At his keynote speech, Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is likely to show off a tablet PC.  According to the New York Times, in any case. Reports say that the machine will be made by Hewlett Packard and will be available in the middle of the year.

According to the newspaper, Ballmer will unveil the tablet as an e-reader and an all-round multimedia device. That’s more or less what Apple is likely to announce in a few weeks with it’s “iSlate” tablet.

This won’t be the first time Microsoft has touted the concept of a PC tablet and pushed it with all of its might. It’s been promoting its concept for more than fifteen years, but has so far failed to make little impact on the market with the device.

Apple, as with Google’s Nexus One smart phone, announced yesterday, is likely to shrug its shoulders at attempts by Microsoft to steal its thunder. It’s something of a tradition for Microsoft to announce products at keynote speeches in CES without them necessarily making waves in the future.

A former top Google executive from China wrote in his blog that Apple expects to sell 10 million tablet’s in its first year out.  That’s 10 Billion dollars just from that device alone, Cha-Ching!  He also offered specifics about the hardware, and said Steve Jobs will release the tablet in January.

Lee is currently the head of Innovation Works, a company that has been funded , in part, by Foxconn Technology Group.  Foxconn is a major player in Apple products providing; cables, connectors, and other delicate parts which are used to build ipods, iphones, and now it sounds like tablets.  Lee said he was told the 10-million-tablets figure by a friend familiar with the project.

Lee additionally wrote that the device will feature a 10.1-inch multitouch screen with 3G graphics, essentially looking like a giant iPhone, and will cost about $1000.

Will the new Apple tablet be called the iSlate?  There seems to be some of evidence that Apple’s interested in using that name, however it’s not definitive proof that the tablet will get the new nickname. It might just be Apple’s way of taking the name to keep anyone else from using it.  Imagine that!

There does seem to be some logic in the name “iSlate”, however, if we assume that the Apple tablet is more akin to a giant iPod touch than a keyboardless iMac.  It would be crazy to think the name would not come with the popular “i” prefix and equaully as crazy if the word “tablet” was used.  This would bring to mind it’s form factor, input methods most associated with the failed Microsoft tablet PC.  The Apple tablet will most likely be completely different from the tablet PC, so why suggest a link with a similiar name?  Especially when you could use one of the many names already trademarked by Apple.

Foxconn Electronics, a division of Hon Hai Precision Industry, has been chosen as Apple’s partner to manufacture their new tablet PC. The tablet will have a 10.5 inch display (possibly secured from Foxconn subsidiary Innolux) and its focus will be more on the e-book market with functionality for small applications. It will feature extended battery life and easy internet connectivity that is extremely user friendly.

The Apple Tablet is expected to hit stores in the first quarter of 2010 and Foxconn has estimated an initial shipment of 300,000 – 400,000 units that will be quickly grabbed up by eager consumers. It is rumored that HP and other top PC manufactures are following suit with tablet PCs of their own.