NEW YORK – Windows 8 and Android tablets, many with built-in 4G LTE, will hit retail in the coming weeks to stir up awareness of competing operating systems while the industry awaits the expected launch this week of a smaller iPad.
The new tablets include two Windows 8 tablets from Samsung and Asus with embedded AT&T LTE modems. The tablets also include the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, which Sprint and AT&T will offer with embedded LTE. There’s a trio of Windows 8 Wi-Fi tablets due from Acer, as well as Microsoft’s long-awaited Surface-branded Wi-Fi tablets.
For its part, AT&T plans to offer two Windows 8 tablets in time for holiday sales through its company stores and website. The two 4G LTE-equipped tablets are the Samsung Mobile’s Ativ Smart PC, which runs on Intel’s Clover Trail 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and the Asus VivoTab RT, the first quadcore Windows RT 4G LTE tablet. AT&T said it will be the only U.S. carrier to offer the two.
The Ativ Smart PC packs full desktop functionality but features a detachable keyboard-docking system so users can switch easily between a clamshell notebook PC and a tablet. Features include 11.6- inch HD PLS display, Intel Clover Trail 1.5GHz dualcore processor and 64GB internal storage memory.
The Ativ Smart PC comes preloaded with a trial version of Microsoft Office 2013 for productivity apps, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
The Asus VivoTab RT, which runs the Windows RT OS on an ARM processor, is designed as a mobile entertainment, productivity and gaming platform. Features include 10.1-inch multitouch Super IPS display, 32GB of storage and Nvidia’s next-generation quad-core Tegra 3 TE processor. The tablet offers Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview Edition.
Prices and exact availability dates weren’t released at press time.
Both AT&T and Sprint plan to offer Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 with embedded LTE modem. A Wi-Fi-only version of the tablet is already available.
At Sprint, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will be the carrier’s first tablet to combine 3G and 4G LTE. The tablet features 10.1-inch touchscreen display, Android 4.0 and 1.5GHz dual-core processor.
The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will also be available in the coming weeks from AT&T for its LTE network.
For its part, Acer announced availability of a trio of Windows 8 tablets, the W510-1674, W510-1666 and W510-1422. They ship Nov. 9 with respective prices of $499, $599 and $749.
