CES 2010: No Microsoft Courier In Sight

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced a tablet computer this week at the 2010 Consumer electronics show, however it was a far cry from the Courier. Ballmer referred to the device as a "slate PC" and announced that Microsoft would be partnering with Hewlett-Packard on the product.

The tablet will run Windows 7 and support multi-touch. Pricing is said to be under $500 and the device should hit shelves later this year. Response to the Microsoft tablet was underwhelming, as many had hoped for a Courier prototype unveiling.

Microsoft and HP stock prices actually dropped after the announcement. Even the New York Times had reported that a "revolutionary" tablet PC was going to be on display at CES, contributing to the hype.

Ballmer described the slate PC as "a beautiful little product," and explained that the device is something that's "almost as portable as a phone and that's as powerful as a PC running Windows 7." In the demo, the HP tablet was running a Kindle book reading application.

By announcing the slate PC at CES, Microsoft may be trying to steal some thunder from another rumored tablet. Apple is widely expected to announce their own take on the tablet form factor at a special event at the end of the month. Renderings or prototypes of the Apple device have yet to be seen.

Microsoft faces serious challenges in the mobile space from both Android OS and Apple. Releasing a production version of the Courier could be just what they need to keep in the game.