Print 65 comment(s) - last by Smilin.. on Mar 7 at 4:53 PM

Microsoft looks to arrive VERY late to the tablet game












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By KoolAidMan1 on 3/5/2011 12:33:39 AM , Rating: 1
I reckon that Microsoft will either place serious baseline restrictions and guidelines on hardware like they did with Windows Phone 7, or they will manufacture the hardware themselves as they did with the XBox 360 or the ZuneHD.

Both scenarios are preferable to having OEMs run crazy with their own hardware platforms and configurations. Mobile and closed-end devices seem to benefit from a baseline level of control. Windows Phone 7 toed that line between control and interface diversity pretty well. There is a baseline level of minimum hardware requirements and there is a common resolution for the LCD, while at the same time they allow for both touch and keyboard interfaces. This allows for a common user experience no matter what the hardware, and it allows for developers to target a much narrower range of hardware and display resolutions than they have to with something like Android.

If Microsoft allows hardware OEMs total control in the same "poor parenting" approach that Google does with Android (numerous display resolutions, varying levels of horsepower, varying levels of chassis and display quality), I think they will have a very difficult time enforcing a base level of quality user experience, thereby dragging down the reputation of Windows tablets.

Based on how much control they have over Windows Phone 7, and how much more control they have over the XBox and the ZuneHD, I believe that this is the direction Microsoft will go with their tablets. Windows Phone 7 is a fine product, and Microsoft would be foolish to let outside hardware companies screw up their tablet platform without some strict parenting. We'll see.

