Any news on cheap Windows 8 tablets?

[slugg]

I've found 3 rumors on teh intertubes:

- Microsoft Surface Tablet RT will be $600
- Microsoft Surface Tablet Pro/x86 version will be $1000
- Microsoft is charging $85 for an OEM license of Windows 8 RT

So $200 Android tablets ($0 licensing) are becoming readily available. So what do you guys think - will we see $300 Windows tablets in the near future? Any other gossip showing up?

I'm personally very interested. Having a $300 option really opens the door for deploying the tablet as a tool/solution for businesses. Microsoft is very enterprise friendly, plus they've already announced the Enterprise Store. But if every device is $600+, small-med business may have an issue. Just a thought.

I'm excited for the Microsoft tablet. With their development tools, we're gonna see some really cool stuff!

Update 9-1-2012:
MS Surface Tablet rumored to start at $199

 

[sygyzy]

Remember that Android is free so it's all hardware costs while it'll cost money for manufacturers to pay for a Windows license

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[slugg]

Remember that Android is free so it's all hardware costs while it'll cost money for manufacturers to pay for a Windows license

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I did remember.

 

[wirednuts]

im sure youll see some one sale for as low as $300, but i bet $400 is the likely bottom.

i mean if they dont try to compete with android on pricing, theyre just creating a different kind of tablet that most people dont need. an expensive one that wont sell as well too.

 

[dagamer34]

Remember that Android is free so it's all hardware costs while it'll cost money for manufacturers to pay for a Windows license

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Software development costs are not free to develop and maintain Android for a device are not free.

 

[Dominato3r]

The $85 has been made out to be more than what it is. Every OEM has a different licensing model, so not everyone pays that amount.

I myself am trying look for a cheap winrt tablet but there is very little we know.

 

[jpiniero]

The $85 has been made out to be more than what it is. Every OEM has a different licensing model, so not everyone pays that amount.

This is true, but it's obviously not going to be anywhere near $0.

 

[Dominato3r]

This is true, but it's obviously not going to be anywhere near $0.

Yea, it's all about context.

With the Windows RT license the OEM get's Windows plus a license for Office home & student. The software support is also done completely by Microsoft no matter who manufactured it. So that includes any features, bug fixes, security updates, etc that may be implemented after you buy your device.

 

[dagamer34]

I'm wondering why people think that the Surface RT will cost $600 when the Nexus 7 is only $200. The only difference between the two is a) screen size b) storage amount. Try not to get your mind skewered by iPad pricing, it does NOT cost $100 in parts to go from 16GB to 32GB. In fact, a 32GB flash chip is only $50, 64GB is $80 total. Google charges $50 more for $6 in extra 8GB flash memory when you buy the 16GB model.

Take the bill of materials for the Nexus 7 at $152 for the 8GB model: http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/News/pages/Low-End-Google-Nexus-7-Carries-$157-BOM-Teardown-Reveals.aspx

I also use info from the iPad 3 teardown (but since 6 months will have passed between iPad 3 and the Surface release, stuff will definitely be cheaper): http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns/News/pages/New-iPad-32-GB-4G-Carries-364-35-Bill-of-Materials.aspx

-$14 to remove 8GB chip
+$50 for add 32GB chip
-$62 for the 7" display/touchscreen
+$114 for 10" Retina display (probably cheaper if not retina)

= $240 (BOM)
+$85 for hypothetical made up price of Windows RT

= $325 final cost

That can be sold at $399 if they want to be aggressive or $499 if they want Apple-style margins.

Anyone thinking of $599 is being rather ludicrous. Remember that $200 to go from a 16GB to 64GB iPad 3 would buy you a 256GB SSD. It's pretty easy to see you are getting shafted in terms of raw part pricing.

 

[Zaap]

If the Surface is $399 I'd own one in a heartbeat. Worth it for that.

I won't hold my breath though.

 

[slugg]

I'd buy the Surface in a heartbeat if it were $300; I wouldn't think twice. For $400, I'd have to find a reason to buy it. They say it has a "normal" resolution display, which is kind of a turn-off at this point. I've been spoiled by the high res screen on my iPhone 4

I seriously hope these $600 rumors are false.

 

[blurredvision]

If the RT runs smoothly and doesn't get bogged down, $400 will be a steal. I'll buy one at that price on day one.

 

[pcslookout]

I can't wait to see what the prices are! Only a few more months!

 

[SKORPI0]

They'll be able to sell a lot if it's priced at $399/$499 respectively. I don't see that happening, hopefully I'm wrong. :\

 

[LordGwynz]

Will I be able to run everything on a Win8 tablet that I could on those older windows based umpc's? I've been looking at something windows based that's pocketable, I think they've even managed to get Win8 running on a old HTC Shift (the original one that dual booted WinMo & Vista?). I'm mostly interested in compiling C++/assembling asm code on the go.

 

[pcslookout]

Will I be able to run everything on a Win8 tablet that I could on those older windows based umpc's? I've been looking at something windows based that's pocketable, I think they've even managed to get Win8 running on a old HTC Shift (the original one that dual booted WinMo & Vista?). I'm mostly interested in compiling C++/assembling asm code on the go.

Good luck at finding a windows based solution that is pocketable.

 

[notposting]

Will I be able to run everything on a Win8 tablet that I could on those older windows based umpc's? I've been looking at something windows based that's pocketable, I think they've even managed to get Win8 running on a old HTC Shift (the original one that dual booted WinMo & Vista?). I'm mostly interested in compiling C++/assembling asm code on the go.

Not on the RT versions..those will only be running Metro apps outside of Office. The Metro apps will be made to work on x86 and ARM, and easily ported to WP8 (and most likely the future Xbox), but doubtful you would see any real development for the desktop ARM environment. Everything would need to be a Metro style app.

The price range I saw was 60-85 for various flavors of Windows (Home/Pro) + Office.

 

[swanysto]

I don't really know if a $300 Windows tablet will happen, but I still think a $600 one could sell pretty well. There are a lot of companies shelling out $500+ for iPads already. I know a company like mine would shell out $600 if it could run the Windows only software we currently use. Even if it could run an app version that is not quite as complex, it would help us a great deal. Right now an iPad, while a great piece of technology, cannot help us for anything more than email. There are a lot of companies like mine that use software designed to run only on windows. So if Microsoft implements these tablets right, I think they can have a decent size market. If they just end up being android/iOS like, I don't think they will get much market.

 

[Dominato3r]

Will I be able to run everything on a Win8 tablet that I could on those older windows based umpc's? I've been looking at something windows based that's pocketable, I think they've even managed to get Win8 running on a old HTC Shift (the original one that dual booted WinMo & Vista?). I'm mostly interested in compiling C++/assembling asm code on the go.

You could get a pocketable Windows tablet but it wouldn't be able to run your current apps.

 

[sygyzy]

I agree with others on an attractive price point - if it's $400, I'd buy one immediately.

 

[podspi]

I don't really know if a $300 Windows tablet will happen, but I still think a $600 one could sell pretty well. There are a lot of companies shelling out $500+ for iPads already. I know a company like mine would shell out $600 if it could run the Windows only software we currently use. Even if it could run an app version that is not quite as complex, it would help us a great deal. Right now an iPad, while a great piece of technology, cannot help us for anything more than email. There are a lot of companies like mine that use software designed to run only on windows. So if Microsoft implements these tablets right, I think they can have a decent size market. If they just end up being android/iOS like, I don't think they will get much market.

I think $600 for the x86 version would sell like hotcakes, though I doubt it'll happen.

$600 for the ARM version is a non-starter. It won't be compatible with any of the existing-windows software anyway, and you can get comparable tablets for much cheaper if software compatibility isn't an issue.

 

[dagamer34]

I don't really know if a $300 Windows tablet will happen, but I still think a $600 one could sell pretty well. There are a lot of companies shelling out $500+ for iPads already. I know a company like mine would shell out $600 if it could run the Windows only software we currently use. Even if it could run an app version that is not quite as complex, it would help us a great deal. Right now an iPad, while a great piece of technology, cannot help us for anything more than email. There are a lot of companies like mine that use software designed to run only on windows. So if Microsoft implements these tablets right, I think they can have a decent size market. If they just end up being android/iOS like, I don't think they will get much market.

An iPad with a Citrix Receiver app could run your Windows apps. Where the iPad falls apart is proper keyboard support and no mouse support.

 

[quest55720]

I think $600 for the x86 version would sell like hotcakes, though I doubt it'll happen.

$600 for the ARM version is a non-starter. It won't be compatible with any of the existing-windows software anyway, and you can get comparable tablets for much cheaper if software compatibility isn't an issue.

I am sure there will be a few bobcat powered X86 tablets out there between 500-600 dollars. Where the X86 tablets get real interesting is next year with haswell and Jaguar. I am getting a bobcat powered one to use at work. I won't be the only one either quite a few guys at work are going to get a X86 W8 tablet.

 

[boomhower]

My bet is they will be priced like Apple for the ARM versions. They will succeed fairly well in the business world and fail miserably in the consumer space. Just my guess.

 

[slugg]

Bringing some life back into this thread...

Microsoft Surface Windows RT tablet reportedly priced at just $199
If this is true, I'm buying TWO. Seriously.