Intel CEO confirms Windows 8 tablets being queued up for production

Windows 8 tablets are already queued up ready for production, according to Intel’s CEO Paul Otellini.

CNET reports that ‘in an earnings conference call after the chip giant posted better than expected earnings today, Otellini said Android-based tablets don't have what it takes to compete against the iPad--yet.’

He added: ‘the other part of that test [of competing with iPad] of course is the Windows 8 tablets that are being queued up for production.’

Speaking about the current crop of Android-powered tablets on the market, Otellini said:

‘Tablets are a little bit about hardware and an awful lot about software. Until you get to Ice Cream Sandwich, the offering isn't as powerful as with what's out there with Apple. As Ice Cream Sandwich tablets start shipping, you'll begin to see a little bit better receptivity...everything got a little bit better with ICS.’

We happen to agree with Otellini. We do like Android Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s a massive overhaul of Google’s mobile operating system, featuring lots of improvements and tweaks – both cosmetic and technical. Yet we’re still left wanting.

The reason for this is simple: we don’t think Google cares all that much about its tablet platform at the moment.

Take the Prime, for instance, it’s got a great keyboard and is one of the first tablets you can actually work on – and well, too. At least, that’s what you first think. Then you realise that there is a distinct lack of high-quality office applications available for Google’s Android platform.

No matter, you can just use Google Docs, right? Wrong. The Google Docs application for Android is so diabolically bad that we’d strongly advise you to avoid them at all costs. The solution to this is simple though: Google needs to develop a bespoke Android-centric version of its Docs software. If it did this we’d definitely be bigger fans of Android and the tablets it powers, the added utility alone would be a massive USP for the platform.

The selection and availability of tablet-specific applications, even after a year on the market, is still a problem that affects Google’s tablet platform, especially when compared to Apple’s App Store.

And this problem will only escalate when Microsoft enters the tablet economy with its Windows 8 operating system in Q2 of this year.

Windows 8 will be like Windows 7, except that Microsoft has completely overhauled the UI, introducing a Metro UI, and has made the platform compatible for use on tablets and smartphones – in short, it’s a unified platform. That means lots of applications, seamless syncing between devices and one seriously attractive reason for opting into the Microsoft eco-system.

We predict big things for Windows 8 in 2012. This could be the year that Microsoft comes back in a big way.