Microsoft will display a beta version of Windows XP next week that will run on tablet PCs, a new breed of computers that have touch screens and can read handwriting. According to sources close to the company, Microsoft will unveil details of the new operating system at next week's TechXNY trade show in New York as it assists manufacturers in having the machines on store shelves by October. The announcement will likely come during a Tuesday morning keynote by Jeff Raikes, group vice president for productivity and business services at Microsoft.

Tablet PCs, in their most generic form, are modified notebooks: They will weigh about three to four pounds, can connect to the Internet wirelessly, and may or may not include keyboards. Unlike notebooks, though, tablet PCs will come loaded with new applications, such as Microsoft Journal, that let users input words or drawings into the computer by writing on the screen. Microsoft "has really tried to make it like writing on a piece of paper," said one source, who requested anonymity. Microsoft, which will not build the machines, could not be reached for comment.