The New York Times reported that the keynote address on January 5 will see an unveiling of tablets from Samsung, Dell and other vendors which run on Windows, by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Ballmer’s presentation will provide unique insights into the Windows 8 system on tablets, it added.

Industry observers are keenly awaiting this presentation. The rise of Apple and Google’s Android operating system in the tablet market has led to a fall in the number of Microsoft based system builders. The market has seen Microsoft being dominated by vendors like Apple and Google to a large extent. According to the research firm Gartner, close to 54.8 million tablets will be purchased in the year 2011. With the market expanding, Microsoft will certainly be looking to gain tactical advantage with this release.

In the keynote address delivered in 2010, Ballmer had assured the release of Windows based tablets, or slates, within the year. None of them have yet hit the market. This was a disappointment to many customers.

One of the factors hindering Microsoft’s ability to enter this growing market is the Windows 7. Critics specify that these contain smaller buttons and controls which affect its functioning as a touch-based interface.

The Windows 8, currently in development, is aimed at addressing these issues in the tablet market. Yet many industry observers are of the view that it might be too early and might not be ready for a demonstration. The early unconfirmed reports coming out suggest that the Windows 8 might only be ready by 2012.

There was a report from the Times which suggested that the Samsung device would be similar in size to the Apple iPad. But the Samsung device would be thicker and contain a slide out keyboard. Equipped with a touch interface, it will run on Windows 7. This interface comes into use in the absence of the keyboard.


The Windows tablets released by Ballmer are not the first of their kind. Acer has already presented a number of Windows tablets which it will start marketing in February.

However, the Times predictions are not accepted by everyone. This has split the internet into teams. Lee Matthews, a contributor on the Switched Technology website was of the opinion that introducing a product like Windows 8 ought to be done at a later time than January. He cited the importance of the product to Microsoft as the reason behind this opinion. Microsoft has not yet responded with any comments.