Steve Ballmer confirmed that Microsoft would be launching a series of Windows-based tablet-style computers. Microsoft is set to release a series of Windows-based, tablet-style computers this year as it seeks to see off the challenge posed by Apple’s iPad. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, told delegates at the company’s annual worldwide partner conference that they would find the range of devices “quite impressive”. Five 'iPad killers' "This year one of the most important things that we will do in the smart device category is really push forward with Windows 7-based slates and Windows 7 phones," he said. "Over the course of the next several months you will see a range of Windows 7-based slates that I think you'll find quite impressive. This is a terribly important area for us. We are hard-core about this." Asus, Dell, Samsung, Toshiba and Sony are among the consumer electronics companies that will be making Windows-based slates, he confirmed. "They'll come with keyboards, they'll come without keyboards, they'll be dockable, there'll be many form factors, many price points, many sizes," said Ballmer. "But they will all run Windows 7. They will run Windows 7 applications. They will run Office." Microsoft is keen not lose out to Apple in the portable computing market. Ballmer acknowledged that Microsoft had already failed to keep pace with the likes of Apple and Google in the mobile phone space, and that its Windows Mobile operating system had “missed a generation” in terms of its features and functionality. Ballmer said that would be rectified with the launch of the first Windows Phone 7 handsets later this year. "I think we will give you a set of Windows-based devices people will be proud to carry,” he told delegates. Apple has sold more than three million iPads since the device went on sale in April, prompting competitors to launch their own tablet-style computers. Dell launched the Streak, a tablet running Google’s Android operating system, and others are also experimenting with the “slate” form factor. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it had ended development of the Courier, a tablet-style device that some had seen as a potential rival to Apple's iPad. Stay up-to-date with WPC 2010 events and keynote speeches 
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