Could Dell and HP Support Help Windows 8 Tablets Take Off?

No one can argue that tablets have really taken off in the last couple of years. There are options like WebOS (though it is a dying option), Blackberry tablets, and even Windows 7 but they really haven’t taken off. These days there are really only two accepted options when it comes to tablet computing, either Android tablets or the iPad.
With Windows 8 this is all about to change, but does Windows 8 have what it takes to do well? Certainly Dell seems to think so.
You may have heard of the Dell Streak before. Essentially it is a series of both tablets and smartphones that utilize Android technology. Dell’s Android offerings haven’t seen as much success as other companies like Samsung, although many argue it is because of hardware issues that plagued many of Dell Streak’s earlier offerings.
For example, the Tegra-2 based Dell Streak 7 was plagued with abysmal viewing angles and an overlay to Android overlay that really didn’t anything worthwhile to the Android experience.
According to Michael Dell, Android hasn’t turned out to be the operating system that they had hoped it to be. Dell believes that Android might have a future in mobile smartphones but are convinced it just doesn’t have what it takes to really do well in the tablet sector.
It is true that Android has yet to make as big of a mark on tablets as they have smartphones, but with new technologies like the upcoming “Ice Cream Sandwich” update for Android, it is really hard to say for sure what the future looks like for Android on tablets.  We really won’t have a clear picture of what Android’s role in the market will be until Windows 8 rolls out and gives it non-Apple competition, as well.
Dell believes that a tablet that has the true power of Windows behind it while still offering a touch-centric experience. Metro is shaping up to be the best of both worlds, with the power of Windows behind it and an interface that is fitting and welcoming in the tablet/smartphone world.
The great thing about Windows 8 tablets is you will have lower-end tablets that use ARM processors and offer the beauty of Metro, and you will have laptop replacements that offer x86 processors and legacy support through desktop mode. For those looking for a tablet that can also be used for true business and work, Windows 8 truly has an advantage over Android.
Dell might find that Windows 8 is the best choice moving forward for tablets, but what about other major vendors? With the recent retirement of WebOS on HP tablets, Hewlett Packard has also taken an interest in Windows 8. What do both of these vendors have in common?
Both have tried Android to at least some extent and decided it wasn’t right for them. To be fair, HP never had its own Android tablets but they had experimented with Android early on and decided to instead go the WebOS route. With the failure of WebOS it is now clear that HP is placing its bet on Windows 8 for tablet success as well.
Both Dell and HP are major players in the PC world and their clear support will really make a difference in Windows 8 tablet adoption. With strong partners like Dell and HP on its side it should be easier to convince other vendors to join the Windows 8 tablet market, even if these other vendors still choice to have Android offerings as well.