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A new report suggests that Microsoft is the only company right now selling the controversial Windows RT operating system via the Surface RT tablet. Dell, who has been selling the XPS 10 tablet and who recently went vocal about the platform, is apparently showing the device as “unavailable” on the company’s website.
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Apparently, on the Dell website, the XPS 10 is listed as “unavailable” and simply points users to the Latitude 10 tablet, which runs the full-fledged Windows 8 on an Intel Atom processor. This report from ComputerWorld also states that Microsoft’s Surface RT is now the only device in the market that is running Windows RT. At least for now, until Windows 8.1 RT rolls out along with new devices running the operating system update, at least one would hope.
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“Right now, no device maker is interested in Windows RT other than Microsoft.”
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A Dell executive made a statement recently stating that the demand for the company’s first Windows RT tablet, the Dell XPS 10, “has been weaker than hoped”. For one reason, many people don’t understand what Windows RT is and what it can do, when essentially it is just a version of Windows 8 that runs on the ARM-architecture rather than x86.
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According to the market information for the company, it’s essentially “not good enough” and has been steadily negative. Dell’s market isn’t the only thing being affected. The app experience “has not been as strong as it needed to be” since it’s release in the market about six months ago, according to Dell.
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On October 2nd, Dell is holding an event where the company will announce a new line of tablets. Dell has made no comments on if any of these tablets will be running Windows 8.1 RT.
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Dell has been the only other company producing Windows RT tablets, aside from Microsoft. Lenovo, Asus and Samsung all gave up on the platform.
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“Right now, no device maker is interested in Windows RT other than Microsoft with its Surface 2. I think all we can assume is that Dell sold out their current inventory of RT tablets,” Moor Insights and Strategy analyst Patrick Moorhead stated. As of right now, all we know is that Windows 8.1 RT will be on the Surface 2. Lenovo, Asus and Samsung have all announced new Windows 8.1 hybrid devices powered by Intel chips, but have made no indication of releasing a device powered by the new Windows 8.1 RT platform.
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Another analyst from J. Gold Associates believes the XPS 10 failed and was discontinued due to the failure of Windows RT. “I just don’t see why you would stop selling your existing product until the new product comes out,” analyst Jack Gold said.
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When Microsoft rolled out Windows RT, the idea was to provide a Windows experience that was similar to the full-fledged Windows 8 but offered support for low powered ARM chips to achieve longer battery life. This argument becomes irrelevant thanks to Intel’s new battery efficient Haswell processor.
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“Windows RT was ‘no longer needed’ due to battery-efficient Haswell CPU.”
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Lenovo stated earlier this month that Windows RT was “no longer needed” due to battery-efficient Haswell CPUs allowing for full-fledged Windows 8 to run efficiently. Asus went on record to state that Windows RT was not successful, citing their own opinion and industry sentiment. Asus chairman Jonney Shih added that Windows RT has been providing the company with results that are “not very promising” and the company decided to focus solely on Windows 8 instead.
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Samsung made it known early this year that they had no plans on releasing a Windows RT device in the United States due to Windows RT not having a strong enough demand nor do consumers know exactly what Windows RT consists of.
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Nokia is holding an event on October 22nd where the company is rumored to be announcing the Nokia Lumia 1520, which is rumored to run Windows RT. However, Microsoft recently acquired Nokia’s devices and services division, so it’s not surprising that Nokia is toeing the company line.
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The upcoming Surface 2 is the sequel to the Surface RT and features Windows 8.1 RT. Microsoft has also increased the CPU speed “dramatically” and revamped the Surface 2 so consumers can see the true power of the device.
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The question now remains, aside from Microsoft, who else will be unveiling a Windows 8.1 RT tablet in the near future? Or has everyone given up on the platform?
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