With Tablet, Microsoft Takes Aim at Hardware Missteps

Dell, the pioneering computer company that has struggled to match innovative mobile products from Apple, Google, and Samsung, is in talks to go private with help from prominent tech private equity firm Silver Lake Partners and software giant Microsoft, according to multiple reports. The deal, which would be valued at more than $20 billion, would be the largest leveraged buyout since the financial crisis, and would involve Microsoft kicking in as much as $3 billion.

Microsoft is putting pressure on its hardware partners with the announcement of its Surface tablet, and doing its best to make Windows 8 as attractive as possible, especially to business users.

(orbmiser)

Microsoft has reportedly sold less than 1.5 million Surface tablets, report Bloomberg's Ian King and Dina Bass.

Microsoft is in a world of hurt, says former executive Joachim Kempin.

TechCrunch submits: By John Biggs Yesterday, Microsoft’s Windows Phone president Andy Lees basically said that WinPho 7 (or any other version of Windows Phone) would not land on tablets any time soon. “We view the tablet as a PC,” he stated at a Worldwide Partners Conference. That’s kind of sad.

Most of the reviews for Microsoft's new tablet, the Surface Pro, weren't very good.  The common complaint was that Microsoft made far too many compromises in a device that wants to be a replacement for both your tablet and regular laptop.