Dell Working On Business Friendly Windows 8 Tablet

Windows 8 is certainly proving popular ahead of its release later this year: the consumer preview release racked up over one million downloads in less than 24 hours last week. While OEMs are almost certainly eyeing up ways to capitalize on the potential success of the operating system across the tablet and desktop space, Dell are hoping to gain an edge in the corporate world over the iPad with a tablet running Windows 8.

Speaking to Bloomberg West yesterday, CEO Michael Dell said that there was growing demand for a tablet that runs Windows 8. "Having a secure Windows tablet that works with all the Windows applications — we're hearing a lot of demand for that and we think that will be quite attractive". Dell are hoping that the ability to run applications such as Microsoft Office, and being able to connect to secure corporate networks, will help them make inroads in the business environment and stave off competition from Apple's iPad.

According to Forrester Research, Apple are on target to sell $10 billion worth of iPads to businesses this year. Traditional business and corporations were Microsoft's strength, although the lack of a tablet product has seen them lose ground in that area to Apple. Android tablets have so far also fared poorly in that area.

Amit Midha, president of Dell's Asia, said that the company aims to "lead the market" with Windows 8 tablets. Michael Dell also went on to say that they will be shipping laptop and desktop PCs with Windows 8 "on the exact day" that it's released.