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]
