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.
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.

"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...
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 can't wait for Steve Jobs to pull his next rabbit out of his sleeve and watch all the media go ballistic over it.
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
"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...
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.
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!
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.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8444672.stm
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?
That's bollocks
Direct quote
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?
Lay the irony on a little thicker, some people still dont get it...
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?