I'm under the impression they were legally prohibited from "[giving] up on their OEMs 5 years sooner" due to US antitrust action. DOJ oversight ended in May 201

I'm under the impression they were legally prohibited from "[giving] up on their OEMs 5 years sooner" due to US antitrust action. DOJ oversight ended in May 2011 and the Surface line was announced in June 2012.