"MS have tried doing tablets at least three times in the past and all have failed dismally."
...except they haven't. Microsoft don't manufacture tablet PCs. All they did was extend XP (and now Win7) so it could be used with a touchscreen and let the OEMs make tablets - not exactly a lot of outlay by Microsoft. The tablet format is unlikely to replace traditional desktop/laptop setups, but it still sells and Microsoft still make money from it.
Similarly, WinCE/WinMob have been used on small tablets. Again, Microsoft made money from these.
I suppose you could argue that the OEMs have "failed dismally" at making tablets, but then again, they have been making them for the best part of a decade now, and show no signs of stopping, so I guess they must be making money too...
All of which leaves me wondering why you think MS have "failed dismally" at "doing tablets" in the past... unless you know nothing about tablets, which would explain it.
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@Charles Manning
"MS have tried doing tablets at least three times in the past and all have failed dismally."
...except they haven't. Microsoft don't manufacture tablet PCs. All they did was extend XP (and now Win7) so it could be used with a touchscreen and let the OEMs make tablets - not exactly a lot of outlay by Microsoft. The tablet format is unlikely to replace traditional desktop/laptop setups, but it still sells and Microsoft still make money from it.
Similarly, WinCE/WinMob have been used on small tablets. Again, Microsoft made money from these.
I suppose you could argue that the OEMs have "failed dismally" at making tablets, but then again, they have been making them for the best part of a decade now, and show no signs of stopping, so I guess they must be making money too...
All of which leaves me wondering why you think MS have "failed dismally" at "doing tablets" in the past... unless you know nothing about tablets, which would explain it.