Amid a slumping economy and a declining PC market, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates tried to make the case to the Comdex masses that technology’s best days are yet to come. Speaking at the opening of Comdex Fall 2001, Gates provided a concrete example with the Tablet PC, which uses a touch screen and a forthcoming version of Windows XP. The device, unveiled as a concept last year, was shown in prototype form Sunday with examples from Compaq Computer, NEC, Toshiba, Intel and others. One of the devices resembled an Etch A Sketch, while another looked more like a notebook PC with a screen that could be rotated to sit on top of the keyboard. Others were almost small enough to be considered handhelds. Microsoft also announced the name of the software that powers the Tablet PC: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet Edition. Gates said the company hopes the devices will be commercially available in 2002. “Next year I hope a lot of people in the audience will be taking their notes on a Tablet PC,” Gates said.
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