I'm the Prognosticator

For the first time since IBM PCs burst onto the scene, Microsoft & their hardware partners have a machine - at least in prototype - that looks sleeker than its Apple counterpart.  In my opinion.

Surface. 

What the Windows machine has to include - and looks like it does:

1. A touchscreen at least as friendly as the iOS & Droid counterparts, i.e., intuitive multi-touch
2. Operable as a tablet only or with a keyboard - and the keyboard comes standard
3. Runs onboard Office
4. Will run at least 98% of legacy WinPC apps going back to XP
5. Is friendly to Google and all of the Google apps
6. Can print locally as well as from the Cloud - with simple setup
7. Has full-size USB 3.0 port(s)
8. Has GPS
9. Priced competitively
10. Built-in Classic menus with - yep, I'm asking for it, most will as well - the Start Button & Menu

So that's my short list.  I like what I've seen so far.

Here's a report from Good Morning Silicon Valley. Pictures, too, from Mercury News. Release info from Redmond Magazine, and then a review of Win8 running on an iPad from Redmond Magazine, also.