After two hours of waiting, and then an additional 20 minutes when the they blew out their power, Microsoft didn't reveal anything worth while at all during their pre-show CES keynote. There were rumors circulating that they would show off a tablet in association with HP, their newest hardware partner, and everyone was thinking it was going to be the "Courier" everyone's been hearing about. I'm afraid there was no such luck.
We did, however, get a tablet made by HP to justify the rumor mentioned earlier. The "slate", as they wanted to call it - wonder where they got that name from, right? - wasn't fully explained or given much detail; not even an official name. But it did look sleek, and it was in the ball park of what we've imagined these things to look like by now.
Two other slates were highlighted for a few moment; one by Archos, and the other by Pegatron. They all seemed like a portable pc, smaller than a netbook, even e-reader like, but nothing as innovative as the fabled Apple "iSlate" or Microsoft "Courier".
Sorry kiddies, but better luck next time. Although, I did run into Microsoft's own Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb after the show and asked him about his thoughts on no official tablet being unveiled:
"Well... (long pause, and some time to think)... we have a lot of hardware products. Let's leave it at that. I'm more focused on the Xbox."
-Major Nelson, Director of Programming for Xbox Live
Interesting choice of words. But alas there's nothing to show for it at the moment. Microsoft is keeping mum on its crown jewel for now, and so the ball rolls calmly into Apple's hands with no immediate competition coming their way. Get your plane tickets now to Cupertine, Ca for January 27th.
Okay Geek Farm
Matt Hurley
