>>>>>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.

MS doesn't seem to react fast sometimes. It took three versions of iPad and a gazillions other kind of tablets before they realize there is a market there.