Hewlett-Packard: No Windows 8 RT ARM-Based Tablets

Hardware producer Hewlett-Packard (HP) says it has no interest in building tablet computers based on a special, mobile version of Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system (OS).

Because HP has been one of Microsoft's most important hardware partners in recent years, the news comes as a shock to many industry insiders.

Of course, HP may still use Windows 8 in the future. At present, the announcement means only that the hardware manufacturer has decided not to build tablet computers using Windows 8 "RT."

That's a special version of the new Windows 8 OS designed specifically for mobile devices (like smartphones and slates).

HP Keeps Windows 8 RT at ARM's Length

More precisely, Windows RT is designed for mobile devices built around ARM-compatible processors, which are manufactured by Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Motorola.

ARM is considered by many experts to be a faster and more efficient chip architecture than Intel's x86 platform. This announcement, however, suggests that HP doesn't agree with the widespread assessment.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg News, an HP spokesperson said the company's decision to eschew building Windows 8 RT tablets was based on negative feedback from its customers.

"The robust and established ecosystem of x86 applications provides the best customer experience at this time and in the immediate future," the HP representative said. (Source: bloomberg.com)

Did 'Surfacing' of Microsoft Tablet Play a Role in HP's Decision?

HP's decision to forego building Windows 8 RT tablet computers is considered a major setback for Microsoft. The software giant must now work harder to convince consumers that Windows 8 is worth the upgrade from Windows 7, Vista, or XP. (Source: informationweek.com)

The question many are now asking is: Was HP's decision based on legitimate hardware concerns, or was it a response to Microsoft's recent unveiling of its own Surface tablet, which would inevitably compete with any HP tablet offerings?

Insiders have speculated that Microsoft's major hardware partners, including Samsung, Acer, and HP, were not happy to see Surface emerge as a competitor for their products.

Microsoft has said it plans to build and sell Surface independently. (Source: bloomberg.com)