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The Facts:
- For a long time Microsoft has said windows 8 will have a tablet mode.
- A few years after the iPod came out, Microsoft came out with a copy called the zune.
- A few years after the iPhone Microsoft partnered with Nokia and other OEMs to come out with a copy of the iPhone.
- The Keyboard cover idea isn't new http://uk.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101/
- The magnetic cover isn't new
The result:
This press conference was expected and what was announced wasn't surprising.
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How was this tablet a "Knock out of the park"? It seems to be more like a base hit. Microsoft made a base hit with the Zune and it went no where. We will have to see where this base hit goes.
All that said, it seems like this product is up to the caliber of Zune, which was a decent piece of hardware. I am sure creating this tablet was hard for Microsoft. And they seem to have captured the interest of many people. However, this mix of design and interest didn't result in success for Zune. So we will just have to see what happens next. Either way It's great to see some competition for Apple. Competition is always a win for the consumer.