Hp Skips Windows RT Tablet Plans

Hewlett-Packard confirmed on Friday that its first Windows 8 tablet will only be for business consumers and will use Intel’s x86 architecture. The Silicon Valley firm has decided not to use Microsoft’s upcoming Windows RT operating system.

Rumors were already circulating earlier this week that HP will not use Windows RT tablets in response to Microsoft’s recent release of Surface, the software giant’s first foray into tablet market.
Initially, Hewlett-Packard planned to release a tablet which will use Windows RT operating system.

Windows RT is a special edition of Windows 8, which is designed in a way that it can be used for tablets and other devices that are integrated with Nvidia’s ARM processors.

With the recent release of Microsoft Surface tablet, the company has surprised the tech world as well as its longtime PC manufacturing partners. Previously, the software giant was licensing Windows to hardware makers such as HP, Dell and Acer, and now tablet announcement ultimately brings a dramatic change in the company’s strategy, which in turn will build and sell PCs running the Microsoft OS.

According to an HP spokesperson, “HP continues to look at using ARM processors in business and consumer products. However, our first Win 8 tablet will be on the x86 platform focused on the business market. The decision to go with x86 was influenced by input from our customers. The robust and established ecosystem of x86 applications provides the best customer experience at this time and in the immediate future.”

As HP continues to bring major reforms in its business and streamline its array of product SKUs, it seems like this PC maker company will entirely focus on business consumers which it considers the best path forward.

HP business-oriented tablet seems like a smart move for HP, which has been working for several years to refocus its efforts on higher-margin enterprise customers.