Windows 8 Samsung tablet at BUILD 2011 (Review)

Microsoft just unveiled some more details about its ambitious Windows 8 operating system at Build 2011 and we have been playing with a prototype tablet for almost 24 hours and we must say that there is a lot of promise with Microsoft new platform.

Windows 8 is not the company tablet-specific OS, as it is the next generation of its platform and its meant for screen sizes from 7 inches to 70 inches. Of course, the success of devices like the Apple iPad are definitely a factor in this, as the whole thing has been rethought with responsive multitouch in mind and a big focus on apps.

As for the Samsung tablet, its not quite what was rumored; but its still quite a powerful machine with an 11.6-inch screen with an 1366 x 768 resolution, a second-generation Intel core i5 processor, integrated 3G from AT&T, 64 GB of on-board storage, 4 GB DDR3, multiple dock sensore and two cameras. Microsoft specifically said this should not be considered an iPad killer, as the device is meant to be a developer preview machine and when it finally lands in the market, it will run Windows 7.

The point of the tablet is to show off Windows 8 and its multitouch capabilities and its worth crowing about. Once you boot it up, you Windows Phone 7 fans will recognize many elements: from the live tiles on the start screen to the loading animations and even the sounds and look of the virtual keyboard, Windows 8 builds upon the visual aesthetic of Microsoft latest smartphone platform.