Windows 8 Tablets Delayed, Atom Testing Blamed
Intel is taking some heat over a delay of Windows 8 tablets that are apparently stuck in quality control testing at Microsoft.
Rumor has it that there are still driver issues related to the Atom Z2760 processor. Microsoft is mum on the issue, while our Intel sources deny that drivers are at fault. Instead the company is pointing at "isolated vendor issues".
However, we know that Windows 8 tablets are launching much later than previously anticipated and they are already heavily discounted. Dell's Latitude 10 will not be available until January 22 - instead of a targeted launch date of December 2012 - and consumers can currently order the base model for $649, down from a "market value price" of $927. The high-end model with HSPA+ mini card will sell for $849, down from $1,212. The Windows RT version, the XPS 10, is still selling for $499, $599,, $679, and $779, without any offered discounts.
HP's convertible tablet Envy x2 11t-g000 is also delayed with an anticipated ship date of January 9. The device is priced at $850 (without HSPA+). HP is not offering discounts at this time.

Didn't you just describe the iPad?
Really?.. They think that its worth that much money for the base model? they are absolutely crazy.
Didn't you just describe the iPad?
Say what you like but it's a tablet with no compromise..
Forget iPad, Android.... This thing has everything even a USB port.. which actually is Micro USB but they give you the converter cable free.
I also got the keyboard dock with it..
18 Hours of battery life.. and a Full version of Windows..
Pfft.. once these hit the market full force and prices start to drop.. why would you even consider an iPad of Android Tablet..
It's even thinner and lighter than my Surface RT.
The Linux Kernel just started to support ARM architecture natively, which means no more emulation for Android, which means performance and battery boost. The Asus Transformer has already had USB host (full USB I might add) and 19 hours battery life for quite some time. There are also other models that support USB hosting, and full x86 versions of Linux are already being ported to the Nexus 7. I do think a Windows 8 (x86_64) hybrid tablet is very enticing, but it would have to have a hell of a price drop, especially considering how cheap Android devices are.
why do you need so many windows tablets?
I run an IT consulting business that supports many different platforms. with the current state of BYOD (bring your own device) in the work place I have to certify a lot of different products. I also have Androd and several iPads.. most of them just sit around waiting for the next test or user configuration error..
No, people are buying iPads.
My point was not to say that there isn't any other tables that have USB or 19 hours battery life. It was to highlight that this is the first Windows series of Tablets that offer not only Battery life and functionality to rival the others... but the one thing missing from tablets to date.. A system of no compromise.. with android I have to compromise.. With IOS I have to compromise. with Windows RT I have to compromise.. but with a tablet running Windows 8, there is no compromise.. it is everything the others have and misses nothing.. from Direct attachment to printers to running every piece of software created for windows, you can attach almost every USB peripheral you can think of. I haven't been able to find one piece of software / Hardware I couldn't run on Windows 8 even applications that were almost 10 years old..
Why wouldn't you want a full OS on a tablet if it offers the same performance and battery life?
As for cost.. launch devices are always typically High.. I remember buying my First Asus android tablet for almost 600. the price will come down and the market will get saturated with devices for almost every price point.
Again because I needed it, I had no problem spending 749 on the W510.. the 650 for the Surface RT and touch keyboard hurt more (needs more apps). What I love about the surface is the kickstand.. believe it or not I think it is one of the best features of the unit just based on functionality.
iPads can only dream of having the functionality of any netbook, but agree with the point...
More netbooks are sold than iPads, just seems like more iPads cos they all come from the same manufacturer
I'm getting driver issues, and I believe ASUS is to blame. Samsung's lineup have gotten updates a few days ago.
I hope you're not saying that iPad's are not wildly successful. So far 100 million iPads were sold, and yes, that's from one manufacturer, at healthy margins, with additional app purchases. Any netbook/notebook/console/Ultrabook (ha ha fail) OEM would sell their own children for iPad numbers. Microsoft ruined their desktop OS hoping to get a piece of the pie (ha ha fail), Google is selling equivalent or superior devices at close to cost in order to keep up (makes sense in their business model), so saying anything other than iPad is wildly successful is just being obtuse.
@killerclick LOL are to stupid to figure out a few changes.. and get over the OMG they took away the start button? Properly setup, the start screen can be faster to use than the start menu ever was..Lets say I want to start Photoshop and Filezilla and dreamweaver.. I could already have the icons pinned to the taskbar.. but I like to keep it clean.. anyways.. with the new metro interface it's easy.. press the winkey on the keyboard, click the program I want to start (not exactly rocket scienc, you couldn't figure that out?).. I've grouped all my used Tiles on the start screen, Labeled them and organised them the way I want.. I find this to be better than the start menu ever was..
The old way.. click start button.. hope that photoshop is in the frequently used list.. if not click all programs, search for Adobe, click photoshop folder, click photoshop icon..
Plus while working in the desktop mode.. if I want a powerful menu to start CMD, Control Pannel, Programs and features and plethora of other admin tasks..
All I have to do is move my mouse to where the start button used to be and Right Click.. up comes a menu that is more powerfull than the start menu ever was for doing admin tasks..
So with two simple changes I am even more productive than I was with Windows 7.. I guess those two little things were to much for you to figure out.
Want to close an open Metro App.. Move mouse to the top left and move down.. all your running apps are displayed for you. Righy click close..
Yeah Windows 8 is real hard to use.. Nice Fail dude.. Nice Fail