By making Microsoft Surface, the potential tablet and PC wunderkind, Microsoft was sort of, kind of acknowledging that PC Makers, Microsoft's hardware partners, suck at what they do. Which is sort of, kind of true. In order for Windows 8 to be great, Microsoft needed to make sure the hardware was just as great as the software, company partners be damned.
And that's exactly what Microsoft is doing. According to AllThingsD, Microsoft said:
"Our Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform."
In other discussions, Microsoft had made clear that it wanted its OEMs to be partners on a grand Windows 8 adventure, where Surface was just one among many equals. That sounded like lip service. Turns out, it was.
We haven't heard what every company is planning on doing in response to Surface, but it looks like some PC makers, like Samsung, will be doing their best to keep up with (or, hey, surpass!) Microsoft's vision. Ultimately, though, whether it pisses off its partners or not, Microsoft's ruthlessness with Surface is a good thing. The company needs to be on the front lines with great hardware to make sure that Windows 8 isn't ruined. [AllThingsD]
