[PCWorld]

Post your comments for HP Touts Windows 8 Tablet This Year here

[IsaacTeller]

I already have cash saved to buy a Windows 8 tablet. Metro looks amazing and Microsofts change to WinRT will make it BLAZING FAST. Consolidating the PC and Tablet into one device via a great User Interface could make all-in-one PCs obsolete. I am sure the stand-alone PC will continue to sell, especially to gamers and businesses in need of scalability and "hyper-performance". Laptops are still very handy. Although I am going to purchase a tablet for business use I feel there are alot of people buying tablets who really don't need them. I friend of mine is writing a book... on a tablet. This would be much easier on a regular laptop, but oh well. My mother purchased a tablet and all she does is play games on it. Not worth it if you ask me. Tablets are cool toys to have but I think sales will slow down once people begin to realize tablets are not necessary in most cases.

[GetReal]

I currently have an ASUS tablet, mostly used by family for games or browsing. I might consider a Win-8 tablet if it were possible to migrate most legacy apps (AKA > no pressing immediate need to buy all new programs), but I will not buy Win-8 to use on any laptop or desktop. For these devices I feel the Metro interface Sucks - big time!

[Evildave]

I guarantee there will be 'legacy issues' between an old XP tablet's software and Windoze 8. Just as there are legacy issues between XP and Vista/7/8.

I guess we'll find out how much 'better' HP does with Windoze 8 tablets than their webOS tablets.

But I suspect when people discover that they get one of two kinds of tablets, and not all of the software will not be interchangeable, they will see Windoze 8 for what it really is.

1. Something cheap light, portable, and with a decent battery life, that is compatible with NOTHING that they bought for their PC, and is downright 'weak' compared to a PC, just like Android/iOS devices. I suspect Microsoft will put out an 'Office' edition that licenses for both, but not everything will work on both versions.

2. Something expensive, heavy, hot, with short battery time, that runs sort of a gimped version of windows that 'can' run some of your 'old' software, that you are groping on a 'keyboard' on the screen to use all the time, wondering why you didn't buy an 'ultrabook' as you go find a stand and keyboard for it and set it up on a desk, plugged in, to use. Because it cramps up your arm and cooks your hand to use it.

The first version will be as modestly successful as if HP had stuck with their webOS, and not chickened out and exploded.

The second version will be just as 'successful' as windoze XP tablet edition machines ever were: That is, NOT particularly successful.

And of course, given Microsoft's long, checkered history of sticking with their 'new things', along with a REQUIREMENT for their OEMs that support 'Windows 8' to MAKE MONEY for themselves, and very quickly, how much are you going to invest in goodies for a 'Windows 8' tablet, when they could go extinct within the year? That's pure Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD), but realistically, it's FUD that you should consider, and fair's fair. Microsoft has never had anything but FUD to say about any other company's product.

Steve Ballmer: "iPhones? Hahaha! $500? ... It doesn't even have a keyboard! ... "

[Evildave]

Let's also remember that Apple and Google are actually BETTER FUNDED than Microsoft is.

Do you think they'll let Microsoft do their usual marketing blitz that they effectively destroyed so many other PC software competitors with for decades, completely unchallenged?

It isn't like the case where Microsoft is the only one spending a billion dollars a year marketing 'Office' or 'Internet Explorer', so that the clueless dimwit masses think that there only IS Microsoft Windows, Office and Internet Explorer.

Apple and Google can both more than match them dollar for dollar.

Apple has ultimate control over quality. They make the OS. They make the devices. You buy an iPad, you know exactly what it is you're getting.

Google doesn't have to PAY people to make Android devices. The success rate for these devices is hit or miss.

Microsoft is aiming squarely at Google, and the manufacturers that support Windows 8 on their tablets will also have spotty success, at best, just as we've seen with Android. Mostly, Microsoft will work their asses off trying to make Windows 8 'compatible' with every kind of Android device, to go after Google and Google's Android partners. If they try to charge for it (Android is 'free'... kind of), OEMs won't adopt it. In fact, OEMs already BURNED testing the water in the tablet market will be very shy about Windows 8 tablets, unless Microsoft practically PAYS THEM to support it.

So Microsoft is not only paying for EVERYONE to market the Windows devices, they're subsidizing manufacturers to get compatible devices made. So they're at every kind of disadvantage that they've never had to deal with before, versus heavily entrenched competition with every kind of advantage.

Microsoft can only hope to control their 'Microsoft Marketplace' and 'Bing' to make the money, giving the OS away to OEMs, just like Android. Just like Google, they will get cut out of this revenue, too. It won't take long before people buy highly subsidized Microsoft branded devices, only to 'jailbreak' them into market places with 'warez' and open source software, and install Linux or 'rooted' Android on them. A hundred kinds of manufacturer, a hundred ways to crack 'em. Windows 8 won't be any more 'open' than iOS or Android, after all, since Microsoft can only make their money from locking you in to Microsoft's market and marketing.

I just wonder how many OEMs are going to be in for the long haul? And if Microsoft makes their own... competing with their partners? Well, that could get ugly.

So a good time to be in advertising, I imagine.

Buy 'cheap', fire-sale priced Microsoft devices by the ton, only to install a rooted OS, pointing at a free marketplace, or android or Linux. Could be VERY good for Linux tablets. Maybe even make a little cottage industry out of it. All those massively subsidized tablets with hundreds of dollars' worth of hardware being sold for $99 when nobody wants them, just like HP did.

And all those rooted Microsoft devices pointing at 'unofficial' market-places? Pure gold for the 'antivirus' industry. Microsoft will remain King of Malware.

[HassanBeydoun]

Windows 8 have dual personalities....Am waiting for 9.you guys can fix the bugs for me

[EminenceFronta0ah]

I love my Xoom, but I am just drooling over the Windows 8 tablet by HP - I will have one first day or release if my HP guy does his job. Really looking forward to simplified VPN and Remote Desktop at the jobsites - Android is ok, but Metro is going to kick ass on the tablet. I have really enjoyed the pre-release version on a few different computers (netbook, p4 pc and a dual core pc) and Microsoft has actually done this right, and by final release it will really shine. crApple Sucks !!!

[karthiq]

ARM based tablets be it the ipad or win RT tablets wont take off in the enterprise as much as x86 based tablets with win8.

All they need to have is the right price.

[karthiq]

As for win8 (RT or x86) tabs taking on ipad in the consumer space, i doubt it, as ipad has more apps, will have a better price as it has tighter control over its supply chain ,popular name etc.

[TsarNikky]

Be very careful! Will HP support your new computer when Windows-9 comes out? If past history with their scanners and printers is any indication, your PC with Windows-8 will become an unsupported device when Windows-9 is released. Sad, but so true.

[Evildave]

Well, technically, 'support' (if you call wading through phone robots and eventually ringing up some guy in Pakistan with a checklist 'support') is only going to be 90 days to 1 year.

And they'll probably treat it like most other windoze PCs: "Windows problem? Call Microsoft and start over from scratch with them! Good day! <CLICK>"

[GuildenNL]

YAWN! Another vanilla box producer puts out a blah device with a flawed OS from Microsoft and believes that the world will stop and care.

It won't.

[OrlandoStoneham]

Evildave, on 12 May 2012 - 03:22 PM, said:

Let's also remember that Apple and Google are actually BETTER FUNDED than Microsoft is.

Do you think they'll let Microsoft do their usual marketing blitz that they effectively destroyed so many other PC software competitors with for decades, completely unchallenged?

It isn't like the case where Microsoft is the only one spending a billion dollars a year marketing 'Office' or 'Internet Explorer', so that the clueless dimwit masses think that there only IS Microsoft Windows, Office and Internet Explorer.

Apple and Google can both more than match them dollar for dollar.

Apple has ultimate control over quality. They make the OS. They make the devices. You buy an iPad, you know exactly what it is you're getting.

Google doesn't have to PAY people to make Android devices. The success rate for these devices is hit or miss.

Microsoft is aiming squarely at Google, and the manufacturers that support Windows 8 on their tablets will also have spotty success, at best, just as we've seen with Android. Mostly, Microsoft will work their asses off trying to make Windows 8 'compatible' with every kind of Android device, to go after Google and Google's Android partners. If they try to charge for it (Android is 'free'... kind of), OEMs won't adopt it. In fact, OEMs already BURNED testing the water in the tablet market will be very shy about Windows 8 tablets, unless Microsoft practically PAYS THEM to support it.

So Microsoft is not only paying for EVERYONE to market the Windows devices, they're subsidizing manufacturers to get compatible devices made. So they're at every kind of disadvantage that they've never had to deal with before, versus heavily entrenched competition with every kind of advantage.

Microsoft can only hope to control their 'Microsoft Marketplace' and 'Bing' to make the money, giving the OS away to OEMs, just like Android. Just like Google, they will get cut out of this revenue, too. It won't take long before people buy highly subsidized Microsoft branded devices, only to 'jailbreak' them into market places with 'warez' and open source software, and install Linux or 'rooted' Android on them. A hundred kinds of manufacturer, a hundred ways to crack 'em. Windows 8 won't be any more 'open' than iOS or Android, after all, since Microsoft can only make their money from locking you in to Microsoft's market and marketing.

I just wonder how many OEMs are going to be in for the long haul? And if Microsoft makes their own... competing with their partners? Well, that could get ugly.

So a good time to be in advertising, I imagine.

Buy 'cheap', fire-sale priced Microsoft devices by the ton, only to install a rooted OS, pointing at a free marketplace, or android or Linux. Could be VERY good for Linux tablets. Maybe even make a little cottage industry out of it. All those massively subsidized tablets with hundreds of dollars' worth of hardware being sold for $99 when nobody wants them, just like HP did.

And all those rooted Microsoft devices pointing at 'unofficial' market-places? Pure gold for the 'antivirus' industry. Microsoft will remain King of Malware.

Or Microsoft can team up with companies that they've already been with that haven't sold their soul to Android like HP and Dell and Intel. Then connect all their devices using Windows 8: WP 8, the Xbox, and your Tablet could be a powerful combo

[Evildave]

Oh, you mean the ones who 'sold their soul' to Microsoft, then?

Dell: http://en.community....oid-tablet.aspx

Intel makes their money off all the OEMs buying their chips to put them in their products. They don't make much consumer stuff. They've been 'partnered' with Microsoft all along. And Apple. And anyone else who puts their chips into things. Even Android.
http://software.inte.../en-us/android/

HP: Tried to launch a tablet with the 'webOS' they bought Palm to get, sold those for $99, had a tantrum, melted down, claimed they wouldn't make PCs any more. Yeah! Great partner!

So of all your examples, HP is the only one that will probably go exclusively with Microsoft. Of course, HP has demonstrated that they have squirrels in their brains.
http://www.pcmag.com...,2404356,00.asp