Windows 7 Tablets by Christmas, Windows 8 Optimized for Touch

Whether Microsoft will release touchscreen tablets that run on Windows Phone 7, as was reported earlier today, is still uncertain, but Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaking at an event in London told an audience that we should be seeing a Windows 7 tablet by the holidays. Microsoft’s foray into the consumer-centric tablet market will place the Windows operating system in competitive arenas with mobile operating systems from Apple and Google.

Ballmer did not elaborate on whether these slates with Windows 7 would be available for consumer purchase, or if they’ll be refined prototypes or pre-production models. However, Ballmer did say that Windows 8, the next-generation desktop operating system from Microsoft, will have touch optimizations for better tablet functionality.