> Huh? Courier was first shown in 2009. Way before the iPad was announced.
It was shown days before an Apple event. Rumors at the time pointed to Apple releasing its tablet at that event. They didn't and watching the rushed CGI video of a concept that would never become a product being released right before a non-event was priceless.
I took a look at the time line and you appear to have improperly recollected. The Courier leak happened 9/22/2009. The Apple event was 9/9/2009. By the time the Courier leak occurred everyone was already speculating the Apple Tablet was coming out in February as Apple's September event had long passed with no mention of a tablet. See this Mashable story:
There was an Apple product announcement on October 20th 2009. That's when they announced the new LED-backlit Macbooks, the Magic Mouse and a new line of iMacs. By the time the Courier video was shown, there was a lot of speculation on what would Apple announce that October.
As for the September 9th event, it was disappointing. Lots of people expected a "one more thing" moment with what would become the iPad.
So, it was right after an Apple event and right before a couple product announcements from Apple.
It was shown days before an Apple event. Rumors at the time pointed to Apple releasing its tablet at that event. They didn't and watching the rushed CGI video of a concept that would never become a product being released right before a non-event was priceless.
> If anything MS cleard the field for the iPad
I wouldn't hold my breath