At the upcoming BUILD conference, taking place next week, it is being reported that Microsoft will be showing off a Windows 8 tablet that was manufactured by Samsung.
The report comes from the Korean Economic Times (via Yahoo,TNW). The report is clear and straightforward by saying that the device will be shown off next week.
The Korea Economic Daily, citing an industry source, said the new tab based on the Windows 8 system would be unveiled at Microsoft"s BUILD developers" conference in California from September 13-16.
It is also expected that Microsoft will hand out this tablet to BUILD attendees. Microsoft is looking to get the device into as many developer hands as possible to help facilitate third party applications for its upcoming platform.
While Microsoft may be a late to the tablet game with Windows 8, it has the power and ability to force the product into the market. The interface for the tablets is also decidedly different from others on the market. The Metro design language is bold and a new look for the company, one that it is betting nearly all of its products on.
The tablet will most likely be run on an ARM based processor which Microsoft first showed Windows 8 running on at CES in 2011.
If Microsoft does hand out the tablets next week, it will be the first time that a third party has gotten its hands on the new UI outside the walls of Microsoft. You can bet that Microsoft worked diligently to make the preview as rock solid as possible as first impressions can make or break the future of Microsoft’s tablet strategy.
Although the tablet market has been in the news lately, BUILD will not be the first time Microsoft has stood on stage to show off its tablet product; Bill Gates did the same thing nearly 10 years ago.