Windows 8 tablets: A confusing world for buyers

The choice by Microsoft to make Windows 8 an OS for desktops, laptops, and tablets has been cheered by many and jeered at by others. Whatever side of the Windows 8 for every device camp you fall on the fact is that the multi-dimensional OS is here to stay. Microsoft wants everyone to buy Windows 8 tablets and numerous models are starting to hit the market.
Tablets running Windows 8 come in all sizes and styles, each trying to get consumers to purchase one rather than the competition, iPads and Android tablets. Having choice is always a good thing for prospective buyers but that may not be the case when it comes to tablets running Windows 8.

So the typical tablet shopper can choose from the iPad, Android tablet, or Windows tablet. The iPad decision just involves a single model making the purchase process simple. The same is basically true for Android tablets as most branded tablets come with a single model. The iPad and Android tablets all have powerful hardware configurations that run all available apps with ease.
That's not the case with Windows tablets. Some run all Windows apps, some don't, and depending on the hardware inside some tablets may not run heavy apps very well if at all. The only tablets that run all Windows apps well are the high-end models that come with prices that are much higher than the competition. It's no wonder tablet buyers seem to be going with the competition much more often than the Windows 8 options

Windows 8 tablets: A confusing world for buyers | ZDNet

 

[Mystere]

Uhh.. what?

A single iPad model? There are, at least count, 3 iPad models being sold. The iPad 2, the "new" iPad, and the iPad Mini.

Many Android tablet vendors have multiple models, such as the Galaxy Tab, which comes in 10 and 7" formats, the nexus which comes in 5, 7 and 10" formats, etc.. Then we start getting into models with GPS, those without, those 4g, those with just Wi-Fi, etc.. etc.. etc.. That author is on crack.. seriously.

 

[phillipduran]

Uhh.. what?

A single iPad model? There are, at least count, 3 iPad models being sold. The iPad 2, the "new" iPad, and the iPad Mini.

Many Android tablet vendors have multiple models, such as the Galaxy Tab, which comes in 10 and 7" formats, the nexus which comes in 5, 7 and 10" formats, etc.. Then we start getting into models with GPS, those without, those 4g, those with just Wi-Fi, etc.. etc.. etc.. That author is on crack.. seriously.

The article says model, but it would be much clearer if they said OS. Apple has one current OS across all iPads and all apps I'm aware can work with all the different models (retina, normal display, memory size etc). Windows has 2 versions of tablets. One that can run Windows apps and one that does not.

 

[Mark Phelps]

So the typical tablet shopper can choose from the iPad, Android tablet, or Windows tablet. The iPad decision just involves a single model making the purchase process simple. The same is basically true for Android tablets as most branded tablets come with a single model.

OK ... so we have the iPad and the iPad mini -- that's at least TWO models, not one.

Android tablet have at least as half-dozen or more different models, with different sizes, and different hardware options.

However, I do agree that it's confusing to have two very different MS "tablets" -- one of which runs all Windows apps, and one of which does not.

 

[Mystere]

The article says model, but it would be much clearer if they said OS. Apple has one current OS across all iPads and all apps I'm aware can work with all the different models (retina, normal display, memory size etc). Windows has 2 versions of tablets. One that can run Windows apps and one that does not.

Except that it's not even a single OS.

Some apps don't work on an iPhone, and require an iPad. Some apps don't work the iPad. Even apps from Apple vary, such as Siri.

The same is true of Android. Different devices come with different environments, and different feature sets.. for instance, Samsung apps come with the ability to run more than one app on screen at the same time. Non-Samsung phones don't.

 

[Lee]

. . .and here I was thinking of buying a Win 8 tablet. . .hmmmmmmmmm! if it is that confusing I better go back to college and get a degree in how to buy and manage a Win 8 tablet, let's see is the RT the one that runs standard (desktop programs) or apps from the Win Store. . .Darn this is just so confusing. . .OH WAIT. . .

 

[phillipduran]

Except that it's not even a single OS.

Some apps don't work on an iPhone, and require an iPad. Some apps don't work the iPad. Even apps from Apple vary, such as Siri.

The same is true of Android. Different devices come with different environments, and different feature sets.. for instance, Samsung apps come with the ability to run more than one app on screen at the same time. Non-Samsung phones don't.

Yes, but we're talking about tablets not phones.

 

[goodintentions]

Except that it's not even a single OS.

Some apps don't work on an iPhone, and require an iPad. Some apps don't work the iPad. Even apps from Apple vary, such as Siri.

The same is true of Android. Different devices come with different environments, and different feature sets.. for instance, Samsung apps come with the ability to run more than one app on screen at the same time. Non-Samsung phones don't.

Yes, but we're talking about tablets not phones.

There are plenty of android apps that will work on one tablet but won't work on another tablet. Take Modern Combat 4, for example. It will work fine on the galaxy tab, asus transformer prime, and even my S3. But by golly it is incompatible with my asus transformer infinity tf700. And it happens to be the current flagship android tablet, too.

Compatibility for different hardware in different devices have always been present in all platforms. The only reason the author wrote the article the way he did was because of the universal law of monkey-see-monkey-do. Monkey 1 hates windows 8, monkey 2 sees monkey 1 hates windows 8 and so he hates it too. Monkey 3 sees monkeys 2 and 1 hate windows 8 and so monkey 3 hates windows 8, too. And so on and so forth. Pretty soon, we have articles like this one that criticizes windows 8 platform for no good reason at all or for reasons that exist in other platforms as well.

Monkey see, monkey do.

 

[Lomai]

Except that it's not even a single OS.

Some apps don't work on an iPhone, and require an iPad. Some apps don't work the iPad. Even apps from Apple vary, such as Siri.

The same is true of Android. Different devices come with different environments, and different feature sets.. for instance, Samsung apps come with the ability to run more than one app on screen at the same time. Non-Samsung phones don't.

Yes, but we're talking about tablets not phones.

There are plenty of android apps that will work on one tablet but won't work on another tablet. Take Modern Combat 4, for example. It will work fine on the galaxy tab, asus transformer prime, and even my S3. But by golly it is incompatible with my asus transformer infinity tf700. And it happens to be the current flagship android tablet, too.

Compatibility for different hardware in different devices have always been present in all platforms. The only reason the author wrote the article the way he did was because of the universal law of monkey-see-monkey-do. Monkey 1 hates windows 8, monkey 2 sees monkey 1 hates windows 8 and so he hates it too. Monkey 3 sees monkeys 2 and 1 hate windows 8 and so monkey 3 hates windows 8, too. And so on and so forth. Pretty soon, we have articles like this one that criticizes windows 8 platform for no good reason at all or for reasons that exist in other platforms as well.

Monkey see, monkey do.

Monkey 1 sees Windows 8 and likes it....you get the point