It’s been deployed in lots of firms actually.
Here, have a look.
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx
“Or is it because of patent disputes with Apple?”
Now, that I’d love to see.
Microsoft has a vast array of patents, including touch screen technology./
Here:
The 10 most inventive US companies
The top 10 Rank Company US patents in 2009
1 IBM (IBM, news, msgs) 4,914
2 Microsoft (MSFT, news, msgs) 2,906
3 Intel (INTC, news, msgs) 1,537
4 Hewlett-Packard (HPQ, news, msgs) 1,237
5 General Electric (GE, news, msgs) 979
6 Micron Technology (MU, news, msgs) 966
7 Cisco Systems (CSCO, news, msgs) 913
8 Broadcom (BRCM, news, msgs) 714
9 Honeywell International (HON, news, msgs) 655
10 Texas Instruments (TXN, news, msgs) 652
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Forbes/the-10-most-inventive-us-companies.aspx
Apple is not even on the list.
Microsoft has a $17,000 coffee table.