[adorno]

You’d do well to study the story of the fall of Osborne Computer and how their “trial balloon”, as you call it, or an early announcement of a product that didn’t yet exist, in other words vaporware, contributed to the fall of the company.

I'm quite aware of the Osborne fall, and what brought it about.

But, one thing that you are conveniently forgetting to notice, is that, what Osborne did, is not the same situation with what Microsoft has done. The Surface is a real product, even if it's not available to the general public yet, or to businesses. It wasn't just an announcement. There are millions of people, right now, using Windows 8, including myself, which is the major component of the Surface tablets. The hardware is probably the easier part for the whole ecosystem. So, your historical example, doesn't jive with the current announcement. It's real, even if you can't bring yourself to accept it.

[Revolting cat!]

The Osborne announcement concerned a real product too, as I recall.

What I disagree with you on, referring to your previous post, is that the Microsoft announcement was a matter of fact trial balloon, a common occurrence in business, as you stated. Unless you are connected with Microsoft and have inside knowledge, then you know as much as the rest of us do, and can only speculate, OK?

I think the trial balloon period in the case of Surface has passed, and that Microsoft, having conducted focus groups has developed this product in response to its research, and now is attempting to corner the market, that is to say, by announcing a tablet that is “revolutionary” because it includes, GASP! a keyboard and runs Windows, they are encouraging consumers to delay their purchase decisions and wait for the real thing.

I don’t condemn them for it, or argue that the iPad or the Samsung product is better, I have no loyalties to toys of any kind.