Microsoft boasts of 32 different Windows 8 tablets to take on iPad

The Apple iPad continues to be the leading tablet computer. To combat this Microsoft is reportedly working with its hardware partners to launch not one, but a total of 32 different Windows 8 tablets this year, with some costing less than £200.

By flooding the market with Windows 8 tablets, the plan is to decrease the market share of the iPad from 70 per cent to below 50 per cent by mid 2013, reports Digitimes. The Windows 8 tablets are already in development.

It is estimated that at the current rate of development there will be 32 Windows 8 tablets arriving this year, launched by the likes of Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Toshiba, Packard Bell, and more, priced from around $300 (£187) rising to $1,000 (£623).

Any of the prices mentioned could deliver some serious competition not just to the iPad, but other tablet devices, too such as the Amazon Kindle Fire abroad. Despite the increasing presence of tablets in the market, there is still a lack of choice of truly great tablets worthy of toppling the iPad.

Former Apple CEO John Sculley recently described the Samsung Galaxy Tab as the “only serious” competitor to the Apple iPad. Asus would of course have something to say about that. Its new quad-core Asus Transformer Prime TF700 is already on our most-wanted list.

Toshiba reveals world's first glasses-free 3D laptop

Toshiba already has a couple of 3D machines in its laptop lineup, including the Qosmio X770, but the company is adding another in the form of the Toshiba Qosmio F750. Unlike other 3D laptops, the F750 even does without polarised or active shutter glasses.

Toshiba’s Qosmio range has long included machines with high-end features and powerful components, but the Qosmio F750 goes one step further by offering a glasses-free 3D screen – a first in the laptop world.

To achieve a specs-free 3D image, Toshiba has fitted a lenticular screen that sends two different images individually to each of your eyes. In a slightly spooky twist, the F750’s webcam also tracks your eye movements, so images can be adjusted depending on where you’re looking.
Along with 3D photos, games and videos, Toshiba also claims that the F750 can display 2D and 3D images simultaneously. The screen measures in at 15.6 inches, with a 1366×768 pixel resolution and a fast 120Hz refresh rate.

Other features on the Qosmio F750 include Blu-ray and Harman Kardon speakers, USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity. Decent performance should be provided by an Intel Core i7 processor and nVidia GeForce GT 540M graphics card, with 6GB of memory also on hand.
Available from August, the F750 will cost around £1300.