As rumored only hours before, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took the wraps off a new touchscreen tablet running Windows 7 during his CES keynote Wednesday night. Did they steal some of Apple’s tablet thunder?

As it turns out, not so much, according to AppleInsider. Dubbed a “slate PC” (not to be confused with the rumored -- and already trademarked -- “iSlate” name for Apple’s tablet), the HP device has a multi-touch screen with instant-on capabilities. Similar devices were also shown from hardware manufacturers Archos and Pegatron as well.

Ballmer’s demo of the HP slate PC had a bit of irony to it: He showed off the Amazon Kindle desktop application using the popular tween book “Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer -- the cover of which features a pair of hands cradling an apple.

If Microsoft and HP hoped to steal some of Apple’s pending thunder from the forthcoming Jan. 27 announcement, they probably should have tried a little harder: Most tech gurus and bloggers were disappointed that Ballmer didn’t show the Microsoft Courier instead.

Leaked as a concept in September of last year, the Microsoft Courier is rumored to be a dual-touchscreen device that folds up like a book. The project is being developed under the scrutiny of Microsoft’s chief experience officer, J. Allard.

Concept pictures and video leaked by Gizmodo at the time reveal that the Courier features two 7” screens joined by a hinge. The multi-touch screens are apparently designed for writing, with the ability to be controlled by either fingers or a stylus. The leaked prototype reportedly includes Wi-Fi, an iPhone-style home button, a camera and even an inductive charging pad similar to the Palm Pre’s Touchstone charger.

Ballmer’s keynote offered no clues to the existence of the Courier, but he did use the platform to announce that Windows 7 is the fastest selling operating system in history, with PC sales increasing 50% the week of its launch. The keynote can be viewed in its entirety on Microsoft’s CES website.