Microsoft: No Tablets Until It's Distinctive

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft: No Tablets Until It's Distinctive

Posted by CmdrTaco on Wednesday April 20, 2011 @01:39AM from the build-up-them-forearms dept.

BogenDorpher pointed us in the direction of a pocket-lint story saying "Microsoft’s UK managing director and ex-BBC man Ashley Highfield has exclusively told Pocket-lint that the company won’t produce a tablet device, and therefore follow in the footsteps of Apple and Google, until it's got something to shout about. 'We won't do anything in the tablet market unless we can be distinctive,' he told us." Have you considered making it light enough that your arm doesn't ache after 5 minutes?

15 of 203 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

In other words... by Nimloth · 2011-04-20 01:41 · Score: 4, Insightful

We're looking for an idea but we ain't got squat.
1. Re:In other words... by CharlyFoxtrot · 2011-04-20 02:09 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  They already released their "slate" with HP with Balmer being on stage to introduce it:
  "press images of the HP Slate just hit the web, right as Ballmer showed it off during his CES keynote. The prototype device is said to be coming later this year, and it's running Windows -- Ballmer showed it running the PC Kindle app."
  Fortunately for them it has bombed so badly they actaully have a chance of people buying this shit about them not wanting in the tablet market yet.
  
  --
  If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
2. Re:In other words... by nschubach · 2011-04-20 02:48 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Shouldn't it be:
  We are waiting for another company to come up with something cool so we can buy it and put our name on it.
  
  --
  Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
3. Re:In other words... by Nethemas+the+Great · 2011-04-20 03:18 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Either they did a lousy port to the PC, or Windows is imposing massive overheads which don't apply on the Xbox.
  Yes.
  
  --
  Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.
4. Re:In other words... by h4rr4r · 2011-04-20 03:24 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Different size controllers?
  Those things were unusable for all but sasquatch. I would not call killing off online play for Halo2 robust and stable. I and many others still play the original counterstrike online for a timeline comparison. DLC has existed in computer gaming for a lot longer than the xbox existsed same with online market places and online play. Microsoft copied from the pc gaming market and brought that to consoles.
5. Re:In other words... by HermMunster · 2011-04-20 05:11 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Actually, it's considerably like the Apple. It has a screen about the same size. It runs apps. It uses touch input to select icons. It's used to make phone calls. It's a personal information manager.
  If you mean it's not as good then fine. If you mean it doesn't have near the offerings then fine. If you mean it has problems with updates then fine. If you mean it doesn't have multitasking then fine. If you mean it is barely a smart phone then fine.
  But, I've seen it. My niece has one. I used it for a while to get the feel. It's pretty sharp. It's also confusing and quite a bit more primitive than most other phone OSes. I'd never buy one myself. I'm sure it's a competent phone, as far as being a phone.
  
  --
  You can lead a man with reason but you can't make him think.
M$ fired the guys who had already designed one by ehack · 2011-04-20 01:43 · Score: 4, Insightful

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Courier

--
This is not a signature.
1. Re:M$ fired the guys who had already designed one by Richard_at_work · 2011-04-20 02:16 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  I think its pretty plainly clear why Courier got dumped, and the team suffered some form of punishment - they publicised something which pretty much looked exactly like the holy grail of tablet computing. Seriously, look at the hype storm that followed the revealing of the Courier, even on here quite a few people said "yes, I would buy that in an instant". It had dual screens, fast processors, contact charging, promised a fantastic interface and a tonne of other things.
  
  Basically, there was no way for the end device to live up to the dream that had risen around the publicised concept - or more correctly, no way for it to come in on time, in budget and fulfil everyones fantasies.
  
  Microsoft had two options - get rid of the project quickly, or fail to deliver to the standard of the hype and suffer the consequences. So they ditched the project, which is pretty much their only real option.
Wow by dingen · 2011-04-20 01:44 · Score: 3, Insightful

So not only are they late to the party, they're not even sure what to bring and whether they'll come at all.
That's some solid vision you're showing there, mister Ballmer.

--
Pretty good is actually pretty bad.
1. Re:Wow by dingen · 2011-04-20 01:55 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  But that's not what TFA is about: there it talks about a tablet operating system. MS won't make one until they've got a clue on what to make, which apparently they haven't. For a software company like Microsoft, that's a pretty sad state to be in, given that fact tablets have been "the next big thing" for at least a year now.
  
  --
  Pretty good is actually pretty bad.
2. Re:Wow by sootman · 2011-04-20 04:02 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Mod parent up. The exact quote, and source:
  "The tablet takes cutting-edge PC technology and makes it available whenever you want it, which is why I'm already using a tablet as my everyday computer," Gates said. "It's a PC that is virtually without limits -- and within five years I predict it will be the most popular form of PC sold in America."
  - Bill Gates, November 12, 2001 when Microsoft was introducing Windows XP for Tablet PCs.
  Alan Kay said The best way to predict the future is to invent it. I think it's clear that the current Apple under Steve Jobs is better than MS under Gates and Ballmer at delivering in this particular area.
  
  --
  Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
3. Re:Wow by c · 2011-04-20 04:13 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  > ... that's a pretty sad state to be in, given that fact tablets have
  > been "the next big thing" for at least a year now.
  Well, no.
  A sad state is to have been shipping tablet/touch/PDA operating systems on and off for almost 20 years, and suddenly admit you don't have a clue what to do when tablets suddenly take off.
  
  --
  Log in or piss off.
I actually liked the idea behind courier by Shivetya · 2011-04-20 01:46 · Score: 3, Interesting

A folding tablet design which allowed pen entry. I already have a BT keyboard for my iPad as I found that I as used it more that input became more and more of an issue. Voice recognition won't work in a meeting and the built in keyboard can be a pain. Hence I have a clam shell case with BT keyboard. I remember the old Palm days with their shorthand and such. Adapt that idea. Give me alternative methods of entering data. Tie it all together with One Note. The folding / split screen approach would allow easy separation of work as well let alone make it more compact to carry.
Still the more I use my tablet the more I begin to wonder how long they will persist, they are good for presenting what I have, not so much for creating on, at least in the business environment

--
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
Not a problem by Chrisq · 2011-04-20 01:51 · Score: 4, Funny

Have you considered making it light enough that your arm doesn't ache after 5 minutes?
My arm gets plenty of exercise.
Re:One word by 517714 · 2011-04-20 02:30 · Score: 3, Funny

Apple Elite
Google Comic Sans

--
The US government have made it clear that we have no inalienable rights; any we do not defend vigorously will be taken.