Intel Windows 8 tablet with Clover Trail first hands-on pictures
By Dieter Bohnon January 11, 2012 11:28 am81Comments
Here's your first look at a tablet running Intel's 32nm Clover Trail processor and Windows 8! Unfortunately, precious little is known about this tablet since it was teased last night at the Intel keynote beyond the fact that it has Intel's new 32 nanometer chipset inside and tablets like this are destined to take on ARM-based devices head-on. Intel is keeping this tablet under glass but we managed to get a good look at the ports, which consist of a single USB port, HDMI-out, an SD card slot, a 10-pin-style connector on the bottom, and lastly a SIM-card slot — the last of which obviously implies that there's a cellular radio inside.
And there is is. Technically I suppose that is “hands on”. Funny I used to read “hands on” as having actually been able to use the product. Dieter goes literal on me and yes I got powned.
How about real web browsing.. Programs, not apps.. And it’s looking like Android and Wp7 apps will be a go.. Windowed multitasking.. Huge peripheral support.. I mean let’s be real I dont like Wp7 but Windows 8 will be huge which business is ditching their PCs and Macs for tablet OSes?? Whatever reason people buy new computers over tablets would be the reason people would want this..
Real web browsing? As opposed to what? Fake browsing? FYI IE10 does not support Flash in Metro. God I hope tablets never support peripherals. There are no metro apps, it’s going to be a similar story to WP7. It’ll take a while.
Fake browsing? Classic. No such thing on any PC really. I’m sure that you’ll be able to run IE9 compatability mode with a relatively simple gesture to pull off what most people would miss in IE10M without leaving the screen. They compatabaptized half of Windows7 with Windows8…why not the browser?
Peripherals is another good one. How do you fit these into the tablet experience without some akward dock? I don’t want a flash drive or external HD hanging off the back of my Clover Trail tablet… it’s just not perrty (Metro).
You forgot the external graphics card in the dock part. Dammit why wont they do this! By the time they get it figured out we will all be gaming in the cloud and Comcast will win when they put caps on data.
it has been kinda sort of done, but the card needs to be user replaceable and run at full bore to be worth it. It would certainly be a niche product though. Hell if they did the product right it would be 600-800 dollars . 7970 graphics on a samsung 9 series hooked up to a 30inch monitor. Its kinda the idea of the atrix where you carry your computer everywhere and just plug in once you get there.
Intel is packing WiDi (wireless display) into future laptops/netbooks/tablets. That means you can expect powerful “gaming” laptops to have removable screens which can be used like a tablet.
Android will be left as the ‘cheap’ tablets I’m sure so they’ll have it’s spot. I do think there’s going to be a huge demand for Win 8 tablets though. Customers get the best of both worlds.
There will be cheap windows 8 tablets as well. Android is going to have a very hard time even doing the dismal amount of sales they have been once win8 is released.
I meant like cheap… as in crap lol Android you are beyond limited unless your a nerd filtering through XDA-devs. Customers want something familiar and that’s def going to be Windows. They’ll even get all their updates in a timely manner :D
As far as price, I hope you’re right. They need to be competitive. Then again the high end iPad is near 1,000. For a mobile OS. Ouch!
How big is that tablet? ~10 inches?
And I really hope there will be a dock for it, because I will SO buy it (or a comparable product). the wait for windows 8 tablets is hard. I even consideres buying a w500 when the win8 beta hits. but the tech in there is not good enough for ot to replace my laptop.
Now I see what they did with all the old HP touchpad hardware. its would not be a far stretch to think that Microsoft paid HP to frig up the WebOS program just to take a competator off the market, and a damn good one at that.
I would like all Windows 8 tablets to have at least two USB ports, one of which should be USB 3.0. That way, I have incredible flexibility to add a keyboard and mouse, or a mass storage device when it is not being used in pure portable tablet mode.
That would turn today’s tablets from a supplementary mobile devices to ones that can become primary PCs which become mobile whenever the owner wants to use it in that mode.
Not flexible enough. With my solution, I can also do these types of things which I can’t do with a dock:
- Choose to take a compact keyboard or mouse with me on a trip
- Plug my tablet into a mass storage device where I’m going on a trip, etc.
Even better, ditch the HDMI port, and instead the tablet maker provides in the box a couple of inexpensive adapters for USB 3.0: USB to HDMI, USB to Gb Ethernet. The user could also buy other types of USB 3.0 adapters if they need them. That would provide incredible flexibility to the person on a trip.
I’m still waiting to see the benefits of ARM. If I can gain dramatic increase of battery life, then I’m sold. Otherwise I’d like to have my legacy supported apps as a compromise to reduced battery
Not sure what to say about this. On the one hand, they have it in a glass case and are restricting access to it, but Intel doesn’t really make hardware like this. It’s usually up to OEMs like Asus, HP, etc. who make use of these chips and build products.
I wouldn’t look too much into the hardware on board here; sure, it’s an idea of what’s to come, but I’m fairly sure this won’t be a shipping device this year, it’s just too “tech preview”-ish.
So little is in fact know about this tablet that it may not even be a tablet…. Maybe it’s a cunningly disguised chocolate bar? Some say it’s made by a guy called Keith?
The reason I don’t have an ipad is because I am waiting for a windows based tablet but with 2 androids, a web os and a kindle in the house I hope that they get their act together and make a good one before i commit to one flavour like IOS or ICS. I do like my 4s iphone
There are 81 Comments. Add yours.
Is that a SIM card slot next to the SD slot?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes, it says so in the article.
What it doesn’t say is whether or not this thing has a fan in it or not, heat has been a big problem for Intel in the past.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:41 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
great now I look like a ’tard. when I posted that the only text in the article was “Developing…”
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:47 AM EST reply Recommend (25) Flag actions
We still love you.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 2:38 PM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
I beg to differ.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 10:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
tard
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:59 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I wish people would get over this belief that Intel can’t build anything without a fan.
Of course this doesn’t have a fan. Its a table t. Previous Windows tablets such as the Acer W500 and the Viewsonic ViewPad 10 didn’t have fans either.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:47 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
I believe the Samsung tablet they gave out at BUILD has a fan, but of course that has an i5 CPU in it. I’m sure tablets based on Atom SoCs will not.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:10 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Well…the ViewPad 10 actually does have a fan, and the Acer W500 uses an AMD processor so…hmm.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:10 PM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
Also the W500 has a fan.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:37 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
A tablet with a fan? I think that’s a deal breaker.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 2:00 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
a tablet with a limited OS is the dealbreaker for me.. a fan, meh..
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 2:27 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
So you won’t be buying a W8(ARM) tablet then.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:51 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
“first hands on pictures”
Wow – really? Come on Dieter. The thing is behind glass. Is there more coming or did I totally just get powned?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:48 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Refresh the article and you will see photos of it in an Intel employee’s hands ;-)
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:49 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
And there is is. Technically I suppose that is “hands on”. Funny I used to read “hands on” as having actually been able to use the product. Dieter goes literal on me and yes I got powned.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:50 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I’d like to see a medfield based tablet! Running legacy x86 apps on w8!!!
One can dream…
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:48 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Might be better in the main on the other hand for example and it works reasonably well.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:50 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Damn. I can’t wait to buy a x86 Windows 8 tablet with low power consumption.
I am quite certain, that this WILL be the next big thing. Apple and Google better batten down the hatches when this baby arrives.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:53 AM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
I have to disagree with that statement.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:00 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
I have to disagree with that opinion.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:14 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
I have to disagree with both because everybody has the right to think what they want even if you don’t think the same
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 2:24 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
booga-booga
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:30 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Just like it was when Tablet PCs came out 10 years ago?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:42 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Not like when tablet pcs came out ten years ago.. This is not ten years ago obviously..
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 2:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Please, I’m looking forward to it but have some basis behind your logic.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:30 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
How about real web browsing.. Programs, not apps.. And it’s looking like Android and Wp7 apps will be a go.. Windowed multitasking.. Huge peripheral support.. I mean let’s be real I dont like Wp7 but Windows 8 will be huge which business is ditching their PCs and Macs for tablet OSes?? Whatever reason people buy new computers over tablets would be the reason people would want this..
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 2:14 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Real web browsing? As opposed to what? Fake browsing? FYI IE10 does not support Flash in Metro. God I hope tablets never support peripherals. There are no metro apps, it’s going to be a similar story to WP7. It’ll take a while.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 4:12 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I hope I don’t come off rude. it’s just I’m a bit tired of seeing time after time this will kill the iDevice.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 4:24 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Two great points here.
Fake browsing? Classic. No such thing on any PC really. I’m sure that you’ll be able to run IE9 compatability mode with a relatively simple gesture to pull off what most people would miss in IE10M without leaving the screen. They compatabaptized half of Windows7 with Windows8…why not the browser?
Peripherals is another good one. How do you fit these into the tablet experience without some akward dock? I don’t want a flash drive or external HD hanging off the back of my Clover Trail tablet… it’s just not perrty (Metro).
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
um.. I’m gonna need to go watch the Dark Knight Rises trailer again..
um.. I’m gonna need to go watch the Dark Knight Rises trailer again..brb..
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 3:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I think people have much too high expectations of Windows 8 on ARM.
It would be wise to wait and see how it performs before raving about it too much.
Posted on Jan 15, 2012 | 12:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’d love to see a company create a powerful Windows 8 tablet that could attach to a desktop mount/laptop mount.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:02 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
asus are probably waaaay ahead of you. at least i’d hope so anyway.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You forgot the external graphics card in the dock part. Dammit why wont they do this! By the time they get it figured out we will all be gaming in the cloud and Comcast will win when they put caps on data.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:08 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
They could easily do that with a thunderbolt port.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
it has been kinda sort of done, but the card needs to be user replaceable and run at full bore to be worth it. It would certainly be a niche product though. Hell if they did the product right it would be 600-800 dollars . 7970 graphics on a samsung 9 series hooked up to a 30inch monitor. Its kinda the idea of the atrix where you carry your computer everywhere and just plug in once you get there.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Intel is packing WiDi (wireless display) into future laptops/netbooks/tablets. That means you can expect powerful “gaming” laptops to have removable screens which can be used like a tablet.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 4:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Anyone else see Windows 8 tablets being more popular than Android tablets?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:10 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
Android will be left as the ‘cheap’ tablets I’m sure so they’ll have it’s spot. I do think there’s going to be a huge demand for Win 8 tablets though. Customers get the best of both worlds.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:26 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
There will be cheap windows 8 tablets as well. Android is going to have a very hard time even doing the dismal amount of sales they have been once win8 is released.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 3:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I meant like cheap… as in crap lol Android you are beyond limited unless your a nerd filtering through XDA-devs. Customers want something familiar and that’s def going to be Windows. They’ll even get all their updates in a timely manner :D
As far as price, I hope you’re right. They need to be competitive. Then again the high end iPad is near 1,000. For a mobile OS. Ouch!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Setting the bar a little low there, don’t you think?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Maybe combined ARM and x86 tablets. But the Chrome browser in ICS is already much more useful than what we have seen from the Metro styled IE 10.
And when Windows 8 will be ready, we may already have Android Jelly Bean.
What a fun year ahead! :)
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
How big is that tablet? ~10 inches?
And I really hope there will be a dock for it, because I will SO buy it (or a comparable product). the wait for windows 8 tablets is hard. I even consideres buying a w500 when the win8 beta hits. but the tech in there is not good enough for ot to replace my laptop.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:14 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I hope Windows 8 can deliver. Seems to me that first guys who makes a laptop with good performance and a touch screen with Windows will win the day.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I would hold off on a W500 (and most current Windows tablets) anyway as the screen resolution isn’t high enough to enable the full W8 experience.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Woops. That reply was for the post above you.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:18 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Now I see what they did with all the old HP touchpad hardware. its would not be a far stretch to think that Microsoft paid HP to frig up the WebOS program just to take a competator off the market, and a damn good one at that.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Is there more info on the clover trail chipset? So far all I can find is its dual-core.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Only one USB port?
I would like all Windows 8 tablets to have at least two USB ports, one of which should be USB 3.0. That way, I have incredible flexibility to add a keyboard and mouse, or a mass storage device when it is not being used in pure portable tablet mode.
That would turn today’s tablets from a supplementary mobile devices to ones that can become primary PCs which become mobile whenever the owner wants to use it in that mode.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 12:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
that is what docks are for
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Not flexible enough. With my solution, I can also do these types of things which I can’t do with a dock:
- Choose to take a compact keyboard or mouse with me on a trip
- Plug my tablet into a mass storage device where I’m going on a trip, etc.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Even better, ditch the HDMI port, and instead the tablet maker provides in the box a couple of inexpensive adapters for USB 3.0: USB to HDMI, USB to Gb Ethernet. The user could also buy other types of USB 3.0 adapters if they need them. That would provide incredible flexibility to the person on a trip.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
at least? hahah funny guy.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So you want tablet PCs from before the iPad. I hope they have no ports. Maybe just a HDMI.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Im sure there will be more than one model.. This is probably just a concept prototype anyway
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 2:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Get a hub, then hub that hub, and hub it after that hub to have a big hub daisy chained. Voila, brilliance at last!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I little bit thick and it looks a like the HP touchpad.
Thanks,
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Thick doesn’t always mean heavy. I prefer some heft to things that I hold with one hand.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 4:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
OH GOD….that’s what she said…
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 4:18 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Little bit thick and am sure it has a fan.. Give me an ARM tablet instead.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:24 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m still waiting to see the benefits of ARM. If I can gain dramatic increase of battery life, then I’m sold. Otherwise I’d like to have my legacy supported apps as a compromise to reduced battery
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
if u wanna buy an arm based win8 tablet, buy a samsung, dell or Asus maybe HP, maybe with tegra 3-4
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Did they not give these employees video cameras?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 1:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If it has an Intel logo on the case the product will never come out
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 2:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Can’t understand the excitement. Windows tablets exist even before the iPad.
So it has a new user interface! so what? who cares? More lipstick on the same old obese windows pig.
DOA!! I say
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 3:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You’re DOA.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:21 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Not sure what to say about this. On the one hand, they have it in a glass case and are restricting access to it, but Intel doesn’t really make hardware like this. It’s usually up to OEMs like Asus, HP, etc. who make use of these chips and build products.
I wouldn’t look too much into the hardware on board here; sure, it’s an idea of what’s to come, but I’m fairly sure this won’t be a shipping device this year, it’s just too “tech preview”-ish.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 3:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I wonder how long that door that covers the ports would last
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 3:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Depends on how it’s constructed and how it’s treated. Some houses last less than a year with the way some people treat them. Take care of your shit
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Look there iPad and Android tablets, into the distance… there is the vanguard of your destruction. Prepared to be “reaped”.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 4:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Give that tablet USB3.0, and then give me THIS.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 4:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m just glad this means the end of being stuck with rinky dink mobile wannabe OS’ like Android.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 4:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So little is in fact know about this tablet that it may not even be a tablet…. Maybe it’s a cunningly disguised chocolate bar? Some say it’s made by a guy called Keith?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:24 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Am I missing a reference to something? lol chocolate bar sounds yummy though!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
No reference just late night ramblings!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Oh! I know how that is :)
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Why was I thinking Windows 8 was gonna have that Windows Phone “Metro” look? In the pic it just looks like regular ol’ Windows.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
but.. will it run Crysis?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 5:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The reason I don’t have an ipad is because I am waiting for a windows based tablet but with 2 androids, a web os and a kindle in the house I hope that they get their act together and make a good one before i commit to one flavour like IOS or ICS. I do like my 4s iphone
Posted on Jan 16, 2012 | 3:08 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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