not coming until xmas? No BlueRay for xbox announcement? No upgraded or slim version xbox hardware? No TV manufacturers with MCE extensions for home media sharing? No real discussion of WinMo7? Seriously, 3 tablets based on Win7, with no discussion of what the hardware itself will/won't do and no live demo of cool Apple-esque tricks, that's just a media attention grap...
BOOOO!
I still haven't purchased WIN7.... with all these new android devices coming out, I hope I won't need to! yeeeehaw!
What does android have anything to do with Windows 7. Android is for phones. Chrome will be for underpowered netbooks, and net tops, and maybe phones. If you are so anti Microsoft throw Linux on your machine, see how you like that. Or go with an Apple. If you dont like Microsoft quit using thier product.
This kind of makes up for all the times you guys post BBC stories the next day:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8444672.stm
All those who complain against windows mobile need to remember that it is the only OS that gives everyone tethering no matter what and the carrier doesn't get to change it. You don't have to "root" the thing or any of that weirdness. Also, I do have to use its advanced security features (digitally signing or encrypting emails, certificate managed, etc.). Corporations that don't demand such features are at risk of having their intellectual property fall into the wrong hands.
From the above BBC article
Devin Connors of Tom's Hardware.
"It looked really good given the short amount of time we saw it for and it has Windows 7. Everyone loves Windows 7 and putting it in a device the size of an e-reader is probably going to be a winning combination."
Devin, I have to ask, why do the two statements have such drastically shifting polarity? One sounds miserable and uninspiring, the other bouyant and entheusiastic? Are you taking any medication? Do you need a hug?
This Devin Conners sounds like an Apple fan boy (or girl).
This Devin Conners sounds like an Apple fan boy (or girl).
That's bollocks
Direct quote
What does Microsoft, HP, and other companies have to do to their tablets in order for the media to say they are new and creative? Let me guess, they have to put the logo of a certain fruit on it while releasing it in only mono-chromatic white.
The HP slate looked very interesting. Small, pretty, has Windows 7. But I guess its going to be a piece of crap since it wont have access to the iPhone Apps store. Naw, instead it will just have access to the billions of applications built for Windows PC. But who's counting anyways?
But who's counting anyways?
Lay the irony on a little thicker, some people still dont get it...
My understanding of MS showing Windows 7 on a slate device is to show the touch capabilities of the OS, right?
The lightness of the specs for the actual tablet therefore have no bearing on the demonstration by MS, isn't it the responsibility of someone employed by HP to take the stage and wax lyrical about the hardware specs?
Off topic..I set up an account just to ask Tom's when they're going to get rid of these ads with half naked men on them telling me to build my muscles. People at work are starting to ask if I'm looking at porn. All I want to see are benchmarks!
Use firefox+adblock
What is a SOFTWARE company doing giving the keynote speech at the Consumer ELECTRONICS Show? Whether it's Microsoft (Bill Gates has given the speech SEVERAL times) or any other Software-only company (Apple does sell hardware, at least something more than keyboards & mice). I wouldn't expect to see, say Linus Torvalds give a speech at CES, any more than would I expect Muhtar Kent from Coca-Cola to do the same. So WHY does Microsoft get a free ride?
Microsoft is not just software company.
Ever heard Microsoft XBOX and Microsoft XBOX 360?
What is a SOFTWARE company doing giving the keynote speech at the Consumer ELECTRONICS Show? Whether it's Microsoft (Bill Gates has given the speech SEVERAL times) or any other Software-only company (Apple does sell hardware, at least something more than keyboards & mice). I wouldn't expect to see, say Linus Torvalds give a speech at CES, any more than would I expect Muhtar Kent from Coca-Cola to do the same. So WHY does Microsoft get a free ride?
Well Linus wouldn't be there for a CONSUMER electronics show, seeing as Linux is free... but even if it wasn't, don't forget the duality of computers where the hardware itself is just an expensive paperweight without an operating system.
Enter Microsoft.
If you want to be even more anal-retentive, Microsoft do make hardware as well, Xbox, Zune, Keyboards, Mice, Headsets, Webcams, Game Controllers.
This has to be the most bias article form tomshardware I have ever seen.
Only one who fails is the author Devin Connors.
You guys expect Microsoft to be good at marketing? They're one of the worst when it comes to tech companies. They need to take a page from the Apple playbook and hire a better marketing firm to plan their events. Love or hate Apple, the one thing they are strongest in is creating a buzz around their products.
You guys expect Microsoft to be good at marketing? They're one of the worst when it comes to tech companies. They need to take a page from the Apple playbook and hire a better marketing firm to plan their events. Love or hate Apple, the one thing they are strongest in is creating a buzz around their products.
I agree, Microsoft marketing sucks, their products have to stand entirely on merit, as opposed to bluster and slick advertising washing over otherwise shit products.
Well spotted.
Just a monkeynote for windumbed lu$ers. Seems m$ couldn't grab any innovation lately...
What an angry lynch happy mob... hunting for poor David. That's not the way to get popular with wintarded micro$uxx fankiddies. Next time try to praise the gamer o$ (lack of merit doesn't matter) - will keep them at least another year in full drool mode.
yes, MS gets bashed for actually releasing their products when they're ready, not when the media hogs are ready. And who's doing the bashing? The media, of course. Nothing new here. I can't wait for Steve Jobs to pull his next rabbit out of his sleeve and watch all the media go ballistic over it.
Steve Jobs: *pulls out a rabbit made of shit*
Media: Oooh!! Aaaahhh!! I've gotta have a bite of that awesome chocolate rabbit!!
Steve Jobs: *pulls out a rabbit made of shit*Media: Oooh!! Aaaahhh!! I've gotta have a bite of that awesome chocolate rabbit!!
Damn that's funny
I wish Microsoft would give up on Windows Mobile it's arguably the worst mobile OS on the market today and HYC should stick to Google's Android which was very successful on the G1
i think you need to read up on the difference between marketshare and mindshare. Windows mobile is like Windows Vista. a good OS with bad press. Android is an immature mobile OS, and thats something any decent tech source can tell you.