Microsoft is finally acknowledging that its forthcoming Surface family of tablet computers could weaken support for Windows among Microsoft’s partners in the PC industry (also known as
original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs). The concession came in the form of an annual report that was submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday. As The New York Times’
Bits blogs reports, the company says in the document that “our Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform.”