Windows 8 on Android Tablets?

snadge

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My GF wants a Tablet... she fancys the Acer Aconia A210 but it runs Android and she wants Windows 8.
Acer Iconia A210 Tablet PC - Tablet PCs | Ebuyer.com

is it possible to install Windows 8 on that?

Iam also aware that there is an ARM version of Windows 8, is that the 'core' edition?

what do I need to know before making purchasing decisions?


thanks
 

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the ARM version of Windows is Windows RT. the x86/x64 version of Windows is Windows 8. Windows 8 will not run on ARM processors. Windows 8 is designed for x86/x64 processors. No x86 software will run in Windows RT.

If her budget is only around $300 (which is the price of the Acer Iconia), I don't think any Windows tablets are in that range.

But with a Windows tablet (whether it's RT or Windows 8), you can hook it up to your devices like a printer. So you can do things like print your email, bank statements, online coupons, etc. You can hook up a scanner. Windows RT also comes with Microsoft Office 2013 built-in. You can hook up a lot of USB devices like your game controllers. You can hook up a monitor or TV to watch movies on a big screen.

So while a Windows RT tablet with 32 GB (like Microsoft's Surface tablet) costs $500, it comes with Office which is not cheap. So you can factor that into the cost.

But a Windows RT tablet will only run Windows Store (formerly Metro) apps. No desktop apps. The only desktop apps allowed in Windows RT are software like Microsoft Office, Notepad, Calculator, etc. Until x86 software gets ported to work with ARM processors in Windows RT, you would have to live without x86 software like Photoshop.

So if you want to run things like Photoshop or any of the traditional Windows software you download, you need a Windows 8 tablet. The Windows Store is growing fast but it's still small. something like 6000 apps from what I hear so far?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
But with a Windows tablet (whether it's RT or Windows 8), you can hook it up to your devices like a printer. So you can do things like print your email, bank statements, online coupons, etc. You can hook up a scanner.


Better make sure the manufacturer have Windows RT drivers for it,
 

My Computer

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    Windows 8 enterprise x64
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    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
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    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
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    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
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    TT Mozart TX
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    Water Cooled
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    Logitech G-15
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    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
Windows RT isn't a retail version. It only comes preinstalled on Windows 8 RT certified tablet PCs. So your android tablet is out of the question. :(

If your girlfriend needs Windows 8 that runs on a traditional Intel or AMD processor, the price kicks up to at least 800 dollars. I THINK there is one by Acer that is about 650 for an Intel Atom powered one, but I'm not sure. There is the Lenovo Yoga laptop/tablet that is a 1,000 and is powered by the Intel i5. It's a VERY decent PC. I've played with it myself and I would buy just because! :D

There is also the Microsoft Surface RT tablet. This one has Office 2013 preloaded as do other RT tablets. It costs 500 dollars as dirtyvu said, and is so far the least expensive RT tablet out there. It doesn't come with the touch keyboard though, but I would imagine the onscreen keyboard would fair well as the one in Windows is a VERY decent keyboard. I've also played around with the onscreen keyboard and it's surprisingly good!
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
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    ASUS
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    AMD FX 8320
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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
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    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
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    Microsoft Touch Mouse
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    Internet Explorer 11
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    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
yeah, if I was in the market for a Windows RT tablet, I'd get the Surface. pretty sexy stuff.

but alas, I'd rather have a Windows 8 tablet because of the more powerful hardware and full compatibility with hardware and software. yes, it's more than the typical ARM tablet but then again, it's a Windows 8 tablet that can act as both your laptop and tablet so you don't have to carry 2 devices around.
 

My Computer

System One

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    Windows 8.1 Pro
wow - thanks for all the replies and education guys... TABLET NOOB!! hehe

OK

can one wireless print & use word (or word compatible apps) with Android etc? she envisions wireless printing and using word - I envision using it as media player for her bedroom TV (although we will be getting a wireless media player later, so it can stream from a NAS)

thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel 3470 @ 3.67Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H77
    Memory
    8Gb Crucial Ballistix Sport @ 1616Mhz 8-8-8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX650 @ 1.1Ghz
    Sound Card
    Via HD 7.1 108db SNR
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron 19"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 x 250Gb Samsung EVO 850 (520,500,90,000,0.44ms)
    500Gb Seagate HDD
    PSU
    XFX 450 Pro Core Edition
    Cooling
    Arctic Freezer Pro
    Keyboard
    wifi combo Q-Connect
    Internet Speed
    16Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Private Firewall + WinPatrol
no printing with any apple or android or playbook or any other tablet. there are very few peripherals that can connect to the typical tablet. basically, the only things you can connect to android/iOS are bluetooth headsets and bluetooth keyboards. and I doubt they'll ever add the ability to print because they're not going to be adding device drivers support.

companies like HP are trying to add workaround solutions for tablets but none of the solutions have been good.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
But with a Windows tablet (whether it's RT or Windows 8), you can hook it up to your devices like a printer. So you can do things like print your email, bank statements, online coupons, etc. You can hook up a scanner.

Better make sure the manufacturer have Windows RT drivers for it,

if Windows 8 comes with a driver for your printer, Windows RT will also come with a driver for your printer as most if not all of the drivers were ported. but if you need to download a driver for your printer to work in Windows, then yes, you should check for a Windows RT driver.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
hmm thats odd, ive been told on TSG that you can wireless print on Android as a lot of printers have 'apps' for them?? plus, her dad has a tablet and he wireless prints with his crappy epson (which we have too, dunno if same model) , I dont think his is windows 8 or windowsRT tablet either...

not too worry she not that bothered about that now, she happy enough to save doc too the cloud and print on PC

all she wants is office with word/spreadsheets that are compatible with MS office... because we have MS Office on Laptop and PC and she uses spreadsheets a lot so compatibility between MS Office and Andoid Office Apps is important (I can see her spreadsheets going t*ts up lol)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel 3470 @ 3.67Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H77
    Memory
    8Gb Crucial Ballistix Sport @ 1616Mhz 8-8-8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX650 @ 1.1Ghz
    Sound Card
    Via HD 7.1 108db SNR
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron 19"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 x 250Gb Samsung EVO 850 (520,500,90,000,0.44ms)
    500Gb Seagate HDD
    PSU
    XFX 450 Pro Core Edition
    Cooling
    Arctic Freezer Pro
    Keyboard
    wifi combo Q-Connect
    Internet Speed
    16Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Private Firewall + WinPatrol
cheers,

do you know if u cn get DROPBOX for Android? she uses this on PC and she could save her android office docs there and log into PC and open them in office and print out
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel 3470 @ 3.67Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H77
    Memory
    8Gb Crucial Ballistix Sport @ 1616Mhz 8-8-8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX650 @ 1.1Ghz
    Sound Card
    Via HD 7.1 108db SNR
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron 19"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 x 250Gb Samsung EVO 850 (520,500,90,000,0.44ms)
    500Gb Seagate HDD
    PSU
    XFX 450 Pro Core Edition
    Cooling
    Arctic Freezer Pro
    Keyboard
    wifi combo Q-Connect
    Internet Speed
    16Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Private Firewall + WinPatrol
There's a dropbox app for Android, I use it every day. Even uploads my pictures from my phone to my DB account automatically.

I'm using an Acer Iconia A500 and have had many Android phones (currently the Galaxy S3), and haven't had any major issues with either. There are several app suites for office compatiblity, but I've not really played much with any of them (aside from opening a word doc or spreadsheet occasionally), and can't comment on printing.

I use my A500 daily for web browsing, reading, and occasionally for watching video (and have used it a few times to play via a HDMI cable, as well as remotely play with the included software to my wifi-enabled TV).

That being said, I'll most likely pick up a mid-range Rt tablet, or if I can get work to swing it, maybe a mid-range Win8 tablet...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Window 8/Windows 7 Dual Boot
There are a few different "Office" type apps for android, I think for example LibreOffice, but to me personally that's like eating the leftovers of a luscious feast.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Android tablets are pretty cool, but they're still mostly consumption devices. That doesn't mean they can't be used to get work done (I've seen some interesting apps, and google apps aren't bad either), but the Surface (and Windows RT in general) is trying to cater to that segment of the market that wants a consumption device but with a better "get work done" story as well. Office 2013 on the RT devices doesn't have some of the capabilities that Office 2013 does on x86 devices (namely things like VB macros and other x86-specific stuff that doesn't have capabilities that exist on ARM), but for MOST use cases on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, it's actually pretty cool to do work on your tablet. The Mail app can sometimes leave a little to be desired if you have more "work-centric" needs, but then if that's you, an x86/x64 "pro" tablet device is probably better suited, but it'll cost more. That's the tradeoff - tablet needs (music, video, games, web browsing, and basic to medium work-load in Office) at a tablet-like price, or pay a bit more for a real device (that can also be a tablet too) that can do all the work you might need on it, but at the tradeoff of a bit more money up front, and the potential for slightly less battery lifetime. However, they're both still Windows, and a ton of devices work with them without any real issue, which isn't necessarily the case for iOS, and to a lesser extent, Android devices.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Hero VII
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    32GB DDR3
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    Nvidia GeForce GTX970
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    Realtek HD Audio
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 250GB SSD
    4x WD RE 2TB (RAIDZ)
    PSU
    Corsair AX760i
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15
thanks guys/gals

she just keeps tabs on her monthly ins/outs on spreadsheets with automated calculations, if she can have an app that can do that (example if she amends an outgoing payment it will automatically change the total for the month at bottom) then she will be happy - word for letters...thats all, drop box to put them in :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel 3470 @ 3.67Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H77
    Memory
    8Gb Crucial Ballistix Sport @ 1616Mhz 8-8-8
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX650 @ 1.1Ghz
    Sound Card
    Via HD 7.1 108db SNR
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron 19"
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 x 250Gb Samsung EVO 850 (520,500,90,000,0.44ms)
    500Gb Seagate HDD
    PSU
    XFX 450 Pro Core Edition
    Cooling
    Arctic Freezer Pro
    Keyboard
    wifi combo Q-Connect
    Internet Speed
    16Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Private Firewall + WinPatrol
If you want to print from any device look at a program called PaperCut. Another option would be to run Chrome on a computer that is connected to the computer and use Google's Cloud Print. Simple to use and free.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Another option would be to run Chrome on a computer that is connected to the computer and use Google's Cloud Print. Simple to use and free.

that's it , I was surprise how easy it is to install and enable cloud printing
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
Windows RT would be the only version of Windows that would run on a non-Intel CPU, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 has a 1GHz Qualcomm SnapDragon 3 CPU inside. Windows RT currently does not run on the SnapDragon CPU at all, and vNext of Windows RT runs on SnapDragon CPUs, but currently it appears to only run on the 800. Also, that Android device would have to support SecureBoot and native UEFI, and at least the former would not be possible on the 8.9 (I don't know about the UEFI support, but it doesn't matter if it can't do SecureBoot). Even if you could get Windows RT somehow in an installable format (which it isn't provided to anyone outside of OEMs making Windows RT devices), it would be a waste of time.

TL;DR, no, you cannot load Windows of any kind on your Samsung Galaxy Tab.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Hero VII
    Memory
    32GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX970
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 250GB SSD
    4x WD RE 2TB (RAIDZ)
    PSU
    Corsair AX760i
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15
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