HP Pulling Out of Windows RT Race... Over Surface?
HP has supposedly bailed out of the Windows RT race while other Microsoft partners are considering the same, thanks to Surface.
If rumors are true, then Microsoft may have just created a few enemies with the introduction of the Surface tablet last week. Sources have told SemiAccurate that a "whole flock" of formerly close Microsoft partners are looking at Google's Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" as their new best friend. Most are currently debating on whether it will be worth their time to develop Windows RT tablets while Hewlett Packard, Microsoft's biggest OEM, is bailing out altogether.
SemiAccurate paints a dark strategy implemented by Microsoft which paves the way for the supposed OEM rebellion. "Microsoft handcuffed both ARM chipmakers and OEMs with their brilliant two device per chipmaker strategy," the report describes. "Then, they ‘worked closely’ with all the OEMs, ‘helping’ them with their designs. As soon as those designs were essentially finalized, Microsoft did their own device that paid homage to their OEMs most innovative features. It is also a direct competitor to those OEMs, and was designed knowing exactly where their weaknesses were."
The article points out that Microsoft isn't bound by the same restrictions it imposes on OEMs, squashing any possible competition posed by Windows RT partners. The company also increased the price of Windows RT licenses with a "questionably legal monopolistic bundle" to around 3 times that it requires OEMs to pay for the x86 version of Windows 8. Because of these two factors, OEMs can't seemingly compete in the Windows RT arena.
As previously stated, HP and its Qualcomm-based Windows RT machines are supposedly the first to bail. Other industry rumors claim that Windows RT partners are canning one or more designs in light of the Surface reveal last week, and are scraping up every bit of resource they can to renew their Android efforts. This move is likely fueled by Android 4.1's big reveal this week at Google I/O which sports features like the Chrome browser (HTML5 apps?) and Google Now, Siri's new competitor.
"Microsoft’s incompetent management and Apple envy earned the enmity of their largest partner, and others are following closely," SemiAccurate writes. "Like we said, game over for Windows RT."
Is that as bit harsh, or dead on the money? The fact that Microsoft kept Surface a secret until the very last moment should speak volumes about the company's current relationship with OEMs. As for HP bailing out of Windows RT, given the company's rocky status, the gadget may never have been at the forefront of its plans to begin with.
UPDATE: HP confirmed that it has put its Windows RT plans on hold. "The decision to go with x86 was influenced by input from our customers,” HP spokesperson Marlene Somsak wrote in an e-mail to Bloomberg. “The robust and established ecosystem of x86 applications provides the best customer experience at this time and in the immediate future.”
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cscott_it I think it was because of the shortcomings in their OEM offerings. Not because of their "weaknesses".Reply
It may mean more or less the same thing, but when you read it, you get the difference. Google is a good example, sometimes if you want it done right - you have to do it yourself. Hopefully they can offer something intuitive and groundbreaking compared to their partners, something that adds another player so that all of the tablet makers have to redouble their efforts and push things farther.
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damianrobertjones In all honesty we've seen what the oems can offer and they can be damn, DAMN lazy! Leave Windows RT to Microsoft and announce the new 2770p along with a nice new x86 wacom tablet.Reply
Also, HP, please, DO NOT simply drop an Atom based WIndows 8 tablet like the HP Slate 500 and Slate 2 as they were both tragically underpowered devices.
Personally I'd like a nice new 2170p with a screen that's a tablet so I can use all the fantastic docking stations, peripherals and BB09/CC09 extended batteries. 32+ hours of battery life anyone? But... HP probably won't do that as it makes too much sense. -
damianrobertjones P.S. If Windows RT takes off they'll soon come running and I hope that they get ignored! Tut.Reply -
Pinhedd cscott_itI think it was because of the shortcomings in their OEM offerings. Not because of their "weaknesses".It may mean more or less the same thing, but when you read it, you get the difference. Google is a good example, sometimes if you want it done right - you have to do it yourself. Hopefully they can offer something intuitive and groundbreaking compared to their partners, something that adds another player so that all of the tablet makers have to redouble their efforts and push things farther.Reply
Couldn't agree more. Apple's success in the phone and tablet market isn't due to Apple doing anything particularly new or daunting, it's due to the competition not doing anything right at all. -
eddieroolz Dropping Windows RT for Android? That doesn't sound like a good decision at all. Just look at the Android tablet numbers - the first generation iPad probably outsold them combined.Reply -
IAmVortigaunt Let's be honest. Did anyone really expect anything great out of HP on this front anyway?Reply -
cscott_it "Microsoft’s incompetent management and Apple envy earned the enmity of their largest partner, and others are following closely," SemiAccurate writes. "Like we said, game over for Windows RT."Reply
This does not surprise me in the least. It won't be the first time they have said this about something and it won't be the last.
An aside-
Kevin - why are you sourcing SemiAccurate? Wouldn't that be like sourcing AnandTech or XbitLabs?
I mean, it just seems like you could do better, like the opinion piece you wrote.
I enjoyed that and overall I enjoy your journalism, maybe I'm just being an overcritical douche. -
Who cares about HP anyway. They are the worst offenders of putting bloatware onto their PC's. WinRt restricts this completely, so no wonder. They will do the same with Jelly Bean and their tablets will suck. Good luck HP. I advise everyone I know to stay away from your junk bloatware infested computers, and will do the same with your tablets.Reply
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zcpro This marks the day where OEM's will collaborate with Google to create/expand support for an alternate X86 client OS (Chrome OS) for PC. I say within five (5) years a Google X86 client OS will be supported by the above mentioned OEM'S for Business and End User units.Reply