Microsoft’s incoming Windows 8 platform will be able to run on tablets that use two completely different processors – Intel and ARM – and the race is well and truly on between the two to create the best Windows 8 tablet.
Intel has just put its cards on the table, showing us what its tablets will be capable of and how they might look. The key focus is on light and slim, with Intel-based tablets weighing 1.5lbs or less with a sub-9mm thickness to boot.
The company has created a special chip to power Windows 8 tablets: the Intel Atom Z2760 “Clover Trail”. It can come in single or Dual-Core variations and features a ‘Burst Mode’, which will allow the user to crank up the power for demanding applications, which will be particularly useful for gaming, so says Intel. Hyper Threading capabilities will also benefit Intel’s tablets as far as gaming goes, allowing a Dual-Core chip to process bigger and more power-hungry applications more efficiently, just as a Quad-Core chip would.
Making the move from the smartphone sector to tablets are NFC (Near Field Communications) and 4G LTE connectivity. Despite a fast processor and the latest connectivity options, battery life will be a decent 9 hours plus with a standby time of 30 hours from a single charge.
We’re told that tablets that use the Intel chip will come in two sizes; a regular 10-inch touchscreen tablet and an ASUS Transformer Prime-style 11-inch tablet-cum-netbook with a dockable keyboard.
Intel’s Wireless Display (Wi-Di) technology will also be present in its Windows 8 tablets, which allows you to stream everything from the screen of your portable device to any TV using a small dongle that connects to the back of your set.
Windows 8 is expected to launch later this year around October time, with laptops, desktops and tablets expected to come to market in time for Christmas. Will you be waiting for Windows 8 before you buy a tablet?
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