Microsoft’s Ballmer Tries To Steal Apple’s Tablet Thunder

Ballmer also continued to promote Microsoft’s consumer cloud strategy, in which the company’s software interface is ported across multiple devices, including smartphones, televisions and traditional PCs.

During his keynote, Ballmer helped demonstrate software that allows television content to play on PCs and Microsoft’s Zune HD portable media device. He also cited recent synergy between Microsoft and automobile companies such as Kia, Fiat and Ford, all of which are apparently integrating Microsoft software platforms into their veicles.

In the hours leading up to Ballmer’s speech, rumors swirled across the blogosphere that he would introduce a tablet PC built by Hewlett-Packard. “Mr. Ballmer will show the as-yet-unnamed H.P. device, which will be touted as a multimedia whiz with e-reader and multi-touch functions,” wrote New York Times blogger Ashlee Vance, citing unnamed sources.

Although many in the audience anticipated the tablet PC’s appearance, Ballmer held off revealing that particular device until the very end of his presentation.

“Almost as portable as a phone, but powerful as a PC running Windows 7,” he said, holding the virtually button-free flatscreen towards the audience. “The emerging category of PCs should take advantage of the touch and portability capabilities.”

Ballmer said that the as-yet-unnamed device would be “available later this year” and include the ability to display e-books, surf the Web, and play “entertainment on the go.” He did not offer a price point.

The tech world has been primed for the expansion of tablet PCs beyond a niche device into the broader consumer and business markets, thanks in large part to the seemingly omnipresent rumors that Apple is developing a tablet PC due sometime in 2010. Although Apple has declined to offer any official confirmation about the tablet PC, further scuttlebutt earlier in January suggested that Apple would host an event in San Francisco during the last week of the month, ostensibly to announce the device.

If those Apple rumors prove true, then Microsoft’s CES maneuver could be seen as an attempt to pre-empt—and perhaps even lessen—the inevitable buzz that will accompany Steve Jobs walking onto a stage with a tablet on 26 or 27 Jan.

“Consumers are saying there’s no better time to be a Windows 7 PC,” Ballmer told the audience during the keynote. In any case, 2010 will likely be a crux year in showing whether Microsoft’s newest initiatives, such as Windows 7 and Bing, will actually thrive.