We’re still a while away before we’ll see Windows 8 land in a retail tablet but a new rumor suggests that Microsoft may be one of the first companies to release one, as the software giant may be preparing to build its own Windows 8 tablet to battle the iPad and Android devices.
The report comes from DigiTimes, so take that for what it’s worth, but it does make for some interesting discussion topics. By making a Windows 8 tablets, Microsoft could ensure that the first (or close to first) product meets its standards and delivers a good experience. Like Google did with the Nexus lineup, Microsoft could have one halo device out there that shows how it wants the platform to actually run.
The downside of Microsoft making its own Windows 8 tablet is that it has the chance to alienate partners because this thing would be competing with computers and tablets from the likes of Acer, Samsung and more. Microsoft also has a spotty record with producing its own mobile hardware, as the Kin would be remembered as a disaster if anyone even bothered to remember it.
Still, the company isn’t always useless when it comes to creating hardware, as I’m typing this on an excellent Microsoft keyboard and I’ll use my Xbox 360 later to play some L.A. Noire. It would know what were the best hardware requirements for Windows 8 and it could try and get these out for a relatively cheap price in order to spur adoption.
Like I said before, it’s still just a rumor, so let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. We’ll definitely keep an eye on this story as Windows 8 comes closer to being released. Do you think Microsoft should build its own tablets? Can it do this right? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
[Via DigiTimes]