Microsoft to Make own Windows 8 Tablet-PC: Report

It's rumored Microsoft may soon launch its own iPad-style tablet device. The gadget would run Windows 8 and be specifically marketed as a Microsoft machine.

Such a measure would be a major change in Microsoft's business strategy. In the past it has steered clear of producing its own computers, the polar opposite of Apple's strategy of having a monopoly on its hardware and software.

According to Digitimes, a Taiwan-based technology newspaper, the device would be made in association with Texas Instruments and hardware manufacturers based in Taiwan. Their report is based on sources from the "upstream supply chain" (parts manufacturers) that stand to win extra business if such a deal worked out. (Source: digitimes.com)

Windows 8 Tablet Could be a Showcase for Microsoft

It would certainly be plausible if Microsoft were to manufacture its own Windows 8 tablet.

Microsoft last week revealed that Windows 8 will be specially designed to work equally well on both traditional computers and touch screen tablet devices. It's also being designed to work well on machines with limited memory and slower processors, such as tablet and mobile devices.

Putting together an "official" Windows tablet would, if the device proved well-made, serve as a flagship product and something of an advertisement for the new Windows 8 operating system.

It's likely that manufacturers will make Windows 8 tablets, because the system will be the first major Windows release to work with the ARM processors that are common in ultra-portable devices. Microsoft may want to be sure it has at least one machine that it has complete control over and thus can guarantee to run Windows 8 perfectly. (Source: tgdaily.com)

Hardware History Shows Mixed Success

Although Microsoft has been reasonably successful making peripherals such as keyboards and mice, its branches into other hardware have had very mixed results.

For example, Microsoft's Xbox 360 console has been hugely successful, but the company's attempts to get into the hardware side of the markets for mobile phones and portable media players have been largely disappointing.

Another potential problem with a Microsoft tablet is that it may not be received well by other hardware producers, who could feel the company had crossed a line into competing with firms it had previously seen only as partners.

It's also possible that, because Microsoft naturally wouldn't need to pay a licensing fee to use Windows on the device, it could undercut third-party machines on price.