of software. Google, too, has made a big concession to Apple's approach, signaling with its acquisition of Motorola Mobility last year that it will also design its own devices.
For Microsoft, the decision to make its own tablet would once have been almost unthinkable. Microsoft swallowed the PC market in the 1980s and 1990s by letting any hardware maker pay licensing fees to put Windows on its machines. That business was so lucrative for Microsoft that there was no reason for the company to make its own PCs and compete for computer sales with its own partners.
The stunning success of Apple, now the most highly valued company in the world, has shown its rivals that they can no longer rely entirely on the business models that were so successful during an earlier era of the tech industry.
With the iPad, Apple coupled hardware and software together in an elegant package, producing longer battery life, a more responsive touch screen and other features competitors have not been able to match.
"If it's true them Microsoft in going to produce its own tablet, it's a major turning point for the company and shows just how breathtakingly the landscape has changed in a just a few years," said Brad Silver berg, a venture capitalist in Seattle and former Microsoft executive, who said he had no knowledge of the company's plans, "The stakes are enormous."
In the smartphone business, Google initially followed Microsoft's playbook by making its Android iterating system available to any hardware maker who wanted it, a move that helped turn Android into the top operating system for smart phones. The search company's hardware partners were fearless successful, though ,in selling Android tablets to the public, which were often criticized for being inferior to the iPad.
Last year though, Google announced plans to pay $12.5 billion to acquire Motorola Mobility, a maker of Android smart phones and tablets. That deal, which was completed last month, was swan as a big shift in strategy for Google that will help it create better Android smart phones and tablets.
Microsoft and Google are not entirely embracing Apple's approach. Even as they design their own devices, they both will continue to make their software available to hardware companies that want to base their products on them. Microsoft has already publicly demonstrate devices from hardware makers like Samsung running Windows 8, that next version of its operating system.
Microsoft has invited the media to an event in Los Angeles Monday afternoon, where it is expected to show its tabled device. The entertainment industry Web site the Wrap earlier reported that Microsoft planned to announce a tablet at the event.
For Microsoft, making a tablet is a risky venture. Even with the emerging competition form the iPad, Windows remains one of the greatest franchises the technology industry has known, accounting for $4.6 billion in sales during the most recently reported quarter. Those sales are rooted in Microsoft's alliance with its hardware partners. The plans could erode the commitment those partners have to Windows since Microsoft will effectively be competing with them for sales.
Also, Microsoft has a mixed track record in making hardware. It makes the popular Xbox360, but that device sustained years of losses and manufacturing problems before it became a success. Microsoft failed with the Zune, a music player that was designed to compete with the iPod.
Monday 18 June 2012
Microsoft Is Expected to Introduce a Tablet
For decades, Microsoft has made the software that runs a majority of the world's personal computers, leaving a gang of outside hardware companies to design the machines. Apple, its rival, makes it all.
Microsoft is about to concede that Apple may be onto something.
On Monday, Microsoft is expected to introduce a tablet computer of its own design that runs a new version of its Windows operating system, according to people with knowledge of Microsoft's plans who declined to be identified discussing confidential matters. It is the first time in the company's 37-year history that it will offer a computer of its own creation. The device is aimed squarely at Apple's blockbuster iPad, which has begun to threaten Microsoft's hegemony in the computer business.
Microsoft's move is another example of how Apple has demonstrated that the most effective way to create easy-to- consumer gadgets is by building the whole package-upending the longstanding practice in the technology industry of companies' devoting their energies to either hardware 
of software. Google, too, has made a big concession to Apple's approach, signaling with its acquisition of Motorola Mobility last year that it will also design its own devices.
For Microsoft, the decision to make its own tablet would once have been almost unthinkable. Microsoft swallowed the PC market in the 1980s and 1990s by letting any hardware maker pay licensing fees to put Windows on its machines. That business was so lucrative for Microsoft that there was no reason for the company to make its own PCs and compete for computer sales with its own partners.
The stunning success of Apple, now the most highly valued company in the world, has shown its rivals that they can no longer rely entirely on the business models that were so successful during an earlier era of the tech industry.
With the iPad, Apple coupled hardware and software together in an elegant package, producing longer battery life, a more responsive touch screen and other features competitors have not been able to match.
"If it's true them Microsoft in going to produce its own tablet, it's a major turning point for the company and shows just how breathtakingly the landscape has changed in a just a few years," said Brad Silver berg, a venture capitalist in Seattle and former Microsoft executive, who said he had no knowledge of the company's plans, "The stakes are enormous."
In the smartphone business, Google initially followed Microsoft's playbook by making its Android iterating system available to any hardware maker who wanted it, a move that helped turn Android into the top operating system for smart phones. The search company's hardware partners were fearless successful, though ,in selling Android tablets to the public, which were often criticized for being inferior to the iPad.
Last year though, Google announced plans to pay $12.5 billion to acquire Motorola Mobility, a maker of Android smart phones and tablets. That deal, which was completed last month, was swan as a big shift in strategy for Google that will help it create better Android smart phones and tablets.
Microsoft and Google are not entirely embracing Apple's approach. Even as they design their own devices, they both will continue to make their software available to hardware companies that want to base their products on them. Microsoft has already publicly demonstrate devices from hardware makers like Samsung running Windows 8, that next version of its operating system.
Microsoft has invited the media to an event in Los Angeles Monday afternoon, where it is expected to show its tabled device. The entertainment industry Web site the Wrap earlier reported that Microsoft planned to announce a tablet at the event.
For Microsoft, making a tablet is a risky venture. Even with the emerging competition form the iPad, Windows remains one of the greatest franchises the technology industry has known, accounting for $4.6 billion in sales during the most recently reported quarter. Those sales are rooted in Microsoft's alliance with its hardware partners. The plans could erode the commitment those partners have to Windows since Microsoft will effectively be competing with them for sales.
Also, Microsoft has a mixed track record in making hardware. It makes the popular Xbox360, but that device sustained years of losses and manufacturing problems before it became a success. Microsoft failed with the Zune, a music player that was designed to compete with the iPod.
of software. Google, too, has made a big concession to Apple's approach, signaling with its acquisition of Motorola Mobility last year that it will also design its own devices.
For Microsoft, the decision to make its own tablet would once have been almost unthinkable. Microsoft swallowed the PC market in the 1980s and 1990s by letting any hardware maker pay licensing fees to put Windows on its machines. That business was so lucrative for Microsoft that there was no reason for the company to make its own PCs and compete for computer sales with its own partners.
The stunning success of Apple, now the most highly valued company in the world, has shown its rivals that they can no longer rely entirely on the business models that were so successful during an earlier era of the tech industry.
With the iPad, Apple coupled hardware and software together in an elegant package, producing longer battery life, a more responsive touch screen and other features competitors have not been able to match.
"If it's true them Microsoft in going to produce its own tablet, it's a major turning point for the company and shows just how breathtakingly the landscape has changed in a just a few years," said Brad Silver berg, a venture capitalist in Seattle and former Microsoft executive, who said he had no knowledge of the company's plans, "The stakes are enormous."
In the smartphone business, Google initially followed Microsoft's playbook by making its Android iterating system available to any hardware maker who wanted it, a move that helped turn Android into the top operating system for smart phones. The search company's hardware partners were fearless successful, though ,in selling Android tablets to the public, which were often criticized for being inferior to the iPad.
Last year though, Google announced plans to pay $12.5 billion to acquire Motorola Mobility, a maker of Android smart phones and tablets. That deal, which was completed last month, was swan as a big shift in strategy for Google that will help it create better Android smart phones and tablets.
Microsoft and Google are not entirely embracing Apple's approach. Even as they design their own devices, they both will continue to make their software available to hardware companies that want to base their products on them. Microsoft has already publicly demonstrate devices from hardware makers like Samsung running Windows 8, that next version of its operating system.
Microsoft has invited the media to an event in Los Angeles Monday afternoon, where it is expected to show its tabled device. The entertainment industry Web site the Wrap earlier reported that Microsoft planned to announce a tablet at the event.
For Microsoft, making a tablet is a risky venture. Even with the emerging competition form the iPad, Windows remains one of the greatest franchises the technology industry has known, accounting for $4.6 billion in sales during the most recently reported quarter. Those sales are rooted in Microsoft's alliance with its hardware partners. The plans could erode the commitment those partners have to Windows since Microsoft will effectively be competing with them for sales.
Also, Microsoft has a mixed track record in making hardware. It makes the popular Xbox360, but that device sustained years of losses and manufacturing problems before it became a success. Microsoft failed with the Zune, a music player that was designed to compete with the iPod.
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