The Verge’s Tom Warren suggests the Surface RT is the Zune 2.0: not a terrible device, but one lacking a real compelling case.

As is so often the case, Microsoft was hobbled by its inability to make a clean break with its cash cow, Windows.

I often wonder what would have happened if Microsoft had created a Surface OS without the desktop and left Windows as its desktop OS with the Start menu that they’re now having to put back in. Windows is becoming an albatross.

But one thing we know for certain: everyone wants larger phones.

OK, I know many people do want larger phones, but this myth that’s been generated that everyone wants larger phones and Apple’s really screwing up by not shipping one now, now, NOW!!! is just wrong.

Would Apple sell more phones if they sold two sizes? Sure. And maybe they’d sell more if they sold projector phones and phones with NFC and waterproof phones and…

But they don’t do that. They focus.

Try to get over that.

Electronista:

The list of vendors opting out of Windows RT has added one more major manufacturer with news that Lenovo has dropped its IdeaPad Yoga 11.

Microsoft has also cut the price of the Surface RT to $349. I’m not sure “super cheap way to run Office that could be a dead end” is that much of a winning strategy, though.

ADDED: Yeah.

Microsoft’s results showed a $900 million loss due to Surface RT “inventory adjustments,” a charge that comes just a few days after the company officially cut Surface RT prices significantly.

Writing for CNBC, Cadie Thompson shows my Rorschach’s Cat theory in action. First she brings us one person’s view on Apple:

“Apple will every so often come out with a breakthrough product and then everybody copies it, and that’s where we are today. … It seems like everything is coming to a halt, but it’s not coming to a halt,” [former Apple interaction specialist Bruce] Tognazzini said. “And I have no doubt about that whatsoever. They will come out with another product that will change everything. I don’t think they are falling behind.”

And then she brings us another’s:

“The likelihood of Apple’s being able to come up with an innovative product or smartphone that would create new demand is very slim, given that the stock is 40 percent below its high,” [Global Equities Research managing director Chip] Chowdhry said.

One of these guys is wrong and given Tognazzini is saying pretty much exactly what I’ve written before, my money’s obviously on it being Chowdhry. What the hell the stock price being off its high has to do with Apple’s ability to make innovative products is beyond me, but Chowdhry sees what he wants to see: a dead cat of innovation.

One thing is for certain: if Chowdhry is wrong, he’ll still be gainfully employed making bad analysis about Apple.

Writing for Slate, Justin Peters has an extreme view on how to avoid distractions when blogging (via Khoi Vinh).

I Write All My Blog Posts Out Longhand, and You Should Too

…

Every time I sit down in front of my computer to write a post, I end up browsing the IMDb page for the movie Cool Runnings or the career stats for underrated outfielder Ryan Spilborghs.

Not that I’m not susceptible to the same kinds of distractions, but as someone who remembers having to write term papers out longhand and then type them, I’ll be damned if I’m going back to that.

However, I have been giving more thought to Jason Snell’s advocation of writing on the iPad, which provides fewer overt distractions than the Mac. Even though that will just feed my sick obsession with iPad keyboards. Or, possibly, because it will. Hey, I have to give into some of my demons.

Yes, I do.

Ben Thompson in a terrific piece discussing the pitfalls of Microsoft’s recent reorganization:

It’s on this point, actually, that concern and criticism of Tim Cook is most warranted. I’ve already made the case as to why he is a great CEO for Apple, but his greatest weakness – product vision – is hugely magnified by the fact that Apple is organized functionally, and thus especially reliant on a visionary leader (this should, of course, make it obvious why Steve Jobs was so insistent on a functional organization). Clearly Jony Ive has been nominated to fill the role of visionary; it is likely that at least one of Ive’s once-peers was not happy about that elevation.

It remains to be seen whether setting Ive up as Apple’s visionary-in-chief will work as well as having Jobs in that role did. Who knows? It could work out better (leather). However, we already know how having Steve Ballmer in that role has worked out for Microsoft.

Lex Friedman reviews two new iPad mini keyboard options and concludes:

The ZaggKeys Cover and ZaggKeys Folio are the first two iPad mini keyboards that I can type on without questioning my sanity.

As I remain almost categorically dissatisfied with smaller sized keyboards even for the full-sized iPad, so I have a hard time thinking I’m going to like these. And yet I’m drawn to the option of an iPad mini with a physical keyboard like a moth to a flame. A stupid, fat-fingered, twice-burned moth.

Mat Honan shows you how to write popular stories for only $44. You may need a shower after reading this.