News & Analysis
Comment
agk
one more reliable and good product in the microsoft range of hardware.I ...
wilber_xbox
Has Microsoft developed such a good software package that they thought of ...
Microsoft picks both ARM and Intel for tablet
Julien Happich
6/19/2012 9:14 AM EDT
Microsoft has unveiled a 10.6-inch tablet in a 16:9 aspect ratio, dubbed the Surface, to be available in two options, one powered by Intel's 22-nm Ivy Bridge processor running Windows 8, and another Surface powered by an ARM chipset and Windows RT.
[ARM TechCon 2012, the largest ARM design ecosystem under one roof, is Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 in Santa Clara. Click here to check out agenda.]
The Windows RT version is 9.3-mm thin, weighs 676 grams, includes a built-in kickstand, and is claimed to be the first PC with a vapor-deposited magnesium case. It will ship in 32- and 64-Gbyte versions and will compete head-to-head with Apple’s iPads.
The Intel-based Surface tablet will run Windows 8 Pro, with a thickness of 13.5-mm, to compete with lightweight laptop PCs, at 903 grams.
This version will also include magnesium casing and a built-in kickstand, but will ship with either 64- or 128-Gbytes of storage. The Intel version will also include additional digital ink support through a pen that magnetizes to the body of the tablet, and a touch-capable 10.6-inch ClearType "Full HD" display. The lighter, thinner version of the Surface tablet, built on an Nvidia Corp chip designed by ARM Holdings, will be the first to market at the same time as the general release of Windows 8, and will come with Microsoft's Office suite of applications.
This article was first published by EE Times Europe
Related links and articles:
www. microsoft.com
News articles:
Et tu, Ballmer, or M’soft’s stab at tablets
Apple brings down ceiling on Ultrabooks
TI, Nvidia tied for second in tablet CPUs
|
|
|
|
|
Navigate to related information
wilber_xbox
6/19/2012 10:37 AM EDT
And what will be the price? Any comparison points with other tablets?
Sign in to Reply
peter.clarke
6/19/2012 11:37 AM EDT
The word is that ARM-based Surface will sell to compete with Apple iPad. The Intel-based Surface is thought to be set to compete against ultrabooks.
Sign in to Reply
rick.merritt
6/19/2012 2:28 PM EDT
My views are here:
http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4375615/Et-tu--Ballmer--or-M-soft-s-stab-at-tablets
Sign in to Reply
chanj
6/19/2012 4:07 PM EDT
The weight looks pretty good. I wonder the battery life and what outstanding features Windows 8 offers that competitors will have to catch up.
Sign in to Reply
Sanjib.Acharya
6/19/2012 11:02 PM EDT
What might be the cause for the Intel version to be more weighty than the ARM version? Is it because of greater thermal challenges or heavier battery? Given these two options, anybody would buy the Intel version if there are now price/performance advantage?
Sign in to Reply
eewiz
6/20/2012 1:49 AM EDT
Too obvious. its higher power consumption of the intel chip and hence a heavier battery.
IMO, Intel version has better chances, as it can run all the legacy programs. Windows RT cannot run existing apps IINW
Sign in to Reply
peter.clarke
6/20/2012 7:24 AM EDT
I understand that the Intel version will have full Windows 8 support while ARM version runs Windows RT that is ligher OS but does include some Office applications
Sign in to Reply
elctrnx_lyf
6/20/2012 6:03 AM EDT
Finally Microsoft venturing with their own hardware products is really interesting. Will the other ultra book manufactures will be angry with Microsoft and deny ti use windows 8?
Sign in to Reply
peter.clarke
6/20/2012 7:27 AM EDT
They might try and refuse to use Windows 8, but their alternative choices are limited.
iOS is Apple only and then there is Windows versions and Android and that's about it.
Naked Linux or you could resuscitate RiscOS?
Sign in to Reply
wilber_xbox
6/21/2012 10:38 AM EDT
I do not know whether the hardware companies, which were planning to use Win8 for their tablet and ultrabook knew about MS's development. If not, then its like stabbing on the back of your customers. But true that the options for those hardware companies are limited and probably will also be expensive to implement.
Sign in to Reply
wilber_xbox
6/21/2012 10:40 AM EDT
Has Microsoft developed such a good software package that they thought of launching their own hardware or is this prologue to something bigger (takeover plan of Nokia).
Sign in to Reply
agk
9/17/2012 8:41 AM EDT
one more reliable and good product in the microsoft range of hardware.I generally have the feeling that micro soft hardware products also perform well like their software products.Soon expecting the same in our market to buy one.
Sign in to Reply