Lenovo is pushing the ThinkPad Win8 tablet with Intel

Computer store news According to foreign media reports, a Lenovo executive claimed that the company is preparing to cooperate with chip maker Intel to launch the ThinkPad tablet with Microsoft Windows 8 operating system.

Dilip Bhatia, general manager and vice president of ThinkPad's business unit, said in an interview that the release date of the ThinkPad tablet with Intel chips depends on Microsoft's release of Windows 8. time. Windows 8 is expected to be available later this year.

Chips based on x86 architecture, such as Intel's processor, can provide a lot of convenience for enterprise users. Enterprise users are the target consumer groups locked by Lenovo ThinkPad tablets. “ On the x86 architecture, you are compatible with previous versions. & rdquo; Bhatia said. The Windows 8 tablet with Intel chips supports existing and previous applications on Windows systems. Windows is currently the dominant operating system in the PC market.

Intel plans to launch a tablet chip later this year, code-named Clover Trail, which will be released when Windows 8 is released. Intel’s only potential competitor on Windows 8 is ARM. ARM's processors are built into most tablets today. This touch-enabled Windows 8 will appear in three versions: Windows RT based on ARM chips and Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro based on x86 chips.

Windows is based on x86 chips, which makes people wonder whether ARM processors are compatible with existing Windows applications. Intel CEO Paul Otellini said last week that traditional x86 applications can't work on ARM-based Windows. At the same time, Microsoft also said that traditional x86 applications cannot be applied to Windows RT. Bhatia did not say whether Lenovo will launch Windows RT devices, but he said that all options will be considered when developing products. Lenovo has launched an ARM-based tablet, including a ThinkPad tablet that runs the Google Android operating system.

According to market research firm IDC, in the first quarter of this year, Lenovo became the world's fourth-largest tablet supplier, behind Apple, Samsung and Amazon. With its growing domestic shipments and expanding distribution channels worldwide, Lenovo is the second largest PC supplier in the world.

David Daoud, director of personal computer development at IDC, said the ThinkPad Windows 8 tablet can easily break into the corporate domain of ThinkPad PCs. He said that Lenovo's share of the global corporate PC market has remained at 16% to 18% in each quarter.

According to Daod, the ThinkPad is very popular in the enterprise, so users may prefer to use the Windows 8 tablet as a companion device in the IT enterprise environment. The IT environment is embracing new usage models, including app stores and input methods such as touch and voice, and if users feel comfortable using the operating system and devices, the Windows 8 tablet will be a success.

Daoud said: "If users can easily transfer to the tablet environment as they choose the iPad, then PC manufacturers with corporate customers will need to provide matching equipment. In order to adapt to the current fashionable & lsquo; bring the device to work & rsquo; In addition, Lenovo is building a cloud service, so the company's PCs and mobile devices can access or exchange data through private or public clouds. Similar to Apple's mobile device strategy, Lenovo hopes to integrate content, infrastructure, access devices and middleware as part of its cloud strategy. The cloud service will be available later this year.

Lenovo Vice President Bhatia said that ThinkPad notebooks and tablets will become part of the company's cloud strategy. Bhatia also said: "Our Microsoft cloud service has a complete set of plans. ”