Sunday, October 28, 2012

Windows 8 vs Windows RT Why I will only recommend tablets running the full Windows 8 version

Bottom Line I'm talking about choice. My previous post talked about the two versions of Windows on tablet, Windows 8 VS Windows RT. You might want to refresh your memory by reading it.

I believe most business users of Windows products will expect to be using the same programs they are currently running on their Windows XP and Windows 7 computers on the new Windows tablets.

Windows RT, the version being supplied with tablets built using the ARM processor, will not run many of the programs users are using on their desktops. The ARM processor is the same processor used in IOS and Android tablets.

For example, if you are using the Chrome Browser to sync email, contacts and settings across devices, you will be disappointed if you purchase a Windows RT tablet. Like IOS, the best you will ever see is a crippled version of it, if that is, you ever see it at all.

Same thing applies to users of the popular Mozilla Firefox software, programs like VLC Player, SMPlayer and a multitude of other software like cloud drives, games and utilities.

If you are content to use only Email, Office 2013 and whatever else you can obtain through the new Windows App store then, by all means, purchase an Windows RT Tablet.  Other notable software packages available on the Windows App store for free are things like Mail, Netflix, Skype, Skydrive, Remote Desktop etc....

In my position, I need to be able to run legacy programs I currently run on XP and 7 so that limits me to buying a full blown Windows 8 Pro tablet.

Lets look at pricing. Here in Canada, The ARM powered Surface RT, with 32gig of storage is available for $519, the optional Touch Cover adds a $100 to the ticket price or $619.

An Atom powered Lenovo Tablet 2 running Windows 8 Pro will be selling for $629, with option keyboard and dock $799.

Acer also has an Atom powered tablet, the Acer Iconia W510, will sell for $499 and will offer various upgrades including a Windows 8 Pro package with keyboard dock and 64 gigs of storage for $750.  Acer will also offer models running the more powerful Intel Core processors starting at $799

Business and power users  I believe will not opt for RT and will only be interested in the full Windows 8 powered tablets. I am not alone as HP has announced it will only be selling Windows 8 tablets and devices and will shy away completely for Windows RT devices.

Check out this story... I highly recommend you read it. It's titled "3 Days in the life of a former Windows RT user" It is not a satire... but an educated guess at what someone purchasing a Windows RT device might experience: http://www.zdnet.com/three-days-in-the-life-of-a-once-and-former-microsoft-surface-rt-user-7000006421/








1 comment:

  1. For those of you wondering... There has NOT been an announcement from Logmein or GoToMyPC for a Windows RT app just yet. I can however confirm that both Logmein and GoToMyPC for Windows XP and Windows 7 computers work just fine on the Windows 8 (the full blown version) tablets.

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