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Reed Hastings says Microsoft's real test is Windows 8

The Netflix CEO recently left Microsoft's board and now talks about the challenges faced by Redmond

Greg Sandoval Former Staff writer
Greg Sandoval covers media and digital entertainment for CNET News. Based in New York, Sandoval is a former reporter for The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. E-mail Greg, or follow him on Twitter at @sandoCNET.
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According to Hastings, Surface is a side show for Microsoft. For the software maker, the stakes are much higher with Windows 8. Microsoft

Windows 8 is a much higher priority for Microsoft than the Surface v. iPad battle, according to Reed Hastings.

Hastings, CEO of video-rental service Netflix, was on Microsoft's board until stepping down last month. In a meeting with Dow Jones reporters, Hastings reflected on the challenges facing Microsoft.

"They got a better set of competitors than they've ever had, in Google and Apple, on different sides," said during the meeting according to All Things Digital, which is owned by Dow Jones. "So they've got some big, interesting competitive battles... I use the Surface. It's great because you can plug it in at night, and it lasts all day long.

Does Windows 8 work? That's the more relevant question. Surface is a tactic to spur people on, to get Windows 8 really successful. It kind of doesn't matter how successful Surface is. But it does matter a lot if Windows 8 is successful."