Did it? Dash places the blame for Microsoft's "lost decade" on its settlement with the government, but if there's something in that settlement that precluded Microsoft from making hardware, the Macalope's not aware of it. And, to be fair, there's a lot in there he's not aware of, because reading an antitrust settlement is up there with watching a salt lick dissolve in the rain on the "riveting activities" list.

True, Steve Jobs headed up what is arguably the most remarkably innovative decade of any company in history. But it's worth noting that Microsoft was handcuffed that entire time.

By incompetence.

Sweaty, sweaty incompetence.

If anyone questioned whether Microsoft could get back in the fight once the cuffs finally came off, Surface should put those doubts to rest.