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In what very much appears to be a controlled leak from Microsoft, the New York Times has detailed “rumors” of upcoming Windows “slates” that will be shown off by Steve Ballmer at CES next month. Just like last year. And again like last year, it seems that Microsoft still hasn’t gotten a clue about tablets.
“Microsoft hopes these slates will offer an alternative to the iPad because they move beyond play, people familiar with the tablets said.” And how will Microsoft differentiate its brand-new slate offering from Apple’s hugely successful iPad? By using a tablet version of the highly regarded Windows Phone 7 OS, designed for touch? Nope. By using a desktop OS, and slapping a skin on top. Again.
Microsoft is working with several hardware partners to make machines. One, from Samsung, runs regular Windows 7 in landscape mode and then, when turned upright, draws a finger-friendly skin over the top. It also has a keyboard which slides out in landscape mode, making this otherwise iPad-sized tablet quite a bit thicker. So, instead of offering the intuitive experience of other tablets, you get a jarring two-mode machine that likely doesn’t do either job properly.
And then there’re the apps. Of course there are apps. But there will be no app store. Microsoft is encouraging development of HTML5-based applications for the slates, but these will be scattered all over the web on the various developers’ sites. To find them, you will search, and they will be “highlighted in a search interface on the slate computer.”
The most telling quote from the NYT’s insider is this one:
The company believes there is a huge market for business people who want to enjoy a slate for reading newspapers and magazines and then work on Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint while doing work.
This may explain the company’s inability to make a “computer” which isn’t aimed at business. The iPad’s runaway success shows that the general public wants an easy to use computer which just works, and Microsoft just isn’t willing to – or just plain can’t – make one. Microsoft’s future is looking a lot like IBM’s when Microsoft ate its lunch years ago: it’ll still be a big, big business company, but the general public will no longer be buying its wares (Xbox aside).Microsoft to Announce New Slates Aimed at the iPad [NYT]
Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
See Also:
- Dell Names Secret 'Slate' After Non-Existent Apple Product …
- More Ballmer Madness: “There's No Chance that the iPhone is Going …
- Never Before Seen 'BSOD' Debuts at Microsoft CES Keynote
- Microsoft Unveils Touchscreen Tablet
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