Microsoft to launch Tablet PC in November

Microsoft plans to launch its revolutionary handwritten notes-taking Tablet PC on November 7, a senior official revealed yesterday.

The software giant has signed up about 15 hardware manufacturers to produce this next big thing to come out of the corporation's facility here, according to John Williams, Microsoft director of marketing (platform strategy group).

He said the pricing has been left to hardware manufacturers, but expected the tag to be 15 to 20 per cent higher than currently priced notebook PCs - or in the range of about $2,000.

"New things are our Tablet PC which will be out later this year, and MSN on which more work needs to be done," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft chief executive.

The newly redesigned MSN website is also expected to be unveiled later this year.

Microsoft is also planning to integrate its dotNet and Windows platforms.

Arriving at Microsoft headquarters fresh from Saturday's annual Fusion meeting, held this time in steamy New Orleans, Ballmer unveiled his vision for Microsoft's future.

"Is it over for Microsoft? Not so," said Ballmer.

"There is so much more to be done. People have come up to me and said Microsoft is old now, it started in 1975. I think we are in better shape than many other industries. The global economic decline is short term. We believe in the long term."

Ballmer wants Microsoft to become a truly global company. "We have to push ourselves to be a global company. Our mission is to help extend imagination, communication, productivity and creativity of the human mind.

"The number of minutes or hours that our software is helping people on a daily basis, is not enough.

"Is there value to be added? If we can add unique value, we will grow and prosper," said Ballmer.

And, how could that be achieved? Through talented people, was the answer.

"We need to have great people. We want talented people to say if we want to build software, this (Microsoft) is what we want to work in. Today, we are finding it easier to recruit good people.

"And, we want our people to understand what are the values that are important and we want all our people to share them - the concepts of integrity and honesty, to be more open and respectful and committed to making people better.

"We have a passion and commitment to build bold goals."

Another area is spending on research and design. "We are spending $5-$6 billion next year alone on R&D, and this is increasing," said the chief executive and number two man at the world's leading software firm.

Ballmer said Microsoft has great and exciting ideas on how to change the world.

"We are in different businesses every year - client operating systems, tools for information workers, note-taking tools, servers and development tools, business services applications, home and entertainment applications, consumer productivity and information services, mobile devices (fit-in-pocket ones), storage, security etc.

"These are the context of how we'll grow."

Ballmer said the mission was to enable customers to do new things.

"Microsoft has increased focus on reliability and has made it a focus to understand the customer not just at the point of sale and then to forget about him - but to know them even before they get the software from us and to continue after it is sold. We sell to millions in all parts of the world."