Microsoft to unveil Windows tablet for Christmas


5 Oct 2010

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed consumers would see a tablet device which runs the Windows operating system in time for Christmas.

Speaking to an audience of students and alumni of the London School of Economics, he said the company was keenly focused on entering the tablet arena.

“As a company, we need to cover all form factors,” he said.

“We’ve done work on a Windows tablet, and you’ll see slates with Windows on from this Christmas.”

“Certainly we have done work around the tablet as both a productivity device and a consumption device,” he said.

It is speculated that Microsoft could use the Windows Phone 7 press conference on 11 October to reveal more details on this tablet.

This could add another rival to Apple’s iPad. Numerous consumer electronics companies have seen the success of the iPad, which sold 3.3 million in its first quarter, and are keen to release a product in the area.

Ballmer also stressed the importance of making an impact in the smartphone market.

“The job right now is we’ve got to get back seriously into the game of phones,” he said.

“We’ve got to have a comeback against the competition and I think with our new Windows phones we really have a beautiful product.”