Microsoft's (MSFT) New Tablet Could Change PC Landscape...for Good or Bad

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) shares are outperforming the stock market again Thursday as exuberance for the company's upcoming Windows 8 platform continues to sizzle. In addition to the introduction of its first PC (in tablet form), the company also unveiled its upcoming Windows Phone 8 this week.

On Thursday morning, Digitimes gave a few reasons why Microsoft chose to launch the Surface:

• to ensure Windows RT-based products ended up in the retail channel as scheduled;
  
• to take a lead role in defining and directing where Windows-based tablet PCs will go in the future; and
  
• to stimulate OEM partners to increase competitiveness and better products.

Microsoft's efforts will obviously also affect the PC industry, but whether the impact is a good or bad one will depend on one thing: sales.

Should Windows RT-based devices catch on, its likely that OEMs will step up their game to push the OS on to future offerings.

If Windows RT is a tougher sell, then Microsoft might just take PC development into its own hands, gradually changing its business model to hardware and negatively impacting the PC industry.

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Microsoft's (MSFT) next-quarter guidance may be 'prudent' - Jefferies
• European stocks rise; Tesla earnings boost global sentiment
• Bank of America analysts say this stock will lead the aerospace renaissance