Microsoft has until now kept itself confined to manufacturing
gaming consoles or computer
peripherals, such as keyboards and mice, though the Surface brings the Richmond based company into developing
consumer oriented computing devices in the high stakes tablet segment.
Admittedly, Microsoft returned the favour with Kinect, but even that's a mark in the Xbox 360's favour: its motion sensor became the fastest - selling
consumer electronic device in history, and Microsoft releasing it as a
peripheral meant it did so without compromising the console's strengths in traditional «hardcore»
gaming.