Microsoft's latest software-to-software message is overshadowed by a two-pound prototype of one of its next-generation form factors.
Even when it comes to a Bill Gates keynote, gee-whiz hardware upstages software every time with the Comdex/Fall '00 crowd.
Sunday night proved no exception.
Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) chairman and chief software architect spent the vast majority of his more than 90-minute keynote outlining Microsoft's view of the future software-to-software development paradigm centered around Microsoft .Net.
But the 11,000 attendees seemed to be most impressed by Microsoft's demonstration of a future Tablet PC form factor. Microsoft said its partners wouldn't ship a Windows-based tablet until 2002 at the earliest.
The tablet prototype, which Gates called "the ultimate .Net client," used electronic ink technology that will allow users to write directly on the tablet screen, like they do today with paper. The ink and screen technologies in the tablet will allow users to do everything from search their handwritten notes, to open up screen space to add annotations at a later date.
Gates focused on presenting a case for why tablets and other hardware devices will require a fully featured operating system and suite of applications -- not the browser-based client espoused by many in the high-tech industry.
