Kazriko:

A version of Windows 7 would need a major recode of most of the .net and directx features. I would say it's

do able. Right now, the Arm chip has multicores, graphics, better power management and larger cache now.

Right now they can build a multi chip solution that can be as good as med range CPU and GPU. It's most

likely to happen with in the next 2 years. The part that will take the longest is the coding for the new parts

of the OS.

Windows Mobile is dead, but who knows about Windows Phone

after protection plan $900.00

I agree, I also want a full blown PC.

Not everybody does. There are many options in operating systems for the somewhat experienced in computers. And almost none for those with no inclination to learn about the workings of their computers. The later are multitude, make something usable and afordable for them and it will be a hit.

I certainly would not use my car if I had to know about it as much as I know in order to use a computer with Windows or Linux.

Various phones use it currently. No apple phones include it by default, though some people have ported android to iphone.

Some manufacturers are also porting Android to Tablets, though none are yet released that I know of.

HP Slate Tablets were killed off by HP. Instead, they purchased Palm, the company that makes WebOS, and are making WebOS tablets.

I hate macs and I love PC's but i have an Ipad and I love it.  For the exact reasons Brad illustrated in his starting post "Speed".  Its just so easy to use and quick and convenient.  Would I use it for extended use (like work) no way but for easy/quick access information or even possibly a quick game while i wait at the doctors office nothing beats it.

Seems to me like a lot of people read Brad's post and then immediately put on their Apple Fan Suit or their Apple Hatred Suit and went to town on this thread and in the process completely missed his point.  

Remove Apple from the discussion.  An appliance like device that is portable, very low maintenance, instant on, and can do most digital media consumption functions is a threat to the Window's portable and home computing market share.  True or False?  

I don't see how you can argue it's false.  Many people don't use their laptops/netbooks/desktops for anything but digital media consumption.  Once iPad-like devices are passed the "shiny and new" expensive phase (where many average users are suspicious of getting into the "new" thing), many people will replace their current (or maybe next) generation of laptop with something like the iPad.  Why wouldn't they? If all you do is screw around on the internet, facebook, twitter, check email, and watch movies or listen to music on your laptop something like the iPad (especially after a few generations of improvements) will beat an OSX or Win7/Vista/XP hands down.  If that person also has an e-reader of some sort, they can (or will be able to) replace two devices with one.

If you do more complex things (gaming, serious writing, digital content creation) you'll still have a desktop or beefy laptop. 

I currently use an Asus UL80V running Win7 as my consumption device and love it precisely because it does well many of the things an iPad does well.  It's battery lasts forever, its rock solid coming out of sleep, I never have hardware failures, and it has the added benefit of having switchable graphics for when I want to play some TBS style games.  In my case I make trade offs (it's not as good as an iPad at the iPad's strengths, but it's still got a lot of Win7 strengths).  Give it a generation or two when tablets can do more and I'll probably have one.

Though it would never be an Apple product. I despise the company and the way they treat their customers.  Their business model certainly works, but I'll never buy into it.  

I think Brad's point that if Microsoft wants to compete for the content consumption market they need to come up with a seriously streamlined OS of some sort is spot on and will only become more glaring as WebOS, Android, and Apple put a few generations of their devices out.  

I don't think tablet devices are there yet... at least not the Ipad and the others that are due to be released in the next couple years. Mid-range laptops still beat 'em good for most users (school, work, pleasure, you name it). I think phones are making bigger leaps and are more likely to steal market away from Desktop-based activities.

AT&T being the major provider in my area (and Verizon using old tech that can't be used overseas) I've been with Cingular/AT&T for a long time, and I broke down last year and got an Iphone, and it is absolutely great. I'm planning on giving the response from Windows a shot with my 2nd line once they release that, but the Iphone really does a fantastic job at fulfilling most of my basic computing needs.

For bigger jobs there is the laptop, and for more gpu-intensive activities there is the desktop. But I don't understand the rabid apple-hate when it comes to Iphones (and Ipads, though to me... right now... it's just an oversized Iphone that doesn't make calls)... they are fantastic pieces of tech, and while there are drawbacks (multi-tasking is finally in as of last week's update), the positives more than make up for it. Android phones are great, too, but for the average user they don't do that much more, and you sacrifice ease of use.

Have you seen the gorilla glass on the new Dell Streak? I'm not a dell fan but that is really cool. Can't wait until we see some quality webOS and Android slates coming in and blowing the Ipad's away.

If what Paul Thurrott says here is true of what we can expect to see in Windows 8 is true - such as sensors to turn on the PC and log in when a user enters the room, etc - then iPad's threat to Windows may not be all that Apple would like it to be.

Since the anti-trust thing a few years back, Microsoft may not manufacture hardware, but it sure looks like the software giant is seeking to arm its hardware partners with an OS to give Apple appliances a good run for their money.

Buying one today - the software vendor now has the business app I use running on it.

i'm in no rush to keep up with technology,i do enjoy seeing it expand..i will continue to mess with PCs and use windows,linux,and whatever else comes along..

Runs Windows hosted environment, EHR app, MS Word & Excel without a hitch.  Wi-Fi only, don't anticipate need for 3G (and its data plan), but the remote desktop access & app work on 3G as well.  Will be taking it on its real-world shake-down this week.  Only current defect is lack of printing capability, but Jobs has said the next software update will enable printing.

I think they've seriously underestimated its potential.