News

Windows 8 requirements for tablets and convertible PCs

Microsoft is most certainly determined to make Windows 8 a new tablet OS, the list of requirements is a quiet interesting read, although rather long to say the least. If you’re determined, you may read the 1000+ pages long article here.

The requirements not only state a minimum amount of buttons, but also the minimum component set any tablets or convertible PCs will need in order to use Windows 8.

For starters, Microsoft requires ‘5-point digitizers’, meaning it supports at least a hand of fingers on a screen at once. NFC “touchmarks” are also featured in Window 8, in which case any tablet or slat will have to have a sticker of similar signage averting the user of its NFC-capability.

Also required by Microsoft are 5 buttons minimum, which were very specifically detailed with them being Power, Rotation lock, Windows Key, Volume up and Volume down.

A new ‘combo’ has also been put place enforcing Windows 8 PCs joined to a domain and without keyboards to implement a new Ctrl+Alt+Del sequence. While users will still be able to use the on-screen keyboard, the new and quicker option is to press Windows Key + Power.

The following list is the bare minimum for future Windows 8 tablets/convertible PCs:

  • Storage: At least 10gb free space after the out-of-box experience completes
  • System firmware: UEFI
  • Networking: WLAN and Bluetooth 4.0 + LE (low energy)
  • Graphics: Direct3D 10 device w/ WDDM 1.2 driver
  • Resolution: 1366×768
  • Touch support: At least 5 touch points, must pass all tests
  • Camera: 720p
  • Ambient Light Sensor: 1-30k lux capable w/ dynamic range of 5-60K
  • Magnetometer
  • Accelerometer: 3 axes w/ data rates >= 50Hz
  • Gyroscope
  • USB 2.0: At least one controller and exposed port
  • Speakers

Additionally, Windows 8 running tablets will need to support no-reboot upgrades, including driver updates (supported since Vista) and graphic card upgrades.

Intel-compatible Windows 8 PCs will further require a 2 second resume time. Note that only Intel-compatible tablets have been subjected to this, thus leaving ARM out of the question, although nothing says this couldn’t change before the release.

Source: WithinWindows

Andy Ruffell

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Electronic Arts Titles Played for Over 11 Billion Hours in 2024

Electronic Arts (EA) announced today that its games were played for over 11 billion hours…

2 days ago

Just 15% of Steam Gaming Time in 2024 Was Spent on New Releases

Steam's annual end-of-year recap, Steam Replay, provides fascinating insights into gamer habits by comparing individual…

2 days ago

STALKER 2 Gets Massive 110GB Patch With 1800+ Fixes

GSC GameWorld released a major title update for STALKER 2 this seeking, bringing the game…

3 days ago

Intel Unveils Core 200H Processors Based on the Previous Raptor Lake Refresh

Without any formal announcement, Intel appears to have revealed its new Core 200H series processors…

3 days ago

Ubisoft Reportedly Developing a New Quadruple A Game

Ubisoft is not having the best of times, but despite recent flops, the company still…

3 days ago

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl Update 1.1 Fixes 1,800 Issues and Revamps A-Life 2.0

If you haven’t started playing STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl yet, now might be the…

3 days ago