And this is the problem with Microsoft's success, or at least how the company chooses to deal with its success. Except for a couple of isolated examples, it doesn't know how to turn the aircraft carrier. That's why .

One , John Gruber noted that the right way to play the game is to be the one to replace your own products. If you sit on something too long, you run the risk that someone else is going to do the job for you. Microsoft tried to do it right with Windows Phone 7, it just got a late start.

The company often seems to have a problem telling people "no"--an issue that Apple has never had. Apple tells of people "no." No, you're not getting a floppy drive. No, you're not getting a physical keyboard on our cell phone. No, we're not crapping up our mobile devices with Flash. No, for that last time, we're not porting HyperCard to OS X, it's been 11 years, will you just drop it already, UGH, JEEZ?!

If you want a ride to the future, there are two ways to get there. One is to catch a ride in the race car Apple's driving and accept the fact that, for the pleasure of a nice ride, you're going to have to pay the tolls along the road. Otherwise, you can catch the Microsoft bus. They don't make you pay the tolls but the bus stops .

It'll be interesting to see if any silly pundits bite on this being an "iPad killer." The Macalope suspects those people have now been burned too many times, but you never know. Dumb springs eternal. The Macalope's so old he remembers being told . Of course that was only three years ago, but he is at least that old.