Brooke Crothers: “That tablet thing? Yeah, we’ll get back to you on that.” That’s a crude but fairly accurate encapsulation of the attitude Microsoft, Intel, and Advanced Micro Devices have toward the iPad and the tablet market in general.
Why the cavalier attitude? Before I defer to the opinion of an IDC analyst I interviewed (below), here’s one pretty obvious reason I’ll put forward. All three companies look at their revenue streams–traditional PC hardware and software on laptops, desktops, and servers–and come to the conclusion that the tablet is a marginal market. A deceptively accurate conclusion, because at this point in time–and even 12 months out–the tablet is marginal compared with the gargantuan laptop, desktop, and server markets…
