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Apple may have remade the tablet market, but it's not too late for Microsoft to learn from the iPad's success.

It's the year of the tablet — again. But this time, there's a good chance it's true, no thanks to the segment's long-time champion, Microsoft. Bill Gates demonstrated the first-ever Tablet PC prototypes, built by Acer, Fujitsu, Compaq and Toshiba, at the 2001 Comdex show. But nine years on, the year of the tablet still hasn't arrived. Here's a look at why Microsoft has failed where Apple appears poised to succeed, and what it can do to get back in the game.