Staffa - 5:32 pm on Jun 21, 2012 (gmt 0)

I'd say, it all still hangs in the balance depending on how MS' hardware partners will react after having been kept in the dark about MS developing a tablet

Microsoft kept PC partners in dark about Surface [reuters.com]

Microsoft Corp kept its personal computer partners largely in the dark about its plans to launch a competing tablet computer, with some long-time collaborators learning of the new gadget only days before its unveiling

and if Acer founder Stan Shih knows more than the others (or most)

Microsoft own-brand tablet PCs a ploy to drive Windows 8 adoption, says Acer founder [digitimes.com]

has commented that Microsoft has no real intention to sell own-brand tablet PCs and the offering is an ploy to boost adoption of Windows 8.