In a slide presented during their Q3 earnings call, Asus disclosed plans to release a tablet running Windows 8 in Q3 of next year.
Windows 8 features a completely new UI called Metro which is intended to make it more tablet friendly. Windows 8 also adds support for ARM processors, an important step for supporting current tablet hardware.
The good news for Microsoft, at least for the moment, is the number 2 tablet OS, Android, has yet to make a significant mark. Of course that could change by the time Windows 8 launches next year.
Putting Windows on a tablet does, in theory, have some advantages over either iOS or Android. Where iOS and Android are essentially phone operating systems upscaled for tablet use, Windows 8 on a tablet will be similar in many ways to a desktop experience.
At the same time, consumers could be turned off by a lack of compatibility with existing applications due to processor and interface limitations on tablets.
From Microsoft's point of view, Asus might be the best possible partner for such a product thanks to their preference for selling tablets with keyboard and trackpad equipped docking stations. Arguably that's the best way to show of Windows 8's capabilities.
The good news for Microsoft, at least for the moment, is the number 2 tablet OS, Android, has yet to make a significant mark. Of course that could change by the time Windows 8 launches next year.
Putting Windows on a tablet does, in theory, have some advantages over either iOS or Android. Where iOS and Android are essentially phone operating systems upscaled for tablet use, Windows 8 on a tablet will be similar in many ways to a desktop experience.
At the same time, consumers could be turned off by a lack of compatibility with existing applications due to processor and interface limitations on tablets.
From Microsoft's point of view, Asus might be the best possible partner for such a product thanks to their preference for selling tablets with keyboard and trackpad equipped docking stations. Arguably that's the best way to show of Windows 8's capabilities.
