Chief executive officer of Microsoft has got rid of numerous traditional office appliances such as pens, notepapers and a telephone. What he uses is a 80" "tablet" personal computer powered by Windows 9, which is not an exclusively built gadget, but is a prototype of a product that Microsoft actually wants to sell.

"Steve Ballmer has an 80" Windows 8 tablet in his office. He has got rid of his phone, he has got rid of his note paper. It is touch-enabled and it is hung on his wall. It is his whiteboard, his email machine and it is a device we're going to sell," said Frank Shaw, vice president of communications at Microsoft, in an interview with Wired.

Nothing particular was revealed about the device (e.g., what resolution does it have and what processor and graphics adapter does it run?), the only thing clear is that it is neither Microsoft's well-known Surface or recently announced Sharp Aquos Board. Still, this is a prototype of a device that replaced conventional office equipment and redefines what is currently known as office work.

When the product will be finalized, it will become commercially available, but Microsoft claims it will not be a consumer product at least initially. On the other hand, once something valuable and not too special-purpose is released, it finds its way to the consumer in case it is universal enough for the masses.

"It is not a consumer thing now, but we know historically that that's how all things start. The idea that there should be a screen that's not a computer, we will laugh at that in two years. Every screen should be touch, every screen should be a computer and should be able to see out as well as see in. That is the way the world is heading [and] those screens are going to be big, small, wall-sized and desk-sized," added Mr. Shaw.

Microsoft Windows 8 will be available later this year in three versions. When wall-mounted "tablets" with 80" screens are available is absolutely unknown.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows, Windows 8, Surface