Ballmer, Microsoft bid CES adieu (photos)

The crowd turns out to see Microsoft and CEO Steve Ballmer say goodbye to CES--this was the company's last keynote at the confab.

CES CEO Gary Shapiro gets nostalgic with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, as Ballmer gets set to bid adieu to CES on behalf of his company.

Shapiro presents Ballmer with a collage of Microsoft moments from over the years at CES.

Interviewee Ballmer rushes over to hug interviewer Ryan Seacrest...

...and accomplishes the clinch.

But seriously, folks.

Speaking of business, Windows Phone (and its Metro interface) are the first order of it.

"Ryan, I just have this nagging sensation that someone's trying to get in touch with me somehow..."

"So these two guys walk into a keynote..."

Tami Reller, chief marketing officer for the Windows group, talks up Windows-based ultrabooks.

A choir sang audience tweets.

If the blue one's Cookie, the green one's gotta be Oscar, right?

The young lady on the right got to play with the Xbox and Kinect...

...and beam herself into an interactive episode of Sesame Street. Elmo is tickled.

Basically, Ryan, me and Microsoft are outta here. Know what I mean?

"Ohhh, I want to say it so badly: Develo-- No, I mean, Windows, Windows, Windows; Metro, Metro, Metro!"

Ballmer and Microsoft ride off into the sunset, leaving CES to its own devices.