This is a game changer for MSFT. For the last 25years they have let the OEMs take the risk, whether Dell/HP/IBM win or lose in the market - MSFT gets it's rev

This is a game changer for MSFT. For the last 25years they have let the OEMs take the risk, whether Dell/HP/IBM win or lose in the market - MSFT gets it's revenue. But this led to them losing control of the experience - as we saw with them watering down the "Vista capable" requirements to give OEMs a break on their cheap machines. In the consumer market this really hurt them: Windows + crap $300 Walmart laptop = Windows is crap. At least in the mind of the consumer looking at Apple's shiny toys. So even if Windows 7 is a better or more capable OS than iPad the overall experience of a Windows7 Starter edition on a netbook certainly isn't. Whether MSFT build this, or make OEMs step up their quality - the new game is that users experience has to be a lot better. unless MSFT want to try and live on declining revenues from Office licenses and MS-Server CALS