Windows 8 tablets look set to come from behind and "lead the tablet race in 2014," according to an analyst report quoted by the Business Standard (via SlashGear) today. The key to the turnaround, according to analyst Andrew Borg at Aberdeen Group, is that Windows 8 will triumph in the BYOD tablet space where Apple iPads previously ruled.
With this positive prediction and research from Gartner suggesting that the tablet market will grow by 47 per cent in 2014 perhaps Microsoft and Intel can at last manage to squeeze something positive from the computer industry shift towards mobiles and tablets. In the coming year PC sales are expected to remain flat as the market bottomed out in 2013, so it will be good for these mega-tech corporations and shareholders to be able to see light at the end of the tunnel. Also, at the beginning of 2014 we pointed out Intel's intention of an aggressive push into (Android) tablets in the coming year.
The Aberdeen analyst is also quoted with saying that Windows 8 tablets are set to take advantage of product refresh cycles such as the end of bundling Windows 7 with new machines (and let's not forget and Windows XP's demise). An opportunity is also available for Microsoft not just with its software but its Surface tablets as the flagship devices of the Windows tablet range.
For me Windows 8 tablets have become more attractive as many 8-inch devices sporting full Windows with Office and powered by the latest Intel Bay Trail processors have been released at prices more competitive to mid-market Androids. The new software/hardware offering seems pretty attractive as it offers most of the facilities of your PC in a portable device with 10 or so hours of battery life. Look at the ThinkPad 8 below, for a good example.
