OEMs Consider Switching to Windows 8 Tablets to Avoid Price War with Kindle Fire
OEMs Consider Switching to Windows 8 Tablets to Avoid Price War with Kindle Fire
Posted 10/17/2011 at 10:54am
| by Paul Lilly
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Amazon did more than just throw down the gauntlet when it announced its $200 Kindle Fire tablet, the e-tailer may have also scared off some of the competition altogether. Oddly enough, the Kindle Fire might actually help Microsoft increase its presence in the mobile market, as OEMs look to Windows 8-based slates in order to avoid a price war among Android tablets.
News and rumor site DigiTimes says Hewlett Packard and Dell are two of several PC vendors planning to invest more heavily in Windows 8 tablets rather than try to compete with low cost Android slates. For this strategy to work, OEMs will try to target business users, somewhat similar to what Research In Motion tried to do with its BlackBerry tablet.
Those who are sticking with Android are finding they have no choice but to cut prices. Motorola, for example, recently announced a special Family Edition version of its Xoom tablet for $379 at Best Buy. It's the same as a regular Xoom, but with a collection of pre-loaded software.
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maxeeemum
October 17, 2011 at 6:18pm
HP will invest more heavily in Windows 8 tablets. You must be kidding! HP!
OEMs will try to target business users. LOL!
Gordon your next rant .... "Windows 8 DOA!"
froggz
October 17, 2011 at 3:15pm
I can see the logic:
So instead of trying to bring the price down to match the Kindle, they'll keep the same price but offer more features
If Nvida delivers with their tegra2, and the tablets has enough oomph to play older pc games, has mouse and gamepad support, plus HDMI output with the ability to run windows productivity software, then I can see being competitive with the ipad3 and Kindle Fire. Not in price, but in features and useability.
LGA1156
October 17, 2011 at 12:45pm
Viewing what Tablets HP and Dell have released seems like both companies like sticking with turds
AETAaAS
October 17, 2011 at 11:38am
I completely fail to see the direction this story is heading in... I don't think either Dell or HP has shown any commitment to the Android OS, Dell released only the Streak devices and HP had its WebOS.
I think its safe to say that HP and Dell are making most of their money currently selling Windows loaded computers. If Windows 8 takes a step towards tablets, they would be wise to consider doing so themselves.
Neufeldt2002
October 17, 2011 at 7:35pm
I have to agree, Dell and HP have always been in the Windows camp. To say that they are looking elsewhere would be a true story, this is just repeating what is already known.
routine
October 17, 2011 at 11:12am
I'm not following the logic here.
Are they switching b/c Windows is cheaper than Android (doubtful) and that will allow them to remain competitive?
Or, are they switching b/c they think people will pay more for a Windows tablet?
If it's the latter, they got another thing coming. People will pay more for an iPad, not a tablet.
I really don't understand, what's so hard for these OEMs to understand this?
CaptainFabulous
October 17, 2011 at 2:49pm
The article makes it pretty clear they will be targeting enterprise users, not the general public, who are unlikely to invest in Windows tablets and will favor the less expensive Android variety.
iheartpcs
October 17, 2011 at 11:20am
It seems to me that they don't want to sell their product for the lowest possible price (with Android), they want to sell their product for as much as they can (with Win 8). Because Windows tablets aren't in a price war with anybody.
Little do they know, only 6 people are going to buy a Windows tablet.
Moon Unit
October 17, 2011 at 7:37pm
Because it would just AWFUL to have a tablet that runs MILLIONS of apps, including apps that you probably already own. It would be much better to buy all new watered down apps that only run on an iPod.
Sheesh. Even MaximumPC has stopped with the bashing of Windows tablets. I guess there's always a few fanboys that believe the Apple marketing propaganda. http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/forget_ipad_what_people_really_want_windows_tablet
Peanut Fox
October 17, 2011 at 10:22pm
That's all well and good, but these tablets will likely be using an ARM processor. So programs that are set to work for x86 won't run on these devices. At least not without a lot of coding overhead.
georgey
November 10, 2011 at 10:57am
If Microsoft doesn't work out a way to run x86 apps on ARM, then the ARM Windows 8 tablets will be DOA.
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