Microsoft's Ballmer Headlines CES Keynotes [Slide Show]

"It seems like we've entered a time of reduced expectations," Steve Ballmer told a packed ballroom on the eve of this year's CES

ODE TO XBOX: The band Tripod provided a musical interlude during Ballmer's keynote. © Larry Greenemeier / Scientific American
GAME TIME: Microsoft president of the Entertainment & Devices Division Robbie Bach demonstrates Xbox Live Primetime, playing a few rounds of the TV show "1 vs. 100," which enables thousands of gamers to play together with real hosts and to compete for real prizes. © Larry Greenemeier / Scientific American
CHARLOTTE'S WEB: Charlotte Jones, Microsoft group product manager, demonstrates new features of Windows 7, Windows Live and Internet Explorer 8 during Ballmer's CES keynote. © Larry Greenemeier / Scientific American
LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: Microsoft did not make any blockbuster announcements at CES this year, but Ballmer touted the sale of 20 million Windows-based mobile phones in the past year. © Larry Greenemeier / Scientific American
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FULL HOUSE: He may not have had Slash join him on stage (a stunt that Bill Gates used in his final CES keynote a year ago), but Ballmer did draw a crowd for his keynote. © Larry Greenemeier / Scientific American
BIG SHOES TO FILL: Steve Ballmer was quick to acknowledge today's tough economic times, but stressed that this is no time to let investments or interest in technology flag. Microsoft, he said, spent $8 billion last year on research and development. © Larry Greenemeier / Scientific American

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