Microsoft's Chief Executive Steven Ballmer and other Microsoft executives repeatedly used the words "no compromises" to describe the tablet computers they envision running Windows 8 and Windows RT—meaning that users will be able to use work-oriented tools like Microsoft Word and Excel programs, not just be use this device for watching movies and surfing the Web.
Mr. Ballmer wrapped up the event in less than an hour with this sentiment about the tablet, "The Surface is a PC, the Surface is a tablet and the Surface is something new that we think people will really love."