What is Microsoft going to put in the stores?  Slow-boot PCs, laptops, and underpowered netbooks?  Microsoft is embarrassingly behind the curve.  And after a Microsoft VP declared that iPads were a fad, the Microsoft customer base is either very concerned or looking elsewhere.  I feel bad for the front line MS employees that are trying to sell a slate form-factor when there is nothing to sell.  The usual vaporware and copycat business model cannot be sustained.