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The buzz at CES: What's Google and Microsoft up to?
GOOGLE EXPECTED TO ROLL OUT BIG, NEW INITIATIVE; meanwhile, Time Co-Person/Good Samaritan of the Year Bill Gates Gets SpotlightThe buzz is all about Google at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
With more than 2,500 exhibitors hawking their products and services in 1.5 million square feet of convention space, the annual consumer electronics show has become the place to influence the industry and impress the public.
Rumor control is already working overtime as reports surfaced Tuesday that Google will announce something dramatic -- a Google PC, maybe? -- when he addresses the CES later this week.
"People have been speculating about things like a Google Web browser or Google operating system," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director at Jupiter Research.
Google spokeswoman Eileen Rodriguez quickly shot down a report that the Mountain View company planned to sell a low-priced personal computer through Wal-Mart Stores.
"We have many PC partners who serve their markets exceedingly well, and we see no need to enter the market," Rodriguez said in a statement.
Whatever it is, Google's announcement could upstage the Consumer Electronics Show's traditional stars -- Microsoft's Bill Gates, Intel's Paul Otellini and scores of other tech industry leaders who make the pilgrimage to Las Vegas every year to publicize their products. Speaking of Bill Gates...
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates often likes to use the CES to unveil high-concept gadgets running Windows software.But Gates stepped to the podium in Las Vegas last night with a higher calling: to pitch Windows itself.
What's on his mind for 2006 and Microsoft?
"2005 was a big year (for Microsoft). 2006 will be an even bigger year, with Vista coming out and Office 12 and the realization of the Media Center PC as a mainstream product," Gates said.
More from the CES to come...
full Google/CES story
full Bill Gates/CES story
posted by Unknown @ Thursday, January 05, 2006,
