Microsoft is set to announce a Windows 8 tablet later today -- but new rumours suggest it'll involve US bookseller Barnes & Noble. Does that mean it'll be a rival to the Amazon Kindle Fire rather than the iPad -- and does it mean it won't come to the UK?
We were expecting a Microsoft-branded tablet that shows off Windows 8, in the style of Google's Nexus phones, which act as a flagship for each generation of Android software. But the tablet may be the fruit of a recent deal between Microsoft and Barnes & Noble, according to The Verge, perhaps creating a multimedia-focused device like the Kindle Fire.
Microsoft has poured $300m into the strategic partnership. Interesting stuff -- if you're in the US. Barnes & Noble doesn't have a presence on this side of the pond, and the company's Nook ebook reader -- possibly the biggest rival to Amazon's Kindle -- isn't on sale here either. That suggests we won't get the tablet announced tonight, which is a shame.
Xbox Live streaming could also be involved, and we'll be really annoyed if we miss out on that. We'll find out tonight, as the announcement kicks off in the US at 3.30pm Pacific time or around 11.30pm UK time.
Windows 8 is designed to work on both tablets and desktop computers, with an interface based on large colourful squares that suit a touchscreen as well as a laptop or desktop computer. For more on how it works, check out our guide to Windows 8's new interface.
Ahead of the public unveiling of Windows 8 later in the year, we've seen our first glimpse of the tablets that will use the new software, including a selection of weird and wonderful slates from Asus. The Asus Transformer AiO runs both Windows 8 and Android, while the Asus Taichi is a laptop-tablet hybrid with a screen on the lid. Bonkers!
You can try out Windows 8 for yourself by downloading the release preview, a kind of sneak peek at the new operating system -- click here to check out our thoughts on the unfinished software.
Do you want to get your hands on a Microsoft tablet? Do you expect it to come to this country? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
Update: Barnes & Noble has distanced itself from the rumour, but the specs of an Xbox-related tablet called Surface have, er, surfaced.
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anonymous 18 June, 2012 10:37
I read this last night on the US site and I think it's a good idea. I think Microsoft must take two approaches to the tablets. An RT version to challenge the Kindle Fire, aimed at portable entertainment and little else. As such it must be cheap, and as for size, there is no reason that they couldn't release a 7in and 10in version, though personally I think that 7in is the ideal tablet size, right now I am not convinced that tablets are appropriate for productivity, more on that in the next paragraph though...
The second approach must be a high power productivity focused tablet. It looks like this is 100% green lit. Asus's Tai-chi (is that what it's called), the laptop with two screens, is a perfect example of what this form should be. These should be hybrid types, preferably with detachable keyboards, but dual-screen is also a great idea. These obviously cannot be smaller than 10in, and should probably also have a 13in option. They should not aim to be laptop/desktop replacements, like for like, but they have to be able to substitute them for productivity apps and such, obviously they shouldn't be looking to be intensive multi-tasking monsters, but fast, stable machines optimised for productivity on the move. Pick a niche and stick to it, don't be a jack of all trades.
I've been saying this for months, Microsoft HAVE to bring a strong line of productivity focused tablets to the tablet market, it's the only real way for them to get a strong position. Attract the people that would normally buy a Windows laptop due to the need for Office (students, businesses, schools, universities).
But, and there is a big but. The price has to be right. These productivity focused tablets must come in at iPad prices/mid-range laptop prices. £400-£600 for a tablet with keyboard type (hybrid if you prefer), obviously something like Asus's dual-screen machine could ask for more, it will be a premium, innovative product and carry a high price tag to reflect that, and fair enough.
I doubt I'll be buying a Microsoft tablet as I'm waiting to see what Asus or Google do with regards to a 7in low priced tablet, I need one for handwritten note taking, reading pdfs and word documents with the only editing being underlined, highlighting, and small annotations, real productivity will be done on my Windows 7 laptop. Which shows how it is right now. If you want to be productive, you still need a laptop, but Microsoft are in a great position to change that, I just hope they see this and aim their product at the correct market.
Patrick Cantellow 18 June, 2012 12:08
Is there anywhere were i can watch it being reveled live or get live updates?
Patrick Cantellow 18 June, 2012 12:10
Oh i have found one on the PC Advisor website, but i don't know if it is any good ?
anonymous 19 June, 2012 14:05
I said yesterday I doubt I'd buy this tablet, but having seen what Microsoft are offering, I'm very, very interested. Just hope that it's reliable and within my budget (the latter seems unlikely). iPad 2 could be a good thing to get in the mean time.
anonymous 19 June, 2012 16:56
All I know is we don't have Xboxes, we don't want Xboxes, and if the system has any merit at alll I'd like it to be on current desktop models and we don't need more tablets.