Microsoft to demo Windows Tablets...again at CES

[MrX8503]

So a year has passed since Steve Ballmer presented the HP Slate and we all know how that turned out.

Now that a year has passed and the HP Slate becoming vaporware while the iPad is the top selling tablet, Microsoft is going to take another stab at the tablet market at CES 2011.

I'm not sure what Microsoft was thinking presenting the HP Slate a year ago when it was obviously not ready for prime time. Windows 7 on a tablet is not the answer and I can foresee Microsoft failing hard yet again with an HP Slate Rerun.

Apparently Windows 8 may be on the tablet, which supposedly has a much more robust touch interface. This may be their answer, but I find it hard to believe that MS has been working on such a concept for very long.

Quite honestly I don't see MS being competitive in the tablet market, their focus and roadmap looks like a train wreck to me.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/13/microsoft-to-demo-new-slate-pcs-windows-8-tablet-functionality/

 

[Pliablemoose]

I don't understand why they can't put WP7 on a tablet and call it a day.

It'll be a long time before a desktop OS makes any sense on a tablet...

 

[MrX8503]

Yeah I think using WP7 for their tablets would be a great idea, but I guess MS doesn't seem to think so.

Since the Metro UI is very panoramic driven, it would look fantastic on a tablet.

 

[cliftonite]

I don't understand why they can't put WP7 on a tablet and call it a day.

It'll be a long time before a desktop OS makes any sense on a tablet...

Isn't the main problem battery life and the fact that the devices seem to be rather bulky (because of the Atom)?

 

[Deeko]

Yeah I think using WP7 for their tablets would be a great idea, but I guess MS doesn't seem to think so.

Since the Metro UI is very panoramic driven, it would look fantastic on a tablet.

Its also very portrait-driven, tablets like flipping to landscape.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

FYI the Slate isn't vaporware, you have been able to buy them for a while now.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en..._oct10_product

Now that Intel has Oak Trail ready we should see more viable Windows tablets. Unlike earlier Atom's it's much more competitive with ARM processors from a power consumption stanpoint while still delivering vastly superior performance.

I'd really love to see an Oak Trail or Bobcat powered Windows 7 tablet with a form factor like the old HP TC1100. IMO that was the best design I've ever seen for a tablet, sadly the hardware and software of the time just wasn't ready for use in tablets.

 

[QueBert]

NO windows tablets ever, I don't care how much better they've gotten. One of my clients has a Samsung Windows XP Tablet and it's the biggest hunk of shit ever. If a Win 7 tablet was 10 times better I still wouldn't touch it. Android on a tablet, yes, Web OS on a tablet, yes. Any full version of Windows on a tablet. NO NO HELL NO.

 

[MrX8503]

Isn't the main problem battery life and the fact that the devices seem to be rather bulky (because of the Atom)?

The OS is the main cause of the problem. With a desktop OS you have poor battery life, poor touch UI, bulky tablet, and its more expensive.

FYI the Slate isn't vaporware, you have been able to buy them for a while now.

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en..._oct10_product

Maybe not vaporware, but pretty darn close. HP only set aside 5,000 tablets and had about 9,000 orders. 9,000 tablets is uh....a very small number.