Interesting that it would be expected to be available by mid-year, whereas the rumor mill has the supposed Apple tablet available within a couple of months. Another half-cooked M$ product released to market?

It better have a real keyboard, a user replaceable battery, and an FM tuner or else it is a deal breaker for me /troll

in all honesty, the Courier project this is to be based on is really promising if, and it is a big IF, it works as the demo indicated. If the tablet apple is making is nothing more than a large iPod touch (which I hope isn’t the case) I’ll be swayed by this “digital sketch book” idea… as long as it can work with my iMac.

in all honesty, the Courier project this is to be based on is really promising if, and it is a big IF, it works as the demo indicated.

It is a pretty neat concept, but that is another one of those differences between Microsoft and Apple: M$ unapologetically shows off concept projects. Apple shows you something you can buy next week. Which I think, is partly why other tech companies will go on the offensive with “virtual” demos before Apple even announces anything.

True, but (wearing the Devil’s advocate hat here) the Virtual demo would have been the gizmodo image/video feature done last year. I don’t think Ballmer can walk out on stage and vaporware something thats been an officially featured, in depth concept for months without a ship date. Especially knowing that when apple confirms the tablet, it will not only have a ship date, but will be far enough along that it can start taking money.

I have no doubt that it will be announced, my doubt is whether it will work as promised.

I do think that, without a tangible product to offer (if that is the case this time around), they would show off a “soon to be released - in another six months or so” product just to steal some of Apple’s steam. Remember Microsoft Surface: their answer to Apple’s multitouch interface, not even a consumer-ready product. Even then it still took them a couple of years to come out with a consumer level touch device (being the latest Zune).

I’ll still be interested to see what their vision of the future is, though.

This could be the BIGGEST BOOST Apple could hope for to sell it’s “tablet” !!!

I have little faith that MS can bring out any mobile product that competes with Apple’s. Add to that, the release of iPhone OS 4.0, with features that no one (few?) outside Apple have seen yet.

MS and HP could really shoot themselves in the foot by releasing a product that barley competes (if at all) with the iPod Touch and end up complete laughing stock mere DAYS after its announcement.

I say BRING IT ON!! Let’s see what they’ve got ! If they have a decent product, we will still have to wait and see if they can deliver on the promise. But if they blow it…. It could literally spell COMPLETE IRRELEVANCE for MS in the mobile market.

Microsoft has had “tablet computers” since 2001, and they still haven’t been able to get a product that people actually want to use.

MS to ‘reveal’ a rehash of this?

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Tablet_PC/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=A1168126#Overview

Interesting that it would be expected to be available by mid-year, whereas the rumor mill has the supposed Apple tablet available within a couple of months.

Oh, isn’t that the same as when apple introduced iPhone - released in June and announced in January.. ?? Hipocrite

Microsoft has had “tablet computers” since 2001, and they still haven’t been able to get a product that people actually want to use.

Wow, u talk like Apple has already confimed forget introduced its tablet and people are actually loving using it. Too much cool aid or did u simply use the iSlate in ur dreams to make an asssesment of MS’s tablets?

Oh, isn’t that the same as when apple introduced iPhone - released in June and announced in January.. ?? Hipocrite

FCC regulations make information on new devices public when they are submitted for approval, which is why Apple decided to announce the iPhone well in advance rather than let the FCC do it for them. And they had a fully functioning phone to demo, as well.

I would suggest a quick Google search to get some information in front of your face before you start railing. And a dictionary for your name calling, in those rare instances where you might actually have your facts straight.

According to AllThingsD, Ballmer decided against announcing his tablet.