When Microsoft announced an alliance with Nokia two weeks ago today, I was left, well, completely underwhelmed.

To me, what was necessary, was for Microsoft and Nokia to form an alliance centered around operating systems.

Since it was Nokia, I assumed, and wanted such an OS alliance to be centered around cellular telephones.

I was shortsighted.

The news yesterday that Nokia was going to release a netbook running Microsoft Windows 7 should have hit the blogosphere with the force of a high-yield thermonuclear device.

This is the same Nokia that has stuck with Symbian through the years, releasing several smartphones and MIDs that while delectable, seemed to me to be limited by the use of Symbian.

That is why this IMO pragmatic move is to be applauded.

I have no doubt that Nokia sees their netbook taking share from some of the first-movers in this space, especially those with a deserved reputation for dubious quality.

It is also a very important design win for Microsoft. If Windows Mobile 7 achieves some sort of code base commonality with Windows 7, can you imagine what could happen if Nokia decides to use WinMo7 on higher-end smartphones? Man, that would be akin to a shifting of the tectonic plates!

I look forward to reviewing the Booklet 3G, as I want to see if Nokia is here to stay, or merely dallying.

Follow me on Twitter