Microsoft has demoed how Windows 8.1 will work for 7-inch devices at Computex 2013.
The ‘Lyon’ tablet, manufactured by Inventec on Microsoft’s behalf, is a concept device rather than something which will hit retail, or at least that’s the official story. The Windows maker simply wanted to showcase how its latest software update will optimise the system for smaller form-factors.
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The slate was also a chance for Microsoft to show how Intel’s latest Bay Trail tablet processors handle its operating system. The Lyon used a quad-core Atom clocked at 1.6GHz with 2GB of RAM.
For those interested, the display is a 1280x800 pixel IPS LCD with a pixel resolution of 216 pixels-per-inch (ppi). There are a couple of variants with 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage and each has microSD capability.
Despite Microsoft’s insistence that this is a proof of concept we have a feeling it’s a prototype being put out publicly to test the water ahead of an actual product.
Microsoft has gone to the effort of making it from aluminium and with four colour options – what’s the point of doing this on something which will never be made available? Inventec even said it’s going to improve the device’s battery life with optimisation tweaks.
In addition, Microsoft is already rumoured to be working on a 7-inch Surface device.
Other specs include a front-facing webcam, a rear-facing primary camera with dual-LED flash and a 2,400mAh battery pack. The tablet may be smaller than a Surface but it’s still a fairly chunky beast at 11mm thick and weighing in at 470g.
Allegedly Microsoft expects tablets of this type to retail for under £350, putting it on a more even playing field with recent Android offerings and Apple’s iPad Mini.
Microsoft’s Windows 8 launch was relatively well-received in the PC world but tablets running the platform have not seen the best sales.
In part this is due to the foibles of the software, but a significant factor is that devices running the platform emerged around the same time the 7-inch tablet craze started.
Microsoft is adapting to that trend, as it shows no signs of abating, so it’ll be interesting to see whether the smaller form factor will make all the difference.
by pbriden via Featured Articles
Reviewed by Ossama Hashim
on
June 07, 2013
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