NYT: Windows 8 Tablet May Be Introduced at CES
Will Windows 7 devices have to share the spotlight at CES in January?
Windows 7 has been extremely well received but we'd be lying if we said we weren't already a little bit intrigued about Windows 8. We've been hearing snippets about the next version of Windows for a long time and it's safe to say our curiosity is well and truly piqued.
Fortunately, it looks like we may not have long to wait before we get to see a little bit of Windows 8 love. The New York Times is reporting that we may see a Windows 8 tablet demo at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month.
NYT cites people familiar with the matter in reporting that the Ballmer keynote will feature a lot of tablet-talk. Ballmer will apparently demo several slate devices, including offerings from Dell and Samsung. The Samsung device is said to feature Windows 7, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and a special UI layer for when the tablet is in portrait mode.
However, the most interesting thing NYT sources came out with was that Ballmer might also introduce a tablet or companion device featuring Windows 8. Sources didn't give any more detail than that, but it's certainly gotten us all excited for CES next month.
Last year Ballmer and HP beat Apple to the tablet punch and announced the HP Slate (pictured), which was running Windows 7. Unfortunately, the two companies shared very little information about the device, and couldn't even say when it would be available to purchase. The iPad came and went and there was still no sign of the HP Slate. Eventually word got out that HP had decided to can the device as far as the consumer market was concerned and instead use it to target the enterprise market. Despite being announced before the iPad, it only went on sale last month.
Let's hope Microsoft and Ballmer do a better job of delivering on CES 2011's promises, whatever they turn out to be.
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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Bolbi I'd be surprised if Microsoft really showed off a device running a pre-build of Windows 8 at CES. Windows 7 SP1 isn't even out the door yet!Reply -
the_krasno Too soon for windows 8. I like 7 the way it is. Rather than a new OS, what about an SP2 that actually brings nice stuff?Reply -
joytech22 I have my suspicions that Windows 8 isn't designed for desktop systems, according to leaks it looks more like it's aimed at portable devices.Reply
I think this because:
Speculation about Cloud
Nifty features helpful for smaller screens (I heard somewhere, probably on toms)
Just my $0.02 -
hiruu Zzzz....ZZzzzzz...M$ was snozzing on the tablet wave, and now has to play catch up, on something they could very well have been at the forefront of...senseless. How the heck do they spend THAT much on R&D and can't get a decent tablet launched? Now we would have to wait for a NEW OS to get tablet functions...Zzzzz...Zzzzzz....snoozing again!Reply -
zachary k way to soon for windows 7, windows 8 as a tablet OS would be a good idea. a full OS that WORKS on a tablet? MS isn't playing catchup, they were just taking their sweet time to release something better.Reply -
wesleywatson I'm starting to think that Windows 8 is not meant to be Windows 7's replacement, but instead targets a different audience. I think Windows 8 may end up going against Chrome OS, and somewhat the iPad. And also that it will be mainly 64 bit, with basic editions meant for odd hardware that are 32 bit.Reply -
dimar If they keep on releasing the same 1024x600, 1GB of RAM cr@p, I'll never be interested in those tablets. How about 12" 1400x/1600x capacitive t. screen, 4GB of RAM, high speed SDXC card reader... and so on...Reply -
JOSHSKORN I can't wait until this tablet fad is over with, really. It won't be long. They might be good for business, but that's it. I would like to see maybe a 22" tablet with a foldout keyboard and a stand, if it doesn't exist already. If it's powerful enough for high end games, it MIGHT catch on big time.Reply -
Pawessum16 JOSHSKORNI can't wait until this tablet fad is over with, really. It won't be long. They might be good for business, but that's it. I would like to see maybe a 22" tablet with a foldout keyboard and a stand, if it doesn't exist already. If it's powerful enough for high end games, it MIGHT catch on big time.LOL isn't that called a laptopReply