I’ve been thinking in my spare moments today on what to post regarding Microsoft’s announcement of their soon to be released Surface Tablet. Sure, it was an exciting announcement filled with the secrecy usually only reserved for cool hip companies like Apple, and sure it innovates in some areas Apple has chosen to ignore, but what is Surface in the big scheme of things?


I think the answer to that question will play out over the next 9 months. By Spring next year we’ll look back and have a pretty good idea whether this was a good idea. Is it Microsoft’s ultimate bet hedge against less than desirable OEM designs coming down the pipeline? Or was it the first time that Microsoft’s OEMs lack so much market share in a device category that Microsoft feels somewhat excused for coming in and directly competing with their customers? Either way, I’m not sure it matters much now. Now that the decisions have been made, the product announced, it’s down to brass tacks. The Surface will have to compete on it’s own merits against heavyweights such as the iPad, and low cost alternatives like the Kindle.


So I leave you with three videos each telling their own Surface story. First, one by Microsoft, Second, one by Niveus, and Third, one that reminds us that before yesterday, Surface was just a big ass table shown at trade shows

Video #1: The New Microsoft Surface (Microsoft Advertisement)

Video #2: Microsoft Surface Preview – Niveus Connected Platform (Leaked by Niveus Ministry of Propaganda)
(Disclaimer – Due to NDAs – Niveus had to use a tablet body double in the filming of this video)

Video #3: The Original Microsoft Surface (3rd Party Parody)