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Microsoft left alone with Windows RT as Dell drops XPS 10 tablet

Microsoft left alone with Windows RT as Dell drops XPS 10 tablet

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Dell XPS 10
Dell XPS 10

Microsoft appears to be the only company still selling a Windows RT-based tablet. Dell's XPS 10 is now listed as unavailable, following a price drop for the past few months. While the company won't comment about its future Windows RT plans, it did reveal to PC World that a fresh tablet line up will be announced at an event in early October. A refreshed XPS 10 is unlikely as the company is opting for Intel's Bay Trail processor for an upcoming 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet.

Dell joins Lenovo, Asus, and Samsung who have all bailed on Windows RT. Despite backing Windows RT earlier this year, it appears that the "slower" sales of Dell's device have led to its cancelation. HTC reportedly cancelled its own plans for a large-screen Windows RT tablet, and Nokia ditched its own plans too. Not a single PC maker opted to launch a Windows RT device during Comptex recently, focusing on Android and Windows 8. Until Nokia launches its rumored Lumia 2520 at an event next month, Microsoft is the single backer of Windows RT right now.

Phones and small tablets may rescue Windows RT

Microsoft recently unveiled its latest Surface 2 tablet, running Nvidia's Tegra 4 processor and Windows RT 8.1. Although it's a 10.6-inch device, Microsoft's operating systems chief, Terry Myerson, recently hinted that phones and small tablets are the future of Windows RT. "Windows RT was our first ARM tablet. And as phones extend into tablets, expect us to see many more ARM tablets, Windows ARM tablets in the future."