Windows 8

[haven]

Lenovo has announced the specs of its Windows 8 tablet, called the Thinkpad 2.

The Thinkpad 2 will have a 10.1 color LCD touchscreen with 1366x768 resolution. The tablet will run an unspecified version of Intel's Atom processor, which means it will run standard Windows 8 and the standard suite of desktop apps. Also unspecified is the minimum amount of RAM (I'm guessing 2 GB) and storage (16 GB minimum, I'd guess). The tablet will weigh 1.3 lb. Battery life is estimated at 10 hours, but given the processor, I'm skeptical.

The base Thinkpad 2 will have WiFi only, and will sport 8 megapixel rear-facing and 2 megapixel front-facing cameras. The Thinkpad 2 will offer mini USB and HDMI ports. 4G (LTE) cell service is optional. AT&T is rumored to be the carrier. A docking keyboard with Lenovo's trademark TrackPoint "eraserhead" mouse pointer in the center of the keyboard, a digitizer (for stylus input) and fingerprint reader will be additional options.

I expect Lenovo is just the first of several manufacturers which will have tablets available when Windows 8 is released on October 28.

The Verge has a set of photos taken at the press introduction in NYC.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/8/322...ctures#3642338

[haven]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/16/32...next-windows-8

Here's a wildly enthusiastic article that describes the author's enthusiasm for Windows 8. The author says it's the first OS that works with a touchscreen as well as it works with keyboard and mouse. That makes Windows 8 the best choice for use with a convertible slate -- tablet one minute, full desktop computer the next.

One ring to rule them all?

[haven]

Here's a video that gives a look at what Powerpoint and Word look like on a Windows RT tablet, namely the new Samsung ATIV RT. The software demo starts at about the 2:30 mark.



The touch controls seem a bit too small to me. Maybe the reason Microsoft is pushing accessory keyboards for its Surface tablets is that the apps are hard to use without one.

[reece146]

The user interface isn't quite done yet. The toggle between modes really needs some elegance applied to it.

Im generally positive on this device but it has the rough edges that Microsoft stuff normally does when directly compared to Apple stuff. C'mon, get with the programme MS!

[haven]

You're right, it's still 2 months before the public release of Windows 8. That's enough time to clean up the UI.

[haven]

The Windows 8 debut party is Oct 26. The new OS is radically different than previous versions of Windows. The task faced by Microsoft designers was to create a user experience that works as well on devices with touchscreens as it does on conventional PCs operated with keyboard and mouse. Most reviewers think Microsoft did an admirable job meeting this goal.

The new OS looks and feels different. I think Windows 7 and MacOS have more in common that Windows 8 does with Windows 7. Most people will require some studying and practicing to become comfortable using the new environment. Here's a good description of how the basic features of Windows 8 work. http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/23/3...ndows-8-review

Some Windows applications by Microsoft and third parties have been modified to match the aesthetics and touchscreen function of the new OS. Microsoft has created a new Windows Store to sell the new applications. By Oct. 26, there will be some 5000 applications in the Windows Store. The Microsoft Office suite of programs and Internet Explorer have been updated to the new Windows 8 style.

It will take some time for third party application developers to migrate to the new OS environment. In the meantime, older applications will run in a Windows compatibility box that looks mostly like a Windows 7 screen.

Widespread adoption of Windows 8 will take time. Microsoft's customers have invested enormous amounts of resources and time in learning how to use the legacy Windows OS and its applications. Migrating to the new Windows 8 world is not something that will happen overnight. (Just look at the large number of companies that still run Windows XP, which was superseded in 2006.)

[haven]

Here's a lengthy article that describes the Windows 8 upgrade process
http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/25/3...-update-new-pc