Windows 8 Release Date: Intel Chip Tablets to Launch Day-and-Date With New Microsoft OS (Dell, Samsung, HP, Acer, Asus)

Hewlett-Packard computer tablet that features Intel Corp's latest "Atom" processor and Windows 8 software, is seen in San Francisco (Photo : Reuters)

On Thursday, Intel gave journalists a glimpse of its new line of Windows 8 tablets featuring the company's refined dual-core 1.8GHz microprocessor, known as the Atom 72760.

Originally codenamed "Clover trail," Intel's tech aims to offer better power efficiency than previous Intel chips, which were not fitted for tablet specific use. The Atom 72760 can extend the tablet's battery life to up to 10 hours while displaying video thanks to its dual-processing feature, which boosts the devices' power efficiency.

Like Us on Facebook

The tablets showcased at the event, which took place at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, included the Samsung Series 5 Slate, Dell Latitude 10, HP Envy x2, Acer Iconia W510, and Asus Vivo Tab. Only Samsung announced a price, revealing that the Slate will cost $649 for the default version, and $749 with a dockable keyboard bundled. Each of the above tablets will launch on October 26, the day that Windows 8 officially releases. The Lenovo ThinkPad 2 and ZTE V98 tablet were also shown, but were not confirmed for launch.

Intel executive Erik Reid asserts that "with the Atom Z2760, Intel now has tablets as thin as 9mm, light, fanless, and with all day battery life. That's a huge change and was driven as much by hardware design as it was by software integration."

Reid also did his best to put out a fire started by Intel CEO Paul Otellini, who told his employees that Windows 8 was set to launch in an "unfinished" state.  "We could not be more excited about Windows 8 and what it brings to the market, and that's the message Paul delivered to employees this week."

Windows 8 "offers an incredible and exciting opportunity to drive new innovation in the marketplace," he adds.