???? 如果所有事情都能按照微軟的計(jì)劃,，按部就班地向前推進(jìn)，這款平板電腦就會(huì)轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)橐慌_(tái)筆記本電腦,。它所采用的功能完備的操作系統(tǒng),、與云應(yīng)用和傳統(tǒng)企業(yè)級(jí)軟件的協(xié)同運(yùn)作、再加上搭載Windows系統(tǒng),、能自動(dòng)同步的智能手機(jī),，這些都應(yīng)該會(huì)讓首席信息官們?yōu)橹畠A心。對(duì)獨(dú)立的Windows開(kāi)發(fā)者來(lái)說(shuō),，他們也同樣會(huì)心馳神往,。微軟認(rèn)證的開(kāi)發(fā)者已達(dá)數(shù)百萬(wàn)人（有人估計(jì)，全球至少有800萬(wàn)人）,。今年第4季度,，Windows 8就將正式發(fā)布。對(duì)開(kāi)發(fā)者來(lái)說(shuō),，有這么一個(gè)可供開(kāi)發(fā)的新平臺(tái)也是件賞心樂(lè)事,。

理由3：微軟的假想敵是筆記本電腦和谷歌，而絕不僅僅是iPad

????現(xiàn)在,，微軟為自己設(shè)定的目標(biāo)是,，開(kāi)發(fā)更輕、更便攜的設(shè)備,。2012年,，主要硬件供應(yīng)商已紛紛推出依托于英特爾公司（Intel）平臺(tái)架構(gòu)的“超極本”——即超輕、配置高端的筆記本電腦,，主要是模仿蘋(píng)果大獲成功的MacBook Air而來(lái),。而Surface可能會(huì)將這種競(jìng)爭(zhēng)推向縱深。托普羅斯基稱(chēng)：“盡管提到要推出混合型的產(chǎn)品，它將同時(shí)具備平板電腦和PC的功能,，但讓業(yè)界迄今還蒙在鼓里的是,，微軟究竟打算怎么利用Windows 8。但是Surface似乎使有關(guān)Windows 8的消息變得確鑿起來(lái),，并且它將這一不斷進(jìn)化的操作系統(tǒng)植入了一個(gè)合情合理的產(chǎn)品包中,。”

????谷歌（Google）則是這一競(jìng)爭(zhēng)方程式的第三個(gè)要素,。憑借安卓（Android）系統(tǒng),，谷歌通過(guò)大量原始設(shè)備制造商和電信運(yùn)營(yíng)商的銷(xiāo)售已賺得盆滿缽滿，但它還是無(wú)法撼動(dòng)iPad的霸主地位,。Surface可以和谷歌展開(kāi)較量，但還無(wú)法真正和iPad叫板,。來(lái)自券商Cowen & Company公司的分析師布萊恩?普羅姆稱(chēng)：“我們確信,，基于快速成型技術(shù)（RT-based，Rapid-tooling）的Surface平板電腦將只能算是iPad一個(gè)實(shí)力平平的挑戰(zhàn)者——鑒于其支持Office套件的能力,，這一點(diǎn)主要是針對(duì)企業(yè)級(jí)市場(chǎng)而言,。進(jìn)一步來(lái)看，因?yàn)閕Pad已證明,，即便它不支持Office套件,，照樣能夠廣受終端用戶的青睞，因此我們相信,，快速成型的平板電腦很有可能將蠶食企業(yè)級(jí)PC的市場(chǎng)（而不是iPad的市場(chǎng)）,。我們希望，Surface在拓展平板電腦市場(chǎng)上的表現(xiàn)要比Android的平板電腦截至目前的表現(xiàn)要更漂亮,?！?/p>

????一直以來(lái)，業(yè)界流傳著一個(gè)看法,，導(dǎo)致微軟落后于人的根本原因是鮑爾默緊抓著操作系統(tǒng)不放,，導(dǎo)致公司缺乏活力。但是現(xiàn)在開(kāi)辟的新方向?qū)⒋呱粋€(gè)完整的Windows生態(tài)系統(tǒng),，這可能會(huì)成為一臺(tái)導(dǎo)向成功的引擎,，讓微軟重新煥發(fā)勃勃生機(jī)。

????譯者：清遠(yuǎn)

????If everything goes according to Microsoft's plan, this tablet will have morphed into a laptop. A fully functioning operating system that works with cloud applications and legacy enterprise software, and Windows-based smart phones that synchronize should perk the ears of CIOs. Same goes for independent Windows developers. Microsoft's certified developers reach in to the millions (with at least one estimate coming in at 8 million globally). With Windows 8 on the 4Q horizon, a new toy to develop for is likely a good thing.

Reason #3: Microsoft's targets are the laptop and Google, not just the iPad

????Microsoft is setting itself up for lighter, more portable form factors. In 2012, the major hardware vendors have been pushing Intel-based (INTC) 'ultrabooks' -- the super light, high-end laptops modeled after the success of Apple's MacBook Air. The Surface will potentially push that even further. "Despite allusions to hybrid products that function as both tablet and PC, it's never been clear what Microsoft intended to do with Windows 8," wrote The Verge's Topolosky. "But the Surface seems to solidify the message of Windows 8, and it puts the evolving OS into a package that makes sense."

????Google (GOOG) is the third piece of this competitive equation. With Android, Google has multiple flavors being sold by a host of OEMs and mobile carriers, but hasn't bitten the iPad. Surface has a chance to compete with Google here, but not really the iPad. "We believe the RT-based Surface tablet will prove to be only a modest challenger to iPad - most specifically in the enterprise, given the device's support of Office," wrote analyst Bryan Prohm of Cowen and Company. "Moreover, because iPad has proven to be popular with end users despite lacking Office support, we believe RT-based tablets are most likely to cannibalize enterprise PC sales (not iPad sales). We expect the Surface will expand the tablet market more than Android tablets have to date."

????The argument that what has kept Microsoft behind as a company is Ballmer's grip on the OS and it's a stranglehold, but this new direction for a full Windows ecosystem may end up being the success engine that keeps it thriving.