Windows 8 isn"t due for its final release until sometime in the second half of 2012. However, Microsoft"s next operating system could have the edge over the already established Android OS from Google in the tablet market. At least that"s the opinion of ARM CEO Warren East, in remarks made during a conference call with investors today.
News.com reports that East, when asked by a financial analyst why people would buy Windows 8-based tablets, said:
Consumers are familiar with Microsoft and very familiar with Windows and they"re less familiar with an Android environment. Microsoft has an awareness advantage with consumers that the Android folks didn"t have. It"s up to Microsoft [and we"ll see] how well they"re going to exploit that advantage. But I think that"s a fundamental difference.
That said, East also believes that Android-based tablets will gain in market share in the future, saying, "I think we should give Android tablets a little bit more time."
Windows 8 will have an ARM port in addition to its familiar x86 version designed to be run on chips created by Intel and AMD. East has previously said that he would not mind if the ARM version of Windows 8 would be released late, saying he would rather wait "to get a quality experience than compromise." However, there are reports that the ARM version of Windows 8 is now considered to be stable and could be released to developers sometime in February.