There’s a tsunami of tablet PCs coming later this year and by early 2011. The booths at the Consumer Electronics Show in January are likely to be flooded with the devices, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see niche tablets from home and car audio brands, accessory brands….everyone. But most of these tablets will run Android using ARM processors, rather than Windows with an Intel Atom processor, says Digitimes.
Plus a ZDnet blog predicts a true iPad competitive “WinPad” won’t be ready until mid 2011.
Currently, ARM offers advantages over an Atom processor in price, power consumption and heat dissipation, says Digitimes.
You may see a number of Windows/Atom devices, but they’ll ship in small quantities and mainly a tool by suppliers to keep up their relationships with Intel and Microsoft, says the Taiwanese journal.
The shift to Microsoft/Intel will occur in 2011 when Intel is due to replace Atom with the Oak Trail platform that will consume 50 percent less power than Atom when playing HD video. (Oak Trail also supports Android and MeeGo in addition to Windows 7).
ZDnet’s Mary Jo Foley says Microsoft is banking on Oak Trail for its “WinPad” devices. But these may not be ready for a year.
