Microsoft is ready to join the tablet party this year with Windows 8. As dominant as the Apple iPad is, there is demand out there for a more versatile and powerful mobile platform. So far, Android tablets and other rivals like the HP TouchPad and BlackBerry PlayBook have failed to capture much attention, so there is still an opportunity there for Microsoft.

Having an opportunity available, and capitalizing on that opportunity are two very different things, though. Currently, there are a number of unknowns–we have just as many questions about Windows 8 tablets as we do answers. Windows 8 tablets will bring some unique functionality to the tablet game, but there is still plenty of room for Microsoft and its partners to make Windows 8 tablets dead on arrival if they’re not careful.