At 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday morning, Microsoft is going to take its best shot at convincing the world that its struggling Surface tablet isn't just a viable product, but a surefire hit that just needs a second chance to succeed.Mashable will be live blogging from the event space in New York City, and you can follow all the Surface 2 news along with us below.
For Microsoft, second chances usually only work with its core business: software. It's an old joke that only every other version of Windows is any good, with the intervening releases often flawed by too much ambition or experimentation (three guesses as to which side most people think Windows 8falls on).
SEE ALSO: The Problem With Windows 8
With hardware, though, the cycle isn't as clear. The Zune and Kin devices were unfortunate failures, as were Microsoft-led hardware initiatives such as Spot and UMPC. But the Xbox has been a tremendous success, and although Windows Phone is a distant third in the mobile marketplace, it has finally started to pick up speed this year.
That could suggest that the Surface tablets just need some upgrades, more varied hardware (read: smaller screens, please) and a marketing refresh to finally capture their fair share of the tablet market. All three are certainly on deck either today or in the coming weeks, but will it be enough to convince consumers to let a Windows 8 PC serve their tablet needs?
The answer to that probably has more to do with the platform than the hardware, but today the devices get center stage. Judging by what's expected, we're in for quite a show, with a good-size cast. The real key to revivals is making the old seem new again. For that, Microsoft is going to need more than a spec boost and a new coat of paint. It needs a showstopper.
Will Microsoft deliver? We'll find out Monday morning. Join the conversation as it happens in the live blog below.
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