14 DAY TRIAL // Slates and tablet PCs running the next major iteration of Windows could go on sale even ahead of the end of 2011, one source claims.
The information comes from sources close to notebook manufacturers, according to Digitimes, and of course, was not confirmed officially by Microsoft.
Although Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer talked a bit about Windows 8 this week, he did not go into any real details.
Ballmer did promise that “As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8. Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors.”
One day after Ballmer’s address at the Microsoft Developer Forum in Japan, it has emerged that some OEMs might in fact work to offer the first slates / Tablet PCs powered by the next major version of Windows by the end of this year.
Previously, there has been speculation that Windows 8 on emerging form factors would be showcased at CES 2012, and that such devices will even go on sale in early 2012, with the RTM of the operating system expected for later next year.
Personally, I find it very hard to believe that Windows 8 slates will hit store shelves ahead of 2012, so my advice to readers is to take the report with a grain of salt.
According to sources reportedly close to computer manufacturers, the Tablet PCs on track for availability by the end of this year would feature ARM architectures, and obviously Windows 8 for ARM.
Ballmer’s words quoted above have been misinterpreted as a launch confirmation for the successor of Windows 7 by some. This could have prompted additional erroneous reports that catalyzed the article on Digitimes.
At the same time, there are also details unavailable anywhere else. It appears that OEMs have hit as bit of a snag when it comes down to the target audience for new Windows 8 ARM devices.
This because of limited system performance. I have also heard some rumors that special flavors of Windows 8 will be offered for devices with ARM architectures inside, and it’s possible that Microsoft restrict the usage of the operating system to hardware with limited resources.
I don’t know whether this implies that the software giant will offer a special spin-off of Windows 8 for ARM ahead of the fully-fledged Windows 8 client and server platforms, but it certainly sounds so.
Digitimes claims that OEMs are not exactly rushing to embrace Windows 8 for new form factors, especially since there are some problems that still need to be dealt with.