Laptop Thoughts: What Direction Should Microsoft Take in the Tablet Space?

"Both Forrester Research and IDC analysts are banging the Microsoft tablet drum. They believe Microsoft can compete with the likes of Android, iOS/iPad, WebOS, but they need hardware partners in order to be successful — and there in lies the problem. HP is going full stream with WebOS after their decision to shelve its Windows Slate device (at least for now), Dell has been busy developing their own tablets running Android, and Lenovo has recently shifted to Android for its hybrid tablet/nettops."

In the past, Microsoft hasn't wanted to directly compete with the hardware partners selling their software. But if their normal hardware partners are not going to go after the tablet hardware space using Microsoft software, I think Microsoft should not have any qualms about going it alone. Market it as a consumer entertainment device, perhaps an expansion of the Zune/Xbox experience and grow from there.