There are two dovetailing things going here. # 1 is Windows' part in the disruptive innovation curve which I think touch OSs are clearly following. In the begi

There are two dovetailing things going here. # 1 is Windows' part in the disruptive innovation curve which I think touch OSs are clearly following. In the beginning new technology is not directly competing with other players in the category. It is drawing marketing share from non-consupmtion. That's been most of what mobile has gobbled up to now. Then comes low & mid end consumption come next. We're seeing some of that already. People bringing a tablet on business trips when they would have brought a laptop 2 years ago. Windows seem to be trying to "catch" tablets on their way to "high quality use" on the disruption curve. "Primary computers" used by professionals, students & such. Current Android/iOS devices are not really ready for these uses so they have some time. If they can get enterprise on to Windows machines, they may be able to build a moat (or at least some basic battlements). # 2 is Microsoft's lipstick-on-a-pig marketing. Marketing fundamentals like product segmentation, branding, naming, pricing. MS have never been smooth with that kind of stuff. "Windows Home Office for Students (noncommercial use only)" has always felt like a contrived afterthought. I'm sure it's well researched and functional, but it's not elegant. When you don't have the elegance at the more fundamental level of marketing it's harder to communicate. So Windows RT/Metro/Surface/Phone/Touch/8 is not going to be understood by consumers until they start using is. If it was another company, Id say they're doomed. But Microsoft are stubborn and resilient. They may do it.