Windows RT Will Require 12GB of Storage on Tablets

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Need a bigger boat?

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows RT takes up more than one third of Surface’s 32GB storage space.

The tablet's test manager Ricardo Lopez said that owners of the 32GB variant will only have 20GB of storage to utilize; Windows RT OS, Microsoft Office and other various pre-loaded apps take up a considerable proportion of the device's internal storage space.

When asked about the size relating to the Windows RT install, Ricardo Lopez replied, “After the OS, Office RT and a bunch of apps, you will still have more that 20GB. As you say, you can always add an SD card and while you cannot add apps there, you can get music, movies and photos there.”

Comparatively, iOS on the iPad takes up 1GB.

Surface, which has already seen its $499 model sold out a day after prices were announced, releases on October 26 alongside Windows 8.

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Zak Islam
60 Comments Comment from the forums
  • osamabinrobot
    youve got to be kidding me! they cant even keep the bloat down on a tablet version of the os?
    Reply
  • jacobdrj
    I would have expected 2gb, maybe 4. I could have even been like, hmm, 7, I guess...

    12? Even with office, that is excessive. Too many uncompressed BMPs?
    Reply
  • WhyFi
    "Comparatively, iOS on the iPad takes up 1GB."

    Doesn't take much to launch apps.

    ....but yeah, 12GB is a bit portly.
    Reply
  • Distinct
    Really? My Windows 8 Enterprise x64 download from MSDN is 3.4GB.... the x86 is 2.4GB.... how is the RT version adding 10GB? Even with Office 2013 preview pre-installed, which btw.... is 830MB(x64), that doesn't seem to stack up.
    Reply
  • lipoly
    You could've linked to the actual source of this info instead of this (biased) article: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/11kyja/iam_panos_panay_gm_of_microsoft_surface_amaa_ask/

    Link to specific question/answer: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/11kyja/iam_panos_panay_gm_of_microsoft_surface_amaa_ask/c6ndgfl
    Reply
  • amdwilliam1985
    DistinctReally? My Windows 8 Enterprise x64 download from MSDN is 3.4GB.... the x86 is 2.4GB.... how is the RT version adding 10GB? Even with Office 2013 preview pre-installed, which btw.... is 830MB(x64), that doesn't seem to stack up.
    I think you're talking about download of the image, once you extract and install it, Windows 8 and 7 does take up space.
    I do agree Windows RT takes up a lot of space, no wonder they start space at 32GB.
    But if you can deliver the smoothness and ubiquitous then I see a win.
    modern browser and OS that lets you download and play with flash, put in a touch of MS office and full size USB, it's a win win. My gf is already thinking about dumping her iPad(html web with youtube machine) for the Surface(flash web and office).
    Reply
  • amdwilliam1985
    Also, let's be reasonable here, stick to the fact, $500 buys you 12 to 13 GB of user accessible storage on the iPad or 20+ GB on Surface.
    Reply
  • bllue
    That is a lot but at least we have the option to use SD/USB drives
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    well this will keep windows tablets expensive. considering how small IOS and droid OS are this is a bad news for MS
    Reply
  • hate machine
    The source never stated 12 gigs was the install. The guy said after the OS, Office and "A bunch of apps you will be left with 20 GBs.
    Reply