Windows 8 Tablets Revealed At ComputexWindows 8 Tablets Revealed At Computex

Windows 8 Preview: Key Features

A pair of Taiwanese computer makers used their home-court advantage at Computex to be among the first vendors to show off new tablets that will run Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system when it hits the market later this year.

Both Asus and Acer gave presentations at the Taipei hardware fest, which runs through June 9, to tout a range of products that have been built from the ground up to take advantage of Windows 8's touch-based Metro interface and other features.

At a presentation Monday, Acer CEO J.T. Wang said Windows 8's debut would be "a historic moment in the Windows ecosystem."

With that, Acer previewed several Windows 8 systems, including a pair of tablets--the Iconia W510 and the Iconia W700.

The former offers a 10.1-inch touch display, and comes with a detachable keyboard dock. The larger w700 boasts an 11.6-inch display which, on its docking cradle, can be swiveled into landscape or portrait mode. It also supports playback of video in full HD.

Acer did not unveil full specifications, price, or a shipping date.

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Not to be outdone, Asus' hardware introductions at Computex included a pair of tablets. The 10.1-inch Tablet 600 runs Windows RT, which is the tablet-only version of Windows 8, on an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. Specs include 2 MB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, and an 8-megapixel camera.

The beefier Tablet 810 runs Windows 8 on Intel's Atom architecture, features an 11.6-inch display, 64 GB of storage, and a front-facing videoconferencing camera in addition to an 8 MP photo camera.

Pricing and shipping details were not disclosed. More vendors are expected to announce Windows 8 systems as Computex continues through the week.

Last week, Microsoft launched the Windows 8 Release Preview, which gives users a chance to kick the tires on a nearly final version of the OS before the final version ships, most likely in the fall.

Redmond also announced an upgrade program under which consumers who, starting this week, buy an eligible Windows 7 system can upgrade later to Windows 8 Pro for $15. Microsoft said it expects to defer between $450 million and $550 million in revenue recognition in the current quarter due to the program.

Microsoft's ambitious new OS tackles servers, PCs, and mobile devices. On the server side, we dig into the latest offering: Microsoft has boosted the capabilities of Hyper-V, streamlined management, and made other changes that IT will appreciate. Download the Windows 8 Vs. The World report now. (Free registration required.)