MICROSOFT IS tackling the sticky issue of combining the functionality of several devices -- pagers, laptops, cell phones, and PDAs (personal digital assistants) -- into one unit.

This week, Microsoft President and CEO Steve Ballmer outlined the device, a PC tablet prototype that company officials stress is in the development stages and at least two years away from fruition. It would include the functions of a two-way pager, PDA, and notebook.

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