Microsoft refuses to be intimidated by Apple’s iPad

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer isn’t all that impressed with Apple’s so-called “magical” iPad.

“[Yes], Apple’s done an interesting job. And they’ve [certainly] sold more than I’d like them to sell,” Ballmer acknowledged during an analysts meeting in Redmond.

“[But], I don’t think there is one size that fits all…I’ve [attended] too many meetings with journalists who spent the first 10 minutes of the meeting setting up iPad to look like a laptop.”

Ballmer explained that Windows-based tablets, powered by Intel’s next-gen “Oak Trail” processor, would undoubtedly provide consumers (and itinerant hacks) with a viable alternative.

We’ve got to make things happen,” Ballmer enthused. “And we’re in the process of doing that right now.”

He added that the tablet market would experience a “lot of cacophony” as manufacturers introduced Windows specific devices.

“We’ve got the application base, we’ve got the user familiarity, we’ve got everything in our favor.”