Fall 2013 Windows Tablet Preview

Note: Everything here is subject to change. Specs, prices, and whatever else could evolve as these devices hit the market. Some devices may even be delayed past the holiday period.

Microsoft and its hardware partners will unleash a new generation of Windows tablets for the 2013 holiday season, in a variety of price points, sizes, and form factors. The new choices I see this year are far more interesting than the 2012 entries, I think, and benefit from updates to the underlying hardware and software platforms.

What we see here are several mini- and full-sized tablets running on the Intel Atom "Bay Trail" platform, plus Microsoft and Nokia devices running on ARM. What's most interesting about Microsoft's Surface lineup for 2013, perhaps, is that they have three devices. And two of them are running Windows RT 8.1 on ARM.

Stubborn? Clueless? I guess we'll find out. But in the meantime, here's what I know.

Acer W3-810

Codename: Cheetah
Platform: Intel Atom "Bay Trail"
Screen: 8-inch, 1280 x 800
Battery: 8 hours
Weight: 1.2 pounds
Thickness: .45 inches
Price: $349
Key features: Smallest Windows 8 x86 tablet with one-handed use. All-day computing. Docks with full-sized Bluetooth keyboard.
Peripherals: Anti-shock back cover, capacitive stylus ($14.99), protective screen film, protective covers ($24.99 and up), micro-HDMI-to-VGA ($14.99), protective bags, mice, portable full-sized Bluetooth keyboard dock ($49.99).

My take: This is nothing more than a Bay Trail version of the terrible Acer W3. It looks identical.

ASUS Transformer Book Trio T100TA

Platform: Intel Atom "Bay Trail"
Screen: 10.1-inch, 1366 x 768
Battery: 12 hours
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Thickness: .9 inches
Price: $329
Key features: Slim keyboard docking with large clickpad, full-sized USB 3.0 on docking, ASUS exclusive apps, Office 2013 Home & Student included.

My take: This one looks very interesting, and the price is right. If Bay Trail performance claims live up to the hype, this could be the one to watch.

Dell Venue

Codename: Bellair
Platform: Intel Atom "Bay Trail"
Screen: 8-inch, 1280 x 800 IPS
Battery: 10+ hours
Weight: .88 pounds
Thickness: .35 inches
Price: $299
Key features: Lightweight design, HD display with 10-point multitouch, pen and wireless keyboard accessories, variety of color choices.
Peripherals: Capacitive Active stylus, Bluetooth wireless keyboard with stand.

My take: A lighter, thinner and less expensive alternative to the Acer W3.

Dell (unnamed)

Codename: Midland
Platform: Intel Atom "Bay Trail"
Screen: 10.8-inch, 1920 x 1080
Battery: 9 hours, replaceable battery
Weight: 1.65 pounds
Thickness: .4 inches
Price: $399
Key features: Optimized for 4G connectivity, HD with touch screen and pen, great accessories.
Peripherals: Pen, touch keyboard, travel keyboard with 10 hour battery, productivity dock.

My take: A more modern take on the Samsung ATIV Smart PC 500T, this one could be interesting thanks to its large HD screen and great battery offerings.

Lenovo Miix 8

Platform: Intel Atom "Bay Trail"
Screen: 8-inch, 1280 x 800 IPS
Battery: 8hours
Weight: .77 pounds
Thickness: .31 inches
Price: $249
Key features: Dual cameras with auto-focus, HD video calling, Lenovo face recognition, includes a detachable keyboard, 3G version available, two color choices (black, silver).
Peripherals: Pen.

My take: An incredibly inexpensive option, and it comes with a keyboard (though I've not seen it).

Lenovo Miix 2

Platform: Intel Atom "Bay Trail"
Screen: 10.1-inch, 1366 x 768
Battery: 8 hours
Weight: 1.3 pounds
Thickness: .4 inches
Price: $449
Key features: Smart dock with seamless connection, detachable folio case with built-in keyboard

My take: If Lenovo can put their award-winning keyboard in a folio case and make it work, I'm sold.

Microsoft Surface 2

Codename: Surface RT 2
Platform: Next-generation Tegra processor
Screen: 10.6-inch, ClearType Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to8 hours
Weight: 1.5 pounds (estimated; appears identical to current Surface RT)
Thickness: .37 inches (estimated; appears identical to current Surface RT)
Price: TBD
Key features: Windows RT 8.1, new white color, VaporMg casing, integrated two-position kickstand, ClearType Full HD display, front- and rear-facing cameras, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11, full-sized USB 3.0 port, micro-SD expansion up to 64 GB, HD video-out port, includes Office Home & Student 2013 RT (with Outlook RT).
My take: Yep, Microsoft is pushing forward with Windows RT, though they've removed the RT branding from the Surface device that uses it, which is interesting. Pricing is key to the success of this device, and if Microsoft doesn't significantly undercut the $500 price point it launched at last year, this product is DOA. The white looks nice.

Microsoft Surface Pro 2

Platform: 4th generation Intel Core i5
Screen: 10.6-inch, ClearType Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Battery: Up to7 hours
Weight: 2 pounds (estimated; appears identical to current Surface Pro)
Thickness: .53 inches (estimated; appears identical to current Surface Pro)
Price: TBD
Key features: Windows 8.1 Pro with full desktop app compatibility, choice of RAM and storage options, VaporMg casing, integrated two-position kickstand, ClearType Full HD display, front- and rear-facing 720p LifeCam cameras, digital Pro Pen, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11, full-sized USB 3.0 port, micro-SD expansion up to 64 GB, HD video-out port. (Does not include Office.)
My take: The new Surface Pro utilizes the Haswell chipset as expected but curiously appears to have exactly the same form factor (thickness, weight) as its predecessor. But there are a few nice surprises, too: The Power Cover is coming (though not immediately at launch), there are RAM options this time, and there's a new Dock as hoped-for. The question is whether Microsoft gets the price right.

Microsoft Surface "mini"

I don't have too much information about the Surface "mini", save a few details: It will ship this year, but a bit later than the new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. It utilizes a Qualcomm processor, so it's an ARM device and will be running Windows RT 8.1, not Windows 8.1. And it will indeed have an 8-inch screen as I had previously exclusively reported. More on the Surface Mini as it comes in.

Nokia (unknown)

Codename: Sirius
Platform: Quad-core Qualcomm 8974 (ARM)
Screen: 10.1-inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS
Battery: Up to10 hours
Weight: 1.3 pounds
Thickness: .35 inches
Price: $499
Key features: 10.1-inch Full HD screen with outdoor readability, LTE, 6.7 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, unique companion experiences with Nokia apps.
Peripherals: Innovative multi-function cover with keyboard and additional battery life.

My take: Any Nokia tablet is interesting, but it's expensive and runs Windows RT.

Toshiba Encore

Codename: Malta
Platform: Intel Atom "Bay Trail," up to 1.8 GHz
Screen: 8-inch, 1280 x 800 IPS
Battery: 6-7 hours
Weight: 1 pound
Thickness: unknown
Price: $329
Key features: AutoBrite touch display; Skype certified with high quality dual-array mics; speakers, mics, and cameras placed outside hand grip zone; InstantGo to keep the device connected

My take: A few interesting differentiators and low price.