Microsoft

Microsoft Windows 8 tablet hardware requirements detailed

Windows-8-Tablet

2012 has started, and that means only one thing for the UMPC lovers like you and me: Windows 8 is just around the corner.

With that in mind, a developer named Rafael Rivera (who co-wrote Windows 7 Secrets with Paul Thurrot) compiled a pretty comprehensive list of Microsoft's minimum hardware requirements for Windows 8 tablets. The following is the most important stuff off of that list, and I will go into detail on them, as well.

  • Hardware buttons: Each Windows 8 tablet will be required to have at least the following buttons: Power, rotation lock, Windows key, and volume up/down buttons.
  • Minimum components: Again, every Windows 8 tablet will need to have 10GB of free space after Windows is installed, a Direct3D GPU, a resolution of at least 1366 x 768, a 720p camera, a USB 2.0 port, and a five-point multitouch screen that passes all of Microsoft's tests.
  • Two-second resume for non-ARM devices: This one makes no sense to me, but I do believe that this could change at some point. I have a feeling that ARM processors will be in the majority of Win8 tablets that are sold.

So, to wrap up, it certainly seems like Microsoft is pushing a really good experience for the inevitable wave of Windows 8 tablets that will hit sometime after Windows 8 itself is launched. I know I can't wait; what about you? 

[Within Windows]
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Calob Horton

Calob Horton is an associate editor at Pocketables. He loves all technology, no matter which company it comes from. This unbiased view of the tech world allows him to choose the products that best fit his personal needs and tastes: a Microsoft Surface Pro, a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and a third-gen iPad.Google+ | Twitter | More posts by Calob | Subscribe to Calob's posts

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