This will be full Windows, not the powered down RT version that has met with mixed reactions. The listing was quickly pulled from Amazon shortly after, but not before various news and tech blogs had already started hailing the coming of 8'' Windows tablets - presumably with 7'' models just around the corner.
This then seemingly divided reports in two. While some blogs seemed excited at the prospect, other reporters and some comments questioned the purpose of a Windows machine that size. Would legacy applications be any use on such a small touch screen? Does such a small size lend itself at all to content creation or is it only really suitable for consumption?
Why You Should be Excited
Well I'm here to argue that seven or eight inches is in fact perfect for a Windows tablet and something that has been notable in its absence until now. While this may indeed be a small screen by most standards, it's not completely unheard of.If you have ever used a netbook under 10'' for instance, then you'll know that it's possible to get fairly creative on the move with that much screen 'real estate'. Since I last had a <10'' netbook resolutions have improved and UIs have become more minimal so this will only have gotten better.
And no one is suggesting that the W3 or similar devices will be replacing your main desktop computer. Rather, they will be useful as a device you can take with you on the move when you're travelling or heading into work.
I recently went traveling with my ultrabook and while it wasn't too heavy, I was constantly worrying about it, having to find places to charge and having to compromise on what I brought with me in my bag as a result. When I was leaping through waterfalls in Croatia last week, I could really have done with having a light 7'' tablet packed in tightly with my clothes adding barely any weight.
.jpg "Windows 8 Tablets") |
| Image Licensed Under Attribution |
But why not just use a Nexus 7 I hear you ask? Well, because I work online for a living and to do so I need a number of applications that are only available on a full desktop operating system. I make apps for instance, which means I need to be running Eclipse and the full programming environment with SDK, and I sometimes edit articles for which I need full Word with the annotations feature.
Try doing any of those things on a Nexus 7 (let alone an iPad... yuck!) and you'll find you need a proper PC. In fact, try writing an article from a source using Nexus 7 and you'll find the limitations of the operating system become abundantly clear.
With a W3, you can work at your desktop, save your work to the cloud, then carry on the tube or while on holiday. All you'll need is a little keyboard and you'll be good to go.
Other Uses
At the same time, a small screen size also lends itself perfectly to a number of other uses. For instance you could be watching a film on your W3 then easily take it with you to carry on watching while you wash up dishes in the kitchen.The Nexus 7 and iPad Mini have demonstrated the popularity and practicality of the 7'' form factor and having full Windows on there will only make this more useful still. Watch TV on the move for instance, but be able to answer an e-mail at the same time without having to close everything.
An 8''Windows tablet can also make work more flexible and sociable. In order to program you'll no longer need to be in the corner of the room glued to your desk, you can instead be absent-mindedly swiping across your screen while relaxing in the garden and chatting to a friend.
Put a phone in there too and you almost remove the need for any other device at all...
Paul PotterAbout the Author:
Today's author, Paul Potter, is a tech enthusiast and a tech blogger. In his opinion, tv over internet is convinient and easy as compared to the traditional tv sets. He writes about the latest advancements and announcements made in the tech industry.