Microsoft has laid down the foundations for what its CEO, Steve Ballmer, once described as the company's "
riskiest product bet." Many Microsoft watchers assume that Metro style apps could be the tough sell for Windows 8, but what about the companies that create the hardware Windows runs on — aren't they the riskiest aspect for Microsoft towards its Windows tablet adoption?
Apple’s iPad (including the
discounted, best-selling iPad 2) has had very little credible competition from the likes of Android tablet makers, who have struggled to compete on price and hardware quality. The majority of these same manufacturers will be responsible for building Microsoft's Windows 8 ARM (Windows RT) tablets.
