Suddenly, it was 1998 all over again for Microsoft.

 

The company's new Windows 8-powered Surface tablet appeared to crash during a demonstration by Microsoft's Windows president Steve Sinofsky.

 

A video of the demo showed Sinofsky demonstrating the tablet's Internet Explorer 10 browser when it appeared to lock up, eventually forcing Sinofsky to get a working unit before continuing his demo.

 

The video posted on YouTube has had more than 2.3 million hits as of 5 p.m. Saturday, Manila time.

 

"Granted, Windows president Steven Sinofsky handles it well, despite a vague sound of panic in his voice as he frantically and repeatedly pushes the Windows 'home' button," tech site CNET reported.

 

But it said that "just over one minute of awkwardness" may have sent Microsoft back 14 years, when the company demonstrated its then new Windows 98.

 

Microsoft is expected to start selling Windows 8 later this year.

 

The new Windows 8 OS is a departure of sorts from its predecessors, in that it can be used for tablets and for devices running ARM processors. — TJD, GMA News