>>>>There are some fundamental differences between the two products.
>>>>
>>>>Phones are really built by third parties and branded by them. HTC, Samsung, etc. Then co-branded for the carrier. Microsoft only makes the OS. How many times have you seen a Google ad for an Android phone from HTC or Samsung?
>>>
>>>A zillion. Heck just go to the google website.
>>>http://www.google.com/nexus/
>>>
>>>or the google store
>>>https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=galaxy_nexus_hspa
>>>
>>>>With Surface, both the hardware and OS are Microsoft branded. You won't see a Surface tablet from Dell or HP. (That's not to say they won't copy the design, but the name "Surface" is a Microsoft hardware product) So, Microsoft will have to do some marketing. This is the Apple strategy.
>>>
>>>Agreed. And this formula has resulted in Apple having a rather small portion of the market until recently.
>>>
>>>>I've heard some reports (MaryJoFoley, for example) that Barnes & Noble will not only sell books, but will also feature a Microsoft store inside. That could bolster sales of both Windows tablets and phones.
>>>
>>>Really? off to a brilliant start I see!...after all you know how stable, solid and growing all those brick & mortar book stores all. Great idea - lets open up some shops inside some stores that are dropping like flies.
>>>
>>>>>Hopefully their marketing strategy will be better for this new toy (which looks really cool) than for the phones.
>>>
>>>I keep looking for some more detailed specs on this thing but I guess none released yet. This thing better have a webcam to two built into it or I'll be really pissed..ha
>>
>>According to reports it has front and rear webcams. Looks like 64Gig for starters.
>>
>>Supposed to be an ARM platform in the first release, then Intel.
>
>I hope it won't cost an ARM and a leg <g>

That is indeed the big question - how much is the darn thing gonna cost? They need to keep the cost of the intel version less than the cost of an iPad or it will probably flop - especially considering the huge selection of under $150 Android tablets that are available now.