HP and Dell to 'unveil Windows RT slabs in October'

HP and Dell will both release tablets based on the forthcoming ARM-powered Windows RT operating system after it’s launched in October, according to the latest rumours swirling from the supply chain in Asia. Speculation has been mounting about the hardware vendors chosen to supply the first wave of tablets running the new OS - …

[Anonymous Coward]

It would be nice if the bring out something good rather than a compromise.

[cyke1]

i expect the win 8 surface pro to be the better of the 2 since it will be running on an intel core i5 so pretty much has power to run just about anything you desktop could short of high end games.

[cyke1]

but what is funny

I already heard of a report EU is investigating new Windows RT tablet over the fact of IE being installed on it. Um Come on really? Look at the IPad heck any iOS device. they FORCE you to use safari on it and you can't even change it so its not the default browser, this has been going on since iPad was released yet they are investigating Windows RT for something before its even out. Sounds a bit fishy to me.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: but what is funny

It is fishy. Since Bill Gates went all "socialist" and gave his money away so publicly to charity the powers that be have turned against MS. Now that the whole world is blind and became iSheep of course they will not attach Apple, and surely Apple is sending on everyone's data surreptitiously to the NeoCons.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: but what is funny @AC09:12

What are you smoking and where can I get some?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: but what is funny @AC09:12

Swiss hemp.

[Robert Carnegie]

It's because Microsoft has a monopoly.

Apple doesn't have a monopoly (or hasn't been found to have), so, cross-promoting their own application software with the OS, such as Safari, isn't excessively unfair to competing software makers. But bundling Internet Explorer with Microsoft Windows - and potentially making the new Windows RT -only- run Internet Explorer as browser - is taking a position of market dominance and abusing it. Which is what market dominance is -for-.

[h4rm0ny]

Not an iPad.

The Surface is not really an iPad equivalent. Nor is Win8 quite an equivalent for iOS. And I am including the WindowsRT versions here. Comes with keyboard, MS Office (the Preview version that comes bundled has what most home users will need). I know journalists love the iPad as their standard unit of comparison (like Olympic swimming pools and the size of Wales), but it really sometimes isn't a perfect match for things. SurfacePro is a ultrabook with tablet functionality. The ARM version isn't an ultrabook as such, but still not really a tablet.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Not an iPad.

Err the RT doesn't come with a keyboard, it's a add on case.

[h4rm0ny]

Re: Not an iPad.

"Err the RT doesn't come with a keyboard, it's a add on case."

Both versions of the Surface, the ARM and the x86 version, come with keyboards. Possibly you are getting confused with the Stylus which only comes with the Pro (x86) version.

[Richard Plinston]

Re: Not an iPad.

> Both versions of the Surface, the ARM and the x86 version, come with keyboards

There are two versions of the Surface. There are two different keyboard/ covers (touch keys and moving keys). Either keyboard can be used with either version.

The 'come with' is just a conclusion that you have made. It may be that there will be combination sets, or it may be that these are separate items that buyers will purchase in whatever combination that they prefer. Until the SKUs and prices are announced we will not know.

[Shagbag]

Interesting, but too little too late.

I'll be interested to finally see these Win8 tablets that have been getting more press than Elvis. However, they're unlikely to change my believe that people have already "locked" themselves into the App Store or Google Play. I just can't see how MS will ever be a serious competitor in mobile.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Interesting, but too little too late.

I think too many people underestimate that there are an awful lot of people out there who have tried out iPads but find them failing in a business sense (apps) and are waiting for an MS Win 8 tablet that can fulfill their needs. As to the general public and iSheep, may be you are right, but once Win 8 becomes ubiquitous then the familiarity and functionality of the ecosystem will spill over into MS tablet purchases eventually....but I am sure that Apple will not be sitting still in the meantime and MS have an awful lot of catching up to do.

[h4rm0ny]

Re: Interesting, but too little too late.

I agree with your whole post but can't quite bring myself to mod up anything that uses the term "iSheep".

[Anonymous Coward]

Loads on teh horizon...

Just like all them Nokia Windows Phone handsets gathering dust in storerooms...

Windows 8 might not flop bad enough to take down Microsoft, but it might take down anyone stupid enough to partner with them.

[Anonymous Coward]

i5 Windows tablet?

I can't imagine a tablet with an i5 processor in will take off outside of a few business CEOs buying them for show and tell to be used once and never again

In the consumer space Apple have set a precedent of a light thin tablet that has a fantastic screen resolution at a decent price point. I don't think a X86 device with the added bonus of being able to run legacy apps will take off outside of a couple of businesses.

As for Windows RT I can't imagine Microsoft will take it that seriously. They'll be wanting to keep intel happy while at the same time trying to gain some customers using some of the benefits of ARM. I think Windows RT will fall by the wayside in 2 or 3 years as people on the Microsoft train are only on there because of their legacy apps and Windows RT doesn't offer that

[Levente Szileszky]

Yawn... oh, this part is actually funny...

...I think:

"HTC has already been locked out of the development process as it was deemed not to have enough experience producing tablets, according to a report."

Just priceless.

FAIL, as in F-A-I-L as in B-A-L-L-M-E-R.