Slates are "job number 1" at Microsoft

Posted on 3 Aug 2010 at 10:31

In a move which likely came as a shock to no-one, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer used the company's annual financial analyst meeting this week to reiterate his company's commitment to producing slate-style devices - designed to compete directly with Apple's popular iPad.

According to ZDNet, stating that Microsoft has "a push" with its hardware partners which concentrates on releasing slate devices based around the company's Windows 7 and Windows Phone software lines, Ballmer described the efforts as "Job Number 1" - literally the most important thing the company is currently looking into.

It's not hard to see why: with Apple's iPad slate continuing to sell well, it's a burgeoning market which is only going to get bigger - and if Microsoft can't get in early, they may find themselves shut out altogether.

Unlike the desktop and notebook market, where Microsoft's Windows operating system enjoys an overwhelming majority market share, Apple's launch of the first slate-style device that actually appeals to customers has given it a head start on rivals - and that's likely to be preying on Ballmer's mind.

Worse still is the fact that of the multitude of slate devices announced since the iPad's launch, the vast majority are going to be running Google's Android platform - a direct competitor to Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, from a company that Ballmer famously once threatened to "kill."

Sadly, Ballmer didn't offer any firm details of when Microsoft-powered slates would appear, beyond a vague commitment to a release before the end of the year.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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