A signed Microsoft Tablet?

Microsoft would consider market a tablet in his name by the end of 2012. She expected Windows 8 and would be designed in partnership with Texas Instrument, and Taiwanese OEMs. DigiTimes, who reported these rumors, cited sources close to the record. Redmond is refused to any comment.

It is information which is likely. Market shelves is one of the segments that allowed Apple to become the largest OEM semiconductor spending. In recent years, Microsoft has is more invested in the commercialization of platforms. He experienced great success, such as the Xbox 360 and Kinect or important chess with the Zune or the Kin.

In addition, Microsoft admitted already working on a tablet. The Courier project had been very well received by the press (see "Courier: the Microsoft Tablet") prior to be set aside. Before the success of the iPad and the arrival en masse of Android tablets, it may decide to bring its weight to popularize Windows 8. In any event, Microsoft will impose significant constraints on manufacturers who will only be able to choose the components present in a specific list. It already has the necessary relationships with wholesalers and resellers in the world with versions of Windows and to mice, keyboards, webcams, or console box. The marketing of a Tablet would be very difficult.

The only problem which, in our view, prevents Microsoft to fully engage in this activity and that puts an end to the rumours is the relationship he has with the OEM. By selling a tablet, he would compete with its partners, which is never good in terms of commercial relations. Manufacturers have already expressed their discontent with the restrictive specifications imposed by Microsoft (see "The interface of Windows 8 unveiled"). They may complain of the Redmond bars unfair advantage while they are forced to purchase licenses to the Publisher. The problem is that today ', OEMs have the choice to not leave a Windows Tablet and focus on Android which is already significantly more popular on the slates that none of the systems of Redmond. Hypothetically, the firm of Steve Ballmer might be preparing its own tablet in the event that any of its partners decided to get out a convincing model. Nevertheless, we think above all Microsoft labs working on hardware platforms that they propose to partners to facilitate their task and convince them to sell a Windows model. We seriously doubt that Microsoft might ruin its OEM relationships and give them a reason to abandon Windows 8 in favor of Android.