You see, Microsoft and their partners have had some interesting products in tablet form, and even modest evolution centered around Windows 7 should produce something compelling. So why is this thing so underwhelming to me? I actually like HPs other Tablet designs, and have almost bought that one in particular.

I refuse to nitpick an unreleased product, as it may be something cool yet, but if I was going to introduce a “new” device in the tablet mold, I would not introduce something thicker than laptops my biggest competitors have had released for over a year.

I try really hard not to look through Apple colored glasses, but this just reeks of trying to rain on a parade that hasn’t been announced, demoed, or released. Calling it a “slate” when for years these devices ran as “Tablet PCs” also says the same thing: they worry about a niche company (Apple has pretty small market share on all it’s products, with great profit margins offsetting this so-called problem) and try to counter something that doesn’t exist with something mediocre.

I hope I am very wrong about this, and all the touchy feely good stuff Microsoft put in Windows 7 works very well with light, thinner-than-it-looks hardware, whose battery will last more than 2 hours. I’m just not feeling it on this one. The good news is, Lenovo may be getting it right very soon. Too bad they use Linux/Android, not Windows.

So day 1 of CES, interesting but not compelling. Hoping for something to blow me away, and just not seeing it yet. Except for maybe the Panasonic 152″ TV. Wow.

I have been using Windows 7 since the first release candidate, and have decided it is my new favorite Microsoft OS. It is pleasant to use, the media center is fantastic enough to displace the mish-mash of programs that used to occupy that place in my living room, and the dock is seriously improved.

It also doesn’t annoy me the way Vista still does. There are many more things that make this the best Windows release yet, but Microsoft has to go all Tupperware on us and have us demonstrate our insane geekiness to friends and total strangers. By hosting a party to celebrate the launch of an operating system?

Can you imagine what kind of party this will end up being? For every actual cool one, I see 100 really sad ones, dragging the brand down, not highlighting what is great in this release. I understand that this launch is an event of great importance to Microsoft. I agree with that. They should have picked 4 or 5 huge cities, bankrolled some serious entertainment talent, put up some booths with their “Mac Genius” equivalents doing free upgrades, and advertise like crazy the good things in this OS.

Instead they are asking us nerds to host parties, the same nerds that never get invited to any. Brilliant.