HP’s First Window 8 Tablet Will Target Businesses, Not Consumers - hillparented

Hewlett-Packard's first Windows 8 tablet will be a business-oriented slate running an x86 CPU, not a consumer product running Microsoft's upcoming Windows RT operative system of rules, the company has announced.

Windows RT is a version of Windows 8. It's designed specifically for tablets and other devices that use Nvidia's ARM processors. H.P. hasn't subordinate out an ARM-based slate pouring Windows RT, but says its first Windows-tablet efforts wish rive on business customers.

Microsoft recently surprised the tech world–and perhaps its old Microcomputer manufacturing partners too–by announcing two new tablets it plans to deal under its own brand. The future ARM-supported Skin-deep for Windows RT is a consumer device, spell the pricier and more powerful Surface for Windows 8 Master features an Intel Core i5 (x86) Processor and is target at business users.

The tablet announcement is a impressive change from Microsoft's traditional OS occupation simulate, where it licenses Windows to hardware makers so much as HP, Dell, and Acer, who in turn build and sell PCs running the Microsoft OS.

An H.P. interpreter nowadays transmitted the pursual statement via email to PCWorld:

"HP continues to view using ARM processors in business and consumer products. However, our early Win 8 tablet will be on the x86 platform focused on the business market. The determination to go with x86 was influenced aside stimulus from our customers. The robust and foreign ecosystem of x86 applications provides the best customer experience at this time and in the fast future."

Bad Market, Sound Market

So why is Hewlett-Packard is building a Windows 8 Professional slate first? Whatsoever reports hint HP and its familiar Windows PC builders are miffed at Microsoft for trespassing happening their sward with the Surface tablets. Some other potential trouble is toll. A past poll of vendors by VR-Zone at the Computex Taipei trade show reveals that Microsoft is charging its computer hardware partners about $85 per copy of Windows RT, making it red cent near impossible to profit happening a sub-$500 consumer slate.

Finally, there's the hypothesis that a job-headed tablet is bu a smarter play for HP, which over the bygone year has refocused its efforts on higher-margin enterprise customers. A Windows 8 lozenge with an x86 CPU–one similar to Microsoft's own Surface for Windows 8 Professional–could run standard Windows programs such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop, thereby making it more appealing to business users.

Contact Jeff Bertolucci at Today@PCWorld, Twitter (@jbertolucci) or jbertolucci.blogspot.com.