6:08PM (pst). Soda, check. RSS feeds, check. Live video stream check! Microsoft is in Los Angeles about to announce their new ‘mystery project’ and this one has the entire tech industry more excited than normal. It is interesting to see what Microsoft has learned from Apple’s ability to generate hype. The entire tech industry is expecting a tablet, and not just any tablet…a game changer. This is a very important event for microsoft. They are still the domiant PC platform, but their marketshare is being eaten away by low powered tablets, both iOS and Google’s Android; Microsoft knows that they must dominate the tablet and mobile operating systems in the future in order to maintain their dominance. This is make or break.
6:12PM – Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer comes out on stage. Immediately Microsoft brings up the current mobile platforms are not good for business. Clearly, the tech industry got it right, this is a hardware announcement, but what type is still unclear. Ballmer is focusing on Microsoft taking advantage of the Kinect.
6:20PM – Ballmer still talking numbers, windows licenses sold. It seems like Microsoft is buttering up their hardware partners, right before they dis them by making their own hardware. Microsoft has announced Surface PCs!
6:25PM – Microsoft has a very good opportunity to gain some excitement in the tech industry again. Certainly this takes some of the wind out of Apple’s sails with their recent announcements only days old. If they can get Outlook and other business apps working well and make tablet use more productive, then it may be a winner! Specs are on the way: USB 2.o (full size) – NICE! , 9.6MM thin, Kickstand, Gorilla Glass 2.
6:29PM – NICE! The cover is a multitouch keyboard! This may be the killer app for business!
6:31 – Microsoft is driving the point home. Here comes Office! Processor seems to be an ARM Nvidia processor for the low end model. Tegra anyone? HDMI output, 10.6” display. Also, an Ivy Bridge i5 in the high end model! Real power at last.
6:44PM – The PR is out! Check the video:
In Closing – I think this was exactly what Microsoft needed to do: have a strong showing with a tablet Microsoft created to set the bar for the 3rd party manufacturers, make tablets usable for business, and promote Windows 8. I predict that this will mark a paradigm-shift for Microsoft and (the market share leading) underdog is back in the game.
Thanks to Engadget.com for the live blog and pictures.
