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AMD Shows Off 11.6-inch Windows 8 Tablet Prototype

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US

Watch out Intel and ARM.

There are three common themes at Computex Taipei this year: Tablets, ultrabooks, and Windows 8. Some companies manage to hit all three with one product (remember Samsung's convertible ultrabook/tablet with touchscreen support for Windows 8?), while others prefer to take things one or two categories at a time. On the show floor, AMD is showing them how its done with its Windows 8 concept tablet based on its Trinity APU.

 

Boasting an 11.6-inch display with a 1366 x 768 resolution, the tablet is manufactured by Compal and also comes with a nifty keyboard dock for when you want to get down and dirty and do some real work. To that end, there's also a kickstand for the tablet to prop it up on a desk or table.

AMD is hoping that tablets based on Trinity will be able to take on similar products based on technologies from rivals Intel and ARM but other than showing off this prototype, the company didn't reveal much regarding its Windows 8 plans.

Due out in the fall, Windows 8 introduces a brand new user interface for desktop users. While current Windows users are familiar with the point and click world that is desktop computing, Microsoft's Metro UI aims to transform the desktop UI into a touch-sensitive app-tacular experience similar to how we interact with tablets and smartphones.

 

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There are 30 Comments. B
Top Comments
  • 16
    Bloob , June 7, 2012 9:42 PM
    Now, this I might buy, especially if comes with a docking station or detachable keyboard ( like Asus' Transformer ).
  • 13
    Tab54o , June 7, 2012 9:49 PM
    Screw the tablets I want an Asian girl.
  • 12
    hardcore_gamer , June 7, 2012 10:17 PM
    Tab54oScrew the tablets I want an Asian girl.


    You can take that young Asian girl in the first picture :D .
Other Comments
  • 16
    Bloob , June 7, 2012 9:42 PM
    Now, this I might buy, especially if comes with a docking station or detachable keyboard ( like Asus' Transformer ).
  • 13
    Tab54o , June 7, 2012 9:49 PM
    Screw the tablets I want an Asian girl.
  • 0
    otacon72 , June 7, 2012 9:59 PM
    Windows 8 tablet plus a robust keyboard/docking station is the end of Android tablets.
  • 1
    Pedrovsky , June 7, 2012 10:04 PM
    where is the tablet? I see only laptops
  • 12
    hardcore_gamer , June 7, 2012 10:17 PM
    Tab54oScrew the tablets I want an Asian girl.


    You can take that young Asian girl in the first picture :D .
  • 2
    The_Trutherizer , June 7, 2012 10:19 PM
    Pedrovskywhere is the tablet? I see only laptops


    I can only assume that they are showing it with the keyboard dock
  • 0
    anonymous@guest , June 7, 2012 10:20 PM
    I like Trinity, but the battery life I wonder about. I haven't seen their low power Trinity APUs yet, but its hard to believe they will have a better power envelop than ULV Ivy Bridge. They would be considerably more powerful than Medfield, but Medfield is SoC and contains a lot of the logic on chip whereas AMD will have additional logic parts taking up Watts. A 17W Trinity + several watts in other parts is too much power IMO. Why not go with Brazos? While even Brazos probably uses too much power for true portability, it would be much closer to ARM and Medfield. A tablet like the way people are using the iPad simply has to be ultra portable, meaning, only plug in at night when you are going to bed or leaving work. The rest of the time, it has to be completely free of power attachment without worry of power failure. I don't see this happening with AMD's solution.
  • 1
    airborne11b , June 7, 2012 10:36 PM
    Good for amd. I hope they can make something worth while in the tablet sector. I'm sick of seeing amd flop around in the enthusist cpu sector and getting pounded by intel as bad as they have been over the past 5 or 6 years.

    At least getting it right in the low end market can save the company due to the majority of profits that the tablet/notebook market brings in.
  • 0
    pjmelect , June 7, 2012 11:06 PM
    Quote:
    Screw the tablets I want an Asian girl.


    Screw the Asian girl I want any girl.
  • 3
    tmk221 , June 7, 2012 11:25 PM
    It will probably be much cheaper then similar intel based devices. And their updated APU with Piledriver cores and VLIW4 gpu looks quite strong.
  • 0
    djscribbles , June 7, 2012 11:30 PM
    hardcore_gamerYou can take that young Asian girl in the first picture .



    If you turn that sentence around you can get some of both.
  • 8
    aaronstyle , June 7, 2012 11:44 PM

    pjmelectScrew the Asian girl I want any girl.



    Forever alone?
  • -6
    twu , June 7, 2012 11:50 PM
    Tab54oScrew the tablets I want an Asian girl.


    Are you serious dude? Do you know how they look like when the clock turns to 35+? Just look at the picture on the top, the lady holding a laptop claims to be tablet.

    Cheer! :) 
  • -6
    twu , June 7, 2012 11:55 PM
    pjmelectScrew the Asian girl I want any girl.


    That is a H comment. Something is really wrong with your life. First, you need dump the friends that you hanging around with now. Second, you need to learn how to speak better. Just like how I start learning how to type. :) .
  • 0
    NuclearShadow , June 8, 2012 1:05 AM
    I really hope that Microsoft is successful with Windows based tablets and hopefully they are a competitive price. Microsoft has had terrible luck when it comes to getting a user base for windows phones but tablets will give them a chance to shine.
  • -4
    erunion , June 8, 2012 1:45 AM
    pjmelectScrew the Asian girl I want any girl.


    Then get off the internet!
  • -6
    d_kuhn , June 8, 2012 2:02 AM
    Needs more resolution... 1366x768... that's PHONE resolution not tablet resolution. I'd like a Windows tablet (my iPad is only really good for media) but it will have AT LEAST 1920x1200 resolution.
  • -5
    vertigo_2000 , June 8, 2012 2:04 AM
    What's the pricing going to be like on these W8 tablets?

    I bought my Acer Iconia A500 for $500. I assume Acer installed the Android OS for free or, if not free, for a heavily discounted rate.

    If a W8 OS is going to be $200, what's the end price to the consumer?
  • 1
    chomlee , June 8, 2012 2:16 AM
    Pricing of windows 8 is going to be key. If Microsoft realizes that they can make more money by controlling app purchases and media purchases enough to lower the price to affordable levels, they might have something. If they think people are going to want to pay a premium for a windows 8 phone, tablet, and then upgrade their computer as well, I don't see it catching on.
  • 1
    Wisecracker , June 8, 2012 2:45 AM

    Slick move by AMD.

    Compal Electronics is big, big really big. We could see Compal-branded tabs and similar versions made by Compal for OEMs.

    Love to see some low-watt BrazosII action, unless 17w Trinity is silly-efficient.

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