14 DAY TRIAL // 2012 is expected to bring to shelves the first Intel-based tablet PCs running under Windows 8, and some first steps in this direction have already been made.
Intel brought to the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, a Windows 8 tablet that was powered by its 32nm Clover Trail processor and confirmed that the chip would become available in the second half of this year.
In line with previous reports, this suggests only one thing: Clover Trail-powered Windows 8 tablet PCs will indeed arrive on shelves this year.
While no official release date has been unveiled for the time being, it is safe to assume that devices will be ready when Windows 8 launches in October.
The prototype device that Intel showcased at CES 2012 had the whole array of ports, an SD card slot, a SIM-card slot, and a 10-pin-style connector, The Verge reports.
Moreover, it sports Intel’s 32-nanometer dual-core Atom processor inside, which should offer it performance levels on par with what ARM architectures can deliver today.
Windows 8 tablet PCs packing Intel processors will have a series of advantages over ARM-based ones, starting with the fast availability on the market.
ARM-based tablet PCs running Windows 8 might not be launched before 2013, which provides Intel devices with the possibility to establish themselves on the market.
There is also the possible lack of support for legacy applications on ARM devices, which could determine users to choose Intel architectures instead.
A report that emerged last week suggested that Microsoft partners already started the work on Intel-based Windows 8 tablet PCs, and that they would have devices ready for primetime in the second half of the year.
In the light of new reports suggesting that Windows 8 will be launched in October, paired with Intel’s confirmation on the availability of Clover Trail chips this year, those rumors appear to be lining up pretty nicely.
