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"The first wave of Windows 8 tablets are getting a boost from Intel \u2014 and consumers should be able to buy them in November, a new report suggests.\nA slew of Windows 8 tablets will debut in the fall \u2014 when Microsoft is expected to officially release Windows 8 to the public \u2014 and they'll run on chips from several different companies, a source told CNET. \nWhile it's been known for some time that Windows 8 would run on both traditional x86 processors as well as ARM-based designs (which are common in today's tablets), the report says November is the target date \u2014 and that many of the designs are unconventional.\nIntel recently made waves in mobile by announcing it would be pushing hard into the smartphone market with its new Atom chip designs, codenamed \"Medfield.\" Two Medfield-based phones have already been announced, from Lava and Lenovo. Intel already has its next mobile chips in the works.\nThe next Atom chip is codenamed \"Clover Trail,\" and that's the one that'll be in all of the Intel-based tablets for the Initial release. Medfield is strictly a single-core processor, but Clover Trail is a dual-core design. Intel says it has more than 20 Windows 8 tablets based on Clover Trail in the pipeline.\nThe advantage of any Intel-based tablet is that it would run the standard version of Windows 8, not Windows RT, which is an alternate version made to run on ARM-based devices. Almost every smartphone and tablet today runs on chips with ARM architecture, but Windows RT won't be backward-compatible with Windows 7 apps. There's also some question about the capabilities of third-party browsers on Windows RT.\n\nSEE ALSO: Why You Should Get an Ivy Bridge PC\nThe report says more than half of the Clover Trail machines would be hybrid designs, meaning tablets that also double as laptops in some way. Intel showed off such a device \u2014 which the company called Nikiski \u2014 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.\nThe Clover Trail machines are expected to complement other Windows 8 laptops, which will run on Intel's recently unveiled Ivy Bridge processors. Ivy Bridge is made for the power demands of laptops and desktop PCs whereas Clover Trail would require much less power. \nClover Trail is a 32-nanometer technology, referring to the miniscule distance between transistors on the chip. Intel is also reportedly working on a 22-nanometer version, called \"Bay Trail.\" That chip will have a built-in ability to connect to 3G and 4G wireless networks, the report says, as well as Intel-powered graphics.\nDoes the fact that you might be able to buy a low-power x86-based Windows 8 tablet make you more inclined to buy one? Share your thoughts in the comments.\nBONUS: A Tour of Windows 8\n\n\nWindows 8 Consumer Preview: The Good and the Bad\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStart Menu\nHere's what greets you every time you log into your Windows 8 machine. Yes, the tiles are customizable, though it's a little unwieldy in practice.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSharing in Metro\nSharing is arguably Metro's most powerful feature. Although the sharing option is only populated with Mail right now, once Windows 8 apps get going, you'll see options here like Facebook, Twitter and all the rest -- in every app.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFinance Metro App\nMany apps, like the native Finance app, look beautiful in Metro.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTraditional Desktop\nYou can still get back to the familiar desktop anytime you want in Windows 8. Note the absence of a Start button, which you get to by mousing into the lower-left corner.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBing Maps\nBing Maps, like all Metro apps, makes use of the entire screen. Right-clicking brings up options.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMultitasking Menu\nYou can see which apps are running by pointing your mouse to one of the left corners and then moving it alongside. Right-clicking an app lets you stop it.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAction Menu\nThe side action menu slides out via the side and is the same no matter what app you're in.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBuggy Email\nThe consumer preview of Windows 8 still has lots of bugs in it, as evidenced by this screen shot of the email app.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInternet Explorer Tabs\nSince the entire screen in Internet Explorer is dedicated to showing you the web page, right-clicking twice shows you the tabs that are open.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMessaging\nMessaging ties with your People app, bringing in contacts on Windows Messenger or Facebook.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlickr Integration\nThe Windows 8 Photo app has built-in integration with Flickr, but it wasn't working on our device.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSkyDrive\nYour 25GB of free SkyDrive space is easily accessible via a live tile, and it integrates with the Photos app, letting you avoid sending large email attachments by uploading pics to SkyDrive.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWeather App\nThe Weather app also looks beautiful in Metro.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPC Settings\nThrough settings, you can make changes to your Windows profile, which will show up -- apps and all -- on any Windows 8 machine you log into.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFlash Player Download\nYep, you still need to download Flash to get your browsers to play many videos, like those on YouTube.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdding Apps to Start Menu\nYou can customize your Start menu with specific apps, even if they're desktop-only apps like the browsers seen here.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVideo Hub\nThe video hub doesn't just show video files -- it also promotes content as well. Whether that's a plus or a minus is up to you.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSolitaire\nSolitaire was available on our Consumer Preview device via Xbox Live, though Microsoft said it couldn't guarantee it would be in the general release.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWindows 8 With a Mouse and Keyboard\nMicrosoft designed Windows 8 to be comfortable to use either by touch or with a mouse and keyboard. We found some functions counterintuitive, but it's still a powerful interface.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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