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One of the most talked about updates to Windows since ’95, Windows 8 is inspiring manufacturers to change the way we use laptops and tablets today. With an extreme Metro makeover, Windows 8 actually looks very touch-friendly and inviting to use, and this makes it perfect for the tablet interface. The use of gestures across the new Windows make it much easier to navigate and control this new PC-style. The final version has yet to be released to consumers, so all the tablets listed are not yet available as well as lack a competitive price point, but, with a release date of October 26th, it will only be a matter of time before we see these amazing post-PC devices flood the market.
10. HP Envy X2
HP tried to go into the tablet a few years back using their own WebOS, unfortunately failing and forced to open source their system. But now they’re back and ready for their second chance with the HP Envy X2 running Windows 8. It has an excellent build quality with the same screen size and resolution as the Vivo Tab, and sporting an Atom processor as well. It is stylus ready and can have up 64GB of internal storage.
Availability:
No release date specified yet.
Price:
No word on pricing yet.
9. ASUS Vivo Tab RT
ASUS has always been pretty quick to create new devices to reach every area of the personal electronics market. One of it’s first iterations of Windows 8 tablets is the Vivo Tab RT. The RT stands for the use of WindowsRT, which nearly all the same features of Windows 8 without the option to use the traditional desktop view seen in Windows 7 and below. This device weighs 520 grams and is 8.3 mm thin with a 10.1-inch screen at a 1366×768 resolution; it also sports a Tegra 3 quad-core processor (commonly seen in higher end Android tablets), a 12-core graphics processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. The 8-megapixel back camera with flash and 2-megapixel front camera, as well as the build in NFC sensor, is just icing on the cake of this tablet.
Availability:
No details are available on the ASUS website yet.
Price:
Hopefully to be priced soon after WindowsRT is released.
8. ASUS Vivo Tab
This is the full Windows 8 tablet and older brother to the Vivo Tab RT. It boasts a next-gen Atom processor (often seen in netbooks) and a 11.6-inch screen with the same 1366×768 resolution as the RT version. It is 675 grams and 8.7 mm thin, and features built-in Wacom technology so that it can be used with a stylus. It has the same 2GB of RAM as in the Tab RT but has an upgraded SSD of 64GB.
Availability:
No details are available on the ASUS website yet.
Price:
Hopefully to be priced soon after WindowsRT is released.
7. Toshiba Satellite U925T
Toshiba definitely has a “go big or go home” when it comes to their Windows 8 tablet. Their 12.5-inch screen is an IPS (in-plane switching) panel covered in Gorilla Glass and weighs less than 3.5 pounds at less than 0.8 mm. The reason for the relatively massive weight is the slide out keyboard attached to the back of the device. It is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and has 128 SSD to make sure you have a snappy start-up with plenty of storage.
Availability:
According to several sources, this tablet will be available on October 26 but no mention of where.
Price:
No pricing has been announced yet.
6. Samsung ATIV Tab
Samsung had it’s line of Galaxy devices for Android, now it’s starting a line with Windows 8 under the ATIV brand. This is Samsung’s RT device as compared to their ATIV Smart PC brethren. It has a 10.1 HD(1366×768) LCD screen at 8.9 mm thin, and weighing in at 570 grams. It features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM with up to 64GB of flash memory, and you can connect to a variety of devices using the miniHDMI and USB 2.0 ports.
Availability:
No details for release yet.
Price:
Samsung remains silent on pricing as well.
5. Samsung ATIV Smart PC
The ATIV Smart PC has 11.6-inch screen with the same resolution as the ASUS Vivo devices, and is powered by an Intel Atom processor as well. It is 750 grams and 9.9 mm thin and boasts 13.5 hours of battery life. It also matches the Vivo Tab in camera specs, however it will come with LTE support for those who want it.
Availability:
No details for release yet.
Price:
Samsung remains silent on pricing as well.
4. Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro
This is Samsung’s supreme powerhouse of a tablet featuring an Intel Core i5 processor, a 1080p 11.6-inch screen, 2-megapixel front & 5-megapixel back cameras, and 8 hours of battery life. You also have the optional of LTE data support.
Availability:
No details on a release date yet.
Price:
Samsung remains silent on pricing as well.
3. Sony Vaio Duo
This is Sony’s first venture into the Windows 8 universe and it comes with some pretty remarkable specs. Under the 11.6-inch, 1080p screen is an Intel Core i7 processor, 256GB of flash memory, and as much as 8GB of RAM to make full use of the power of Windows 8. It is also able to handle the use of a stylus, contains build in NFC support, and HD front & back cameras. Definitely a power machine with a slide out keyboard as well.
Availability:
Sony is hoping for a late October release (like ever other OEM)
Price:
No mention of pricing as of this date.
2. Microsoft Surface RT
It is the device that started it all, the Surface is the first attempt by Microsoft to make it’s own hardware to match the brand new OS it is releasing. It will be the device to beat by all Windows 8 OEMs and has a lot of features to live up to come October; weighing in at 676 grams and at 9.3 mm thin, its magnesium casing is sleek and smooth. It has a 10.6-inch ClearType HD display, with no mention of actual resolution, and has I/O slots for microSD, USB 2.0, and micro HD video. It is obviously running Windows RT and has storage options up 64GB.
Availability:
To be released with Windows 8 on October 26th.
Price:
Microsoft has stayed very vague for it’s flagship device, including its pricing. This set the price point for most other RT tablets.
1. Microsoft Surface
This is Microsoft’s power tablet running the full Windows 8 experience. It is slightly heavier at 903 grams and a bit thicker at 13.5 mm thin; it has the same size screen as its little brother but features a ClearType Full HD display, again no specific resolution mentioned. It has I/O slots for USB 3.0, microSDXC, and mini DisplayPort video. It has storage options up to 128GB of flash memory.
Availability:
The plans are to have this tablet released a month or two after the Surface RT.
Price:
This price point will set the example for the other full Windows 8 tablets.