[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Windows 8 hybrid laptops will be scarce through the holidays here

[fins2thright]

A well written article and very informative, that is until I got to the last section and the inevitable comparison to iPads and tired references to slow Windows 8 sales. Is it now PC-World policy to tack this section onto every Windows related article?

I just bought a Dell XPS-12 for January delivery. I didn't think once about buying an iPad instead because I am replacing a laptop, not buying a toy to watch Netflix and send Instagrams. I need to run Microsoft office, and VPN into my corporate network. And I also want a touch screen and apps. I can only get that from a Windows 8 machine. So I will wait for my XPS-12, and I expect a lot of other folks will do that also.

[teleranger]

I agree with fins2thright. The comparison to the iPad is tired and probably just a way to fill white space.

I have an iPad and an Android tablet. I just bought a Microsoft Surface RT last month, and I love it. The iPad and Android are great consumption devices, but the Surface (and I'm guessing other Windows 8 products, especially the hybrid type) is a true productivity and consumption device. I may take my iPad off the shelf for the occasional game that isn't available on Windows 8, but other than that, I've passed it along to my kids for watching movies.

I can see why the hybrids sales are outstripping supply. For the first time there is a device that is designed for both consumption and productivity. I just wish it hadn't taken so long for Microsoft to get it.

[benlm54]

I am also in the same boat... ordered and waiting for my new Dell XPS 12 . I would never consider an iPad or Android device a PC replacement.

iPads are expenive toys. Real professionals need a PC.... for MS Office, VPN, no compromise web browsing, a decent keyboard, etc.

The reason hybrids are in high demand is because consumers CAN compromise on how they consume media (true, for this purpose an iPad is better than a Windows 8 hybrid). But they CAN NOT compromise on their work.

[kentma]

same here got Iconia W510 Acer, it is awesome tablet with docking that make battery life total to 18 hrs.
it works well and touch is awesome, I do not understand all these none sense about windows 8 being bad.

[jbaggjr]

Great article until the end. With my windows 8 phone, Skydrive, etc., it's a no-brainer to purchase a Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro convertable pc/tablet with Office. However, it is extremely frustrating that the role out has been so clumsy. How did they get it so wrong? I've experienced first hand, at my AT&T phone store, and a BestBuy, the salesperson convincing customer not to buy the Windows Phone/Tablet because lack of choices and lack of apps.

[Xach]

Finally you guys got here I have been trying to point this out for weeks now.

I felt alone and scared. I can feel max666's eyes all over me.

[NoVendorLockIn]

Windows 8 is little more than a poorly-executed attempt at customer lock-in. If you think about why so many people hate Windows 8, and tried hard, just for a moment, to entertain the possibility that it is not because Microsoft cannot afford to hire good UI consultants, you will realize that, behind every distasteful aspect of it is a mechanism that ultimately fatten Microsoft's wallet. Think about it. The secure-boot that is supposed to be boot-image agnostic, but still refused to boot OS that is not Windows. The snoop-your-data agreements for SkyDrive. The snoop-your-data agreements for the cloud. Some tablets only running WinRT. WinRT needing approval by Microsoft. WinRT only be sold through Microsoft App Store. Microsoft gets 30%, then 20%. The shampoo advertisements in your face. De-branding of email applications, and simply calling it "Mail". Refusing to install Chrome. Analyzing of EXE's for "approval" by Microsoft. The annoying repeated requests for you to sign-up to a Microsoft online account after you have repeatedly said "No." The removal of START button. The "Live Tiles" always connected, seeing what you do. The facial recognition software. The crapware from third-party vendors that comes by default. It's all about Microsoft trying to clean-house on your wallet while they still have enough muscle to make you eat something that you might find distasteful.

Please do not accuse me of being an Apple fan boy. The last time I used a Mac was 1984, I believe. DIe-hard Windows user, just calling it as I see it.

[karthiq]

I agree with the author sales of 800-1000 dollar touch computer devices will obviously be lesser than 500 touch ipad and android tablets.

why? because you can still get 500 super productive laptops.

Remember the selling point of these devices is not productivity...its touch.

So when people can get cheaper touch devices like the ipad and nexus 10 which are also more portable and when people can get cheaper productive devices obviously sales of the 1000 dollar machines wont be as good as the above mentioned devices.

[murnende]

"While demand for hybrid devices is tepid. . . the dearth of hardware is putting a damper on the potential success of the unique PC form factor."

If demand is tepid, how successful can the form factor ultimately be? You're stating as fact that there's little demand, so why should manufacturers flood the channel with hardware that you're claiming they won't be able to sell?

"An HP spokesperson told PCWorld the company was “experiencing an imbalance between supply and demand in the U.S.” for the Envy x2."

I think you're suggesting that I interpret this vague statement to mean that demand is outstripping supply. So there is demand? You're painting a confusing picture here.

"When asked about reasons for the XPS 12 delays, Dell wouldn't comment, saying only it is “encouraged by the strong interest in the XPS 12.” "

Really? I thought it was established as fact that demand is "tepid."

"The computer maker also says anyone wanting to give an XPS 12 for the holidays can purchase the convertible laptop and download a gift card that lets the recipient know a new PC is coming."

Gee, thanks Dell! Just what I always wanted for Christmas, an IOU!

". . . component suppliers in China and Taiwan . . . were hesitant to ramp up component supplies. “The sentiment around Windows 8 was overwhelmingly negative . . . ”

So it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

What I don't think you touch on here is the pricing issue. Windows 8 hardware is consistently being significantly overpriced. I walk into BestBuy and look at tablets, and what I see is I can pick up an ASUS Transformer running Android for $399, while the ASUS VivoTab RT will run me $599. When I see that, I feel like there's some gouging going on, and I decide I'm going to wait for pricing to become more reasonable.

If Microsoft was serious about making immediate noise in the tablet market, you'd see the Surface at $349-$399 or even less, with the keyboard included, not $499 plus another hundred bucks for the keyboard. I think they decided to bow to the pressure and grossly overprice the hardware like the OEMs are doing. Whatever Microsoft's strategy in this market is right now, it's not particularly aggressive.

[Xach]

Quote

". . . component suppliers in China and Taiwan . . . were hesitant to ramp up component supplies. “The sentiment around Windows 8 was overwhelmingly negative . . . ” So it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.

I loved all of it but this was the best part for me.