Intel releases its wish list of Windows 8 tablet features

Everyone, including Intel is expecting Windows 8 to launch before 2012 is over. Intel also wants to ensure its chips are inside as many Windows 8 tablets too, especially considering ARM is now an option.

With that in mind, the chip giant has used the Intel Developer Forum being held this week in Beijing to unveil its wish list for Windows 8 tablet features. These aren’t set in stone, but would certainly provide an enjoyable tablet experience if one or two manufacturers managed to hit all these points.

First up, Intel predictably sees an Atom processor at the heart of each tablet. More specifically, a dual-core Clover Trail Atom Z2760 with Hyperthreading and burst mode. No details of RAM are given, but Intel expects battery life to be in excess of 9 hours and standby time to be 30 days or more.

The battery life claims are made all the more difficult by the fact Intel expects Windows 8 tablets to be no thicker than 9mm and weigh less than 1.5 pounds. Add to that the requirement for 3G and 4G connectivity as standard, as well as NFC and/or Wi-Fi Direct, and the battery is going to be pushed pretty hard. Displays won’t be small either, with 10-inches as standard, or 11-inches if the unit ships with a keyboard.

The key thing here is that this is a wish list not a minimum spec. It’s unlikely all tablets will hit all those points. In fact, until we get a release version of Windows 8 we won’t know if a 9 hour battery life in a tablet is even possible without larger batteries that make the 9mm thickness unworkable. However, if a tablet does manage to meet Intel’s requirements, then it will give the new iPad a decent challenge. Apple’s tablet is 9.4mm thick, weighs 1.44 pounds, and promises 10 hours of battery life.

Source : geek

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