5 ms·

There are a plethora of Android devices available from more OEMs than the few that are shipping Windows RT devices. I don't see that changing except for the fac

There are a plethora of Android devices available from more OEMs than the few that are shipping Windows RT devices. I don't see that changing except for the fact that they're not selling very well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Android_devices#Tablet_computers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Android_devices#T... >Unfortunately, all the mentions of Microsoft working together with OEMs in developing single-chip touchscreens and so on may indicate Microsoft will want to limit availability of competing devices with different OSs How will that stop Google from developing whatever they want in conjunction with the OEMs? Not to mention collaborating with their subsidiary Motorola. I don't see how Microsoft can limit that even if they wanted to.

rbanffy 14y ago
> How will that stop Google It won't. It'll only prevent these devices from getting different OSs. Also, keep in mind I'm not talking about Android. I use Ubuntu every day and all the pieces are in place for Ubuntu-based fully-functional (as in "you can work exclusively on it") ARM devices. Windows on ARM's key "advantage" is the ability to run Office, but since Linuxes/BSDs on ARM (or MIPS, if you are so inclined) can run the full desktop software suite just like their x86 counterparts (perhaps more slowly, but that's beyond the point here), their advantage is negated. Their only remaining advantage is being able to run Microsoft Office.
- astrodust 14y ago
  More specifically...to run Microsoft Office...on a touch screen. The utility of this is still unexplored.
  - kineticflow 14y ago
    What stops people from using Office (RT) with a mouse/trackpad and keyboard? They're making Office for ARM, not Office for touch devices exclusively. ARM doesn't imply that you have to use touch screens.
- recoiledsnake 14y ago
  >I use Ubuntu every day and all the pieces are in place for Ubuntu-based fully-functional (as in "you can work exclusively on it") ARM devices What's stopping anyone(including OEMs) now or later when Windows RT launches from making "Ubuntu-based fully-functional" tablets? Why the obsession with trying to shoehorn Linux onto Windows RT tablets?
  - rbanffy 14y ago
    Because until OEMs start manufacturing tablets with sensible bootloaders that can boot anything, Windows RT devices will be the only game in town. These tablets will be built in volume. Up until now, with x86 PCs, alternative OSs enjoyed an ecosystem of mass produced, cheap computers that could run competitive OSs. Microsoft is trying to stop this from happening in the ARM device space.
    - recoiledsnake 14y ago
      >Because until OEMs start manufacturing tablets with sensible bootloaders that can boot anything, Windows RT devices will be the only game in town. WindowsRT tablets the only game in town? What? Whatever will happen to the iPad and all the Android tablets and why?
- freehunter 14y ago
  I use Ubuntu on my HP Touchpad. Functionally it works well, but in practice it's awful. it really seems to be expecting more than 1GB of RAM, even though I'm running Xfce. I can easily pin the processor at max with most tasks, even though it's a dual core 1.5Ghz. Touch is still awful, despite Unity. There's no good on-screen keyboard. Ubuntu is Windows 7; it looks good for touch but it's really not. Everything works, but not well. I don't see Surface or other mass market tablets being able to run it any better.

rbanffy 14y ago

> How will that stop Google It won't. It'll only prevent these devices from getting different OSs. Also, keep in mind I'm not talking about Android. I use Ubuntu every day and all the pieces are in place for Ubuntu-based fully-functional (as in "you can work exclusively on it") ARM devices. Windows on ARM's key "advantage" is the ability to run Office, but since Linuxes/BSDs on ARM (or MIPS, if you are so inclined) can run the full desktop software suite just like their x86 counterparts (perhaps more slowly, but that's beyond the point here), their advantage is negated. Their only remaining advantage is being able to run Microsoft Office.

astrodust 14y ago
More specifically...to run Microsoft Office...on a touch screen. The utility of this is still unexplored.
- kineticflow 14y ago
  What stops people from using Office (RT) with a mouse/trackpad and keyboard? They're making Office for ARM, not Office for touch devices exclusively. ARM doesn't imply that you have to use touch screens.
recoiledsnake 14y ago
>I use Ubuntu every day and all the pieces are in place for Ubuntu-based fully-functional (as in "you can work exclusively on it") ARM devices What's stopping anyone(including OEMs) now or later when Windows RT launches from making "Ubuntu-based fully-functional" tablets? Why the obsession with trying to shoehorn Linux onto Windows RT tablets?
- rbanffy 14y ago
  Because until OEMs start manufacturing tablets with sensible bootloaders that can boot anything, Windows RT devices will be the only game in town. These tablets will be built in volume. Up until now, with x86 PCs, alternative OSs enjoyed an ecosystem of mass produced, cheap computers that could run competitive OSs. Microsoft is trying to stop this from happening in the ARM device space.
  - recoiledsnake 14y ago
    >Because until OEMs start manufacturing tablets with sensible bootloaders that can boot anything, Windows RT devices will be the only game in town. WindowsRT tablets the only game in town? What? Whatever will happen to the iPad and all the Android tablets and why?
freehunter 14y ago
I use Ubuntu on my HP Touchpad. Functionally it works well, but in practice it's awful. it really seems to be expecting more than 1GB of RAM, even though I'm running Xfce. I can easily pin the processor at max with most tasks, even though it's a dual core 1.5Ghz. Touch is still awful, despite Unity. There's no good on-screen keyboard. Ubuntu is Windows 7; it looks good for touch but it's really not. Everything works, but not well. I don't see Surface or other mass market tablets being able to run it any better.