Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is feeling the pressure of the iPad's success, saying that Apple have "sold certainly more than I'd like them to sell."
Though Ballmer is not exactly known for his composure when giving presentations, when speaking at a meeting of financial analysts, he sounded distinctly worried. He described the release of a Windows-based tablet competitor as "job one urgency", according to CNNMoney. Ballmer went on express his chagrin that he had "been to too many meetings with journalists struggling to set up iPads for notes".
A future Windows-tablet fleet would use Windows 7 and Intel CPUs, and come in all shapes and sizes across many different manufacturers. Ballmer said the tablet market was "not one size fits all". The Microsoft chief compared this to what his company did with netbooks, introducing a version of its latest OS specially adapted for low-power laptops and usurping Linux as top netbook OS.
Microsoft has been trying to introduce tablet computers for years with practically no reward from home users, and only moderate success in tablet-handheld hybrids. These have most often run a form of Windows Mobile, aimed at warehouse managers, doctors and the like. In the month following the iPad's European release, tablet sales for the quarter tripled, catapulting the iPad into a realm of success Microsoft could only dream of in nearly a decade of trying.
Though Steve was coy about giving exact dates, he did describe the release of future Windows tablets as being "as soon as they're ready". He added, "No one is sleeping at the switch here. We have got to make things happen with Windows 7 on slates. We're in the process of doing that as we speak."
Ballmer's words come not long after HP decided to shrink away from competing with Apple directly, now planning to release the long-gestating Slate, a tablet running Windows 7 that was to go head-to-head with the iPad, as an enterprise-oriented device instead.
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Pokeh 30 July, 2010 16:22
I'd really like an iPad - the problem? £430 is the problem - if it were more around the £200 area I'd be very, very tempted to get one.
If Microsoft brought out a cheap tablet (Like the Slate) that supported Flash (Which I guess it would if it runs on top of Windows 7) for about £200 I'd be all over it.
Anonymous 30 July, 2010 22:15
Me too! Have had my iPad for a couple of months now and already beginning to be frustrated by lack of flash support. This is not such a big deal on my iPhone as I'm normally on the move and use the iPhone to do light research but I use the iPad at home to replace my laptop/net book and mainly surf the net instead of using apps ( which is the reverse with iPhone) so it's inability to provide a full web experience and allow me to view a good 50% of sites I visit defeats the purpose of using the iPad. I would definitely get a Microsoft or android based slate device if it allowed flash. The problem for Microsoft is that it will still only be the OS supplier and consumers won't be able to identify with one single piece of hardware
Anonymous 31 July, 2010 04:38
Ballmer has to get his sly little "subliminal" comments in, doesn't he!
"been to too many meetings with journalists struggling to set up iPads for notes".
Ha!
There's no struggle involved.
One of the reasons it's selling so well is just that - it's so simple to set up and use.
Ballmer has Apple envy big-time!
Anonymous 2 August, 2010 13:22
When will this guy get a burger-flippin' clue? It isn't whom you copy. It's whom you out-innovate, out-engineer, out-market. At least Bill Gates was an adequate marketer. Ballmer is just an industrial bully who can't even pitch a credible fit.
Micro$lop shareholders would do well to oust this guy and get a real visionary to replace him. Surely there's someone who could fine-focus that behemoth on the future?
torrentblock 3 August, 2010 13:16
i wouldn't be too worried about the iPad's success. most of the people i know who got them, got the iPhone 4 and barely use their iPads any more.
concentrate on releasing a quality product. that's all.