There will be one notable absence with these partner-made tablets: they won’t support Microsoft’s snap feature, which allows users to run two Windows 8 apps side by side. Not only will the feature not be on the tablets, but they must have disclaimers that state as much. While snap is certainly handy for multitasking and has a “cool factor,” it seems unlikely that its loss will be enough to alienate customers. The reduced screen size would probably make the feature less useful anyway. Plus, if shoppers are looking for a low price point, they most likely will be ready to make some sacrifices on features.
The big question Microsoft and its partners will need to face is whether the same people who are interested in small tablets made by Apple, Amazon, Samsung, or Google will also want to see a petite tablet powered by Windows 8. Sales of the Surface RT and Surface Pro haven’t been stellar, so it’ll be a crapshoot whether the new options in size and manufacturer will be enough to turn a bigger profit for Microsoft.
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