Should Sony switch to Windows RT or Windows 8 for its 10" tablet?

Every review I've read of the Xperia Tablet S is the same: great hardware, but the skinned Android is buggy and laggy. Sales of Android tablets in general are poor, and will only get worse with the Nexus 7 drawing many/most Android tablet buyers away from third-party offerings. Sony is bringing the Vaio Duo 11, but with a 1080p screen and Ivy Bridge, that slider will likely cost $1200-$1500. I think convertible tablets are basically going to replace traditional ultrabooks like the Vaio T as the ultraportable form factor of choice in the next year or so.

Seems to me Sony should be bringing an ARM or Atom-powered Windows tablet in the $700-$800 range. Something, I dunno, that looks a lot like the Xperia Tablet S. Am I alone here?

 

By the way, my incredibly-unscientific survey (involving talking with friends and posting on FB and Pinterest) has revealed that the Vaio Duo 11 slider generates more interest among laypeople than other convertible tablets combined. Good looks and an interesting form factor and a name laypeople recognize clearly goes far. Maybe Sony should consider an ARM or Atom-powered, lower-specced "little brother" model to the Duo 11?

 

It depends on if the Windows RT is more laggy/buggy than Android, but in general I like your idea.

 

Based on my experience with WP7 and Win8CP, along with what I've seen of Windows RT from tech previews, I don't think bugginess and lagginess are part of the package. I think the fact that MS doesn't let OEMs skin the OS contributes...stock Android (particularly Jelly Bean) is far smoother than skinned versions that Sony, Samsung, HTC, etc use.

Regardless, the Tablet S was a sales disaster and I don't see the Xperia Tablet S doing better, particularly with the Nexus 7 monopolizing Android tablet sales. Sony has an AWESOME halo device with the Duo 11, but they need a cheaper Windows convertible tablet to capitalize off that halo (just as how the Vaio S and Vaio T capitalize off the Vaio Z's halo).

 

Good guess. Duo will start at $1200.

RT isn't an option for many MFRs. Remember MS controlled how many ARM partners were enabled and how many OEM's those ARM partners could produce for. At launch, Sony is not on that list.

 

Huh, didn't realize that. Crazy that Sony wouldn't be included if they wanted to be--they've got a long and distinguished history of building Windows PCs. Thankfully, Clover Trail (next-gen Atom) tablets aren't nearly as locked down as Windows RT devices are. Sony could build a Clover Trail tablet if they wanted to, and it looks like Clover Trail devices are going to sell for $650 to $800, so it wouldn't cannibalize Vaio Duo 11 sales (totally different market given the price difference).

I personally prefer Clover Trail to ARM because of x86 compatibility. App selection for Windows RT is a huge question mark (remember what the early days of Windows Phone 7 were like?), whereas Clover Trail devices have all the software you'd ever need already available.

 

In related news, Sony Japan has just announced the 2012 Autumn Sony VAIO Windows 8 Launch line-up.

http://www.sony.jp/vaio/2012_autumn/pdf/spec.pdf

What saddens me is that there is no Z in the line-up. Perhaps it signals an end to the Z dynasty.

 

It looks to me like the Duo 11 is replacing the Z as Sony's halo device. Which sort of makes sense, given the concerns people had about the Duo 11 cannibalizing Vaio Z sales.