After an ominously protracted silence, Microsoft has finally revealed more details about the Windows RT (Windows 8 on ARM) development cycle, which OEMs are on board, and what kind of size/weight/battery life we can expect.
Until today, the only confirmed Windows RT devices were the Asus Tablet 600 and Microsoft’s own-brand Surface RT. Microsoft has now confirmed that Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung are also building Windows RT devices, with the obvious omissions being HP, Toshiba, and Acer. HP and Acer had already signaled their distaste for Microsoft’s move into the hardware business, and we can only assume that Toshiba has now joined their disgruntled ranks.
Though we don’t have any model names or launch dates, we do have are some basic, generalized specifications for Windows RT devices — and yes, according to Microsoft, there will be Windows RT clamshell laptops, as well as tablets and detachable-keyboard transformers. All devices will have a diagonal screen size between 10.1 and 11.6 inches, weigh between 520g and 1200g, and be between 8.35mm and 15mm thick. On the low end, 520g and 8.35mm would be considerably thinner and lighter than the iPad 2/3 and Galaxy Tab 10.1. Presumably the 1200g/15mm form factor is a laptop.
On the battery life side of things, the incoming Windows RT devices have battery capacities ranging from 25 to 42 watt-hours. These will provide between 8 and 13 hours of HD video playback, and between 320 and 409 hours of connected standby. Connected standby is a new low-power state that allows Windows 8 devices to occasionally connect to the internet and download the latest email/tweets/FB status updates, without significantly hitting battery life. These battery-life figures are in-line with the iPad, which is a good sign.
Microsoft hasn’t only been working with OEMs, though — it seems like significant time has been spent with its low-level silicon partners, too. Intel and AMD, of course, will produce chips that work perfectly with Windows 8 — and Microsoft is now saying that it has successfully produced a single Windows RT binary for Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Texas Instruments ARM SoCs. Surprisingly there’s no mention of Samsung’s Exynos SoCs, despite Samsung being a Windows RT OEM. With certified hardware, and thanks to extensive graphics subsystem overhauls, Microsoft says that the Windows RT UI animations will be locked at 60 fps — smooth.
Beyond that, the only hardware info we have is regarding the touchscreen controller: Apparently, instead of a normal multi-chip solution, Microsoft worked with its silicon partners to develop a single-chip design, reducing its size and power/heat footprint. This single-chip solution can track each of your fingers with a sampling rate of 100Hz (which Microsoft says is “industry-leading.”) Microsoft also worked with laptop touchpad vendors to provide firmware-level support for Windows 8′s gestures, again improving responsiveness and power consumption.
There’s still absolutely no info regarding the price of Windows RT devices, but with screen sizes confirmed at 10.1 to 11.6 inches we can safely rule out any $200 Nexus 7 competitors — unless Microsoft loss-leads with the Surface RT, which would be rather exciting. For the most part, we are probably looking at Windows RT tablets that are around the iPad’s $400 price point — but even that might prove difficult for OEMs, given Apple’s supply chain dominance. It’s also worth pointing out that Microsoft hasn’t confirmed that third-party Windows RT tablets will launch on the same day as Windows 8 and the Surface RT (October 26).
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