Bill Gates on Surface

Bill Gates (via CNET), interpreted:

I actually believe you can have the best of both worlds. You can have a rich ecosystem of manufacturers and you can have a few signature devices that show off, you know, wow, what's the difference between a tablet and a PC.

Translation: Our OEMs blew it. We can do better, but I don't want to just come out and say that. But I kind of will anyway. In related news, you can have your cake and eat it too.

You don't have to make a compromise. You can have everything you like about a tablet and everything you like about a PC all in one device. And so that should change the way people look at things.

Translation: Yes, we've been trying the same approach since 2002 and no, we do not see a problem with that. Also, we are courting Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis to join Steve Ballmer as co-co-co-CEOs.

There were a few things that could have been done differently to bring it (a Microsoft tablet) to critical mass...

Translation: We should have waited to see what Apple would do from the beginning. Than added a kickstand.

I'm sure Apple is terrified.