HN user
The real problem and challenge of the issue (especially in terms of litigation) is taking the power away from PAEs but also not taking the power out of our patent system.
The fact that our system allows folks to invent but not manufacture led to substantial growth in our country and also to the entrepreneurial culture we all enjoy.
PAEs are abusing this and absolutely need to be stopped.
For Surface to be successful, it needs to become its own brand. Judging by Surface General Manager Brian Hall's comments in this article, that's going to be hard to do.
He says MSFT has to compare Surface to iPad in order for people to pay attention (1), but that MSFT is in a "tough position" (aka not going to be successful) if everyone looks at the market through the lens of an iPad (2).
Quite a problem when your solution (comparing to iPad) is part of the problem (all everyone thinks about is iPad).
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Quotes:
(1) "Because iPad has such a strong awareness and understanding in the tablet market, it's important for us to start to compare more with iPad"
(2) "If everybody just looks at the market through the lens of an iPad, that obviously is a tougher position for us," explains Hall. "For us we need more people using Surfaces, so that they can explain the benefits."