In among the larger-than-life humans on NFL sidelines this season, you'll notice a slew of Microsoft's Surface Pro 2 tablets helping out. Used by players and coaches to review photos of plays, the tablets are encased in chunky cyan protective cases and have been attracting the attention of the broadcast commentators when put to use. The only problem is that the announcers don't seem to have been briefed on the name, leaving them to describe Microsoft's slates as "iPad-like tools."

Microsoft may be understandably peeved about this after committing to spend $400 million on an exclusive advertising and equipment deal with the NFL, but then the networks that cover the games aren't under the league's control. Educating their commentators may be as important to Microsoft as enlightening the rest of the world to the Surface's advantages.