Really? Look, Microsoft once owned the world of technology. The PC was the only computer anyone owned. But they are moving at an almost ridiculously slow pace. Bloomberg reports that Microsoft will have tablets available for the back-to-school season in 2012. The tablets will apparently run on a version of the forthcoming Windows 8 platform, which should come out early next year. The real point is that right now is still early THIS year. 2011 is the year of the tablet, companies are rushing to catch up with Apple while Apple keeps innovating on its own. The iPad 3 will be headed for replacement by the time Microsoft gets there. This isn’t a new approach, of course. Witness Zune and Windows Phone 7, both of which work pretty well but arrived too late to matter.

Microsoft also announced plans to acquire several Hootie & The Blowfish CDs and some Alf episodes on VHS.