Microsoft plots entry into tablet trade
Arm's its weapon
Microsoft will launch its own tablet device next week, entering the booming slate market without the help of a separate hardware manufacturer, it has been claimed.
The company has promised to make a major announcement at an event on Monday, 18 June said to be related to its tablet strategy. Sources close to the matter say Microsoft will unveil an own-brand iPad rival, The Wrap reports.
Whisperers reckon Microsoft's forthcoming fondleslab will front Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 coded to run on Arm microprocessors.
While Microsoft has refused some manufacturers access to the Windows 8 development platform, others, such as Dell, already have Windows 8-based tablets in the works and it remains unclear as to how Microsoft's own-brand will stand out from its customers' offerings.
Of course, we'll keep you up to date following Monday's revelations, though. Stay tuned. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Bingo
The regulators should not care about MS lokgin thier own hardware, but they sure as hell should care about MS locking out other OS on other manufacturer's hardware.
Re: Microsoft Hardware
They just "rebadge" Foxconn hardware. Most people do.
Re: Logitec
Burn the Heretics!
Cherry make the one true keyboard!
Not a realistic photo
The actual unit is going to have a 4" wide bezel in order to fit all the "Designed for Windows8", "Intel inside" "Trial office included", "With McAffee Antivirus" "Windows is kewl" etc stickers all over it.
Curious...
It seems an odd move, if true. Considering that they have the inside track on windows itself, they should be able to make a better tablet than the OEMs. Which, of course, would effectively mean they're competing with their own OEMs with a potentially better product released before their partners - a pretty odd business decision.
I'm beginning to suspect that what they'll 'launch' will be a reference platform / developer device, rather than a mass-market device. That would make a lot more sense. But then it's MS, who knows what will happen :)
