Microsoft (MSFT) Vendors Delay Win8 Tablets as Intel (INTC) Chips Cause Issues
If Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is looking to make a big splash with the next-generation Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)-based Surface tablet, it might need to wait a little longer than expected.
According to InformationWeek, Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), and other vendors are pushing back the launch of the new tablet lineup due to issues with the new chipset.
Dubbed "Clover Trail," Intel's Atom Z2760 chip was supposed to improve Surface performance and battery life enough to put it on par with Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) venerable iPad. OEMs have not faired well with efforts to bring products to market.
For example, Dell previously advertised that its Latitude 10 tablet would ship on December 12th, but now expects a shipment date around January 22nd.
H-P, ASUStek, and Lenovo are also experiencing delays in launching tablets. Out of the top five global PC vendors, only Acer is able to release the Clover Trail-based tablet in its W510-1666 model.
With Windows 8, its all about live tiles. That's where Intel's Clover Trail was expected to excel, with something called Connected Standby. Connected Standby allows that tablet to have a smartphone-like standby mode by staying up-to-date with email, news, weather, and more.
Shares of Microsoft are rebounding today following a modest dip Wednesday. The stock is up 0.4 percent on the session.
According to InformationWeek, Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), and other vendors are pushing back the launch of the new tablet lineup due to issues with the new chipset.
Dubbed "Clover Trail," Intel's Atom Z2760 chip was supposed to improve Surface performance and battery life enough to put it on par with Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) venerable iPad. OEMs have not faired well with efforts to bring products to market.
For example, Dell previously advertised that its Latitude 10 tablet would ship on December 12th, but now expects a shipment date around January 22nd.
H-P, ASUStek, and Lenovo are also experiencing delays in launching tablets. Out of the top five global PC vendors, only Acer is able to release the Clover Trail-based tablet in its W510-1666 model.
With Windows 8, its all about live tiles. That's where Intel's Clover Trail was expected to excel, with something called Connected Standby. Connected Standby allows that tablet to have a smartphone-like standby mode by staying up-to-date with email, news, weather, and more.
Shares of Microsoft are rebounding today following a modest dip Wednesday. The stock is up 0.4 percent on the session.