Weekend Read and Watch: Desktop PC Gaming on a Windows 8.1 Tablet and where Nokia may fit in.

Dear MNB Readers!

Nokia currently has a Windows tablet, the excellent Nokia Lumia 2520  that is powered by the Windows RT operating system (OS). Windows RT is a great OS considering Microsoft’s intentions.  Windows RT looks great, runs smoothly and provides features in a tablet form factor that you cannot get with an iOS or Android tablet. The major difference between Windows RT and Windows 8.1 is explained in one sentence on Microsoft’s Windows RT 8.1 FAQ:

Windows RT 8.1 only runs built-in apps or apps that you download from the Windows Store.

As my daughter would say “What does that even mean?!?!?!?!?!?!”.

It simply means that Windows RT (RT) was not designed to run any programs that were designed to run only on Windows, non RT versions, AKA the millions of programs that have been developed over the last 30 years for every version of Windows that we all take for granted at work, school, home and wherever we may access a Windows desktop or laptop.

Let me make this clear, nothing is “wrong” with Windows RT. It works as designed and there are a lot of great devices out there that use Windows RT as their OS, including the aforementioned Nokia Lumia 2520.

But wait, there’s more!!!!!

Some consumers would like to have access to the millions of programs, including games, music services, photo and video suites that they have come to love and rely on, yet in a tablet form factor. I am one of those people. I don’t have any bias against Windows RT but as a PC gamer, I would like to play my Steam, Origin, Windows Live, Emulators and all of my PC games on a tablet. Currently, that is not possible with Windows RT and there are many programs that I use for Work that are not available as well. In short, I would simply like to play Killer Instinct Arcade 1 and 2 everywhere I go! 🙂

Where am I going with all of this? I am going here: What about a Nokia device that runs full x86 or x64 Windows?

Well, Nokia once made a device that ran Windows 7: The Nokia Booklet 3G

YouTube Link: http://youtu.be/fIHWM4liM2g

Nokia Booklet 3G Technical Specification.

• Processor	1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530
  Memory	1GB, 533MHz DDR2
  Hard drive	120GB 4,200rpm
  Chipset	Intel US15W
  Graphics	Intel GMA 500 (integrated)
  Operating system	Windows 7 Starter
  Dimensions (WD)	10.4 x 7.3 inches
  Height	0.78 inches
  Screen size (diagonal)	10.1 inches
  System weight / Weight with AC adapter	2.7/3.2 pounds
  Category	Netbook

Unfortunately, the Nokia Booklet 3G was overpriced and underpowered, even for 2009 standards, with its Intel Atom processor failing to deliver the performance that was expected with the initial $599 asking price.

From the CNET Review:

The good: Excellent design; great battery life; seamless 3G connection.

The bad: Slower CPU leads to frustratingly sluggish performance.

The bottom line: Nokia’s entry in the crowded Netbook field shows that the company’s hardware know-how translates to computer design, but a poor choice of CPU should give you pause.

So what about now, in 2014?

Well, I still want a tablet that runs full Windows, aka – non-RT, for the aforementioned Windows program compatibility. I would PREFER a Nokia made Windows 8.1 tablet but as of today, March 8, 2014, that doesn’t exist and as a result I purchased a Dell Venue 8 Pro in late 2013 so that I can access my Windows programs on go.

This video is lengthy, 45:02, but it demonstrates what kind of gaming is possible on a Windows 8.1 tablet, even at a cheap price. I hope that you have time to watch the video as it is key to this article as you may be surprised at what full Windows powered by a newer Intel Atom processor inside a $250 device can provide.

YouTube Link: http://youtu.be/efDdh1iOC_8

Tying all of this back to Nokia, the Venue 8 Pro is everything the Booklet 3G wished it could have been: an awesome Windows product with great performance at a great price. 2009 is a LOOONNGGGG time ago technology wise as evident by the fact that the Booklet 3G used an Intel Atom processor yet the Atom processor in the Venue 8 pro is a monster of Quad-Core silicon mastery with a potent GPU as well. The Dell Venue 8 Pro is missing one major thing: Nokia.

As before, I would prefer a Nokia designed Windows 8.1 tablet, with Nokia branding, Nokia hardware craftsmanship, Nokia camera expertise, audio enhancements, the list goes on and on. We now know that Nokia is capable of making a great tablet (Lumia 2520) and technology has improved by leaps and bounds since the Nokia Booklet 3G was introduced in 2009. Windows 8.1 is constantly improving the expected Windows 8.1 Update 1 that is due in April is reportedly able to make full Windows run even better on low-end hardware in addition to enhancements in the Windows UI and features list.

All things appear to be coming together right? The time is right for Nokia to revisit a full Windows device, by releasing a sleek tablet that will capture the hearts of Nokia fans worldwide…right? Well….there is a little something to consider:

The pending purchase of Nokia’s Devices and Services division by Microsoft.

Directly from Microsoft:

Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will acquire substantially all of Nokia’s Devices and Services business, including the Mobile Phones and Smart Devices business units as well as an industry-leading design team, operations including all Nokia Devices & Services-related production facilities, Devices & Services-related sales and marketing activities, and related support functions. At closing, approximately 32,000 people are expected to transfer to Microsoft, including 4,700 people in Finland and 18,300 employees directly involved in manufacturing, assembly and packaging of products worldwide. The operations that are planned to be transferred to Microsoft generated an estimated EUR 14.9 billion, or almost 50 percent of Nokia’s net sales for the full year 2012.

FACT: As of the current pending acquisition, announced by Microsoft and Nokia, Microsoft is NOT buying Nokia…regardless of what some websites may say. 🙂

Unless Nokia releases a Windows 8.1 tablet before the acquisition of Nokia’s Devices and Services division, we may never see another tablet graced with a Nokia logo. All is not lost though. I bolded a section of the terms above as Microsoft will, if the deal closes, inherit Nokia’s design team! What that means for me and for you as Nokia loving consumers is that Microsoft may (hopefully) release a full Windows tablet in the future under a different brand that we all instantly recognize as a “Nokia” product!

Those of us that want a Nokia designed full Windows tablet may finally get one! I would like to see the Microsoft Surface family of products (Windows AND Windows RT) become products designed by the Nokia design team. I would like to see the Nokia designed Surface family meet all price points, color profiles, screen sizes, technical components (license PureView, Rich Recording). I would like to see the Nokia design team flourish by introducing their iconic design language and energy into the Surface products, spreading good ole “Nokianess” (Nokia+Awesomeness???) into the hearts and minds of consumers all over the world in a greater scope than they could have ever imagined under Nokia’s umbrella and Nokia’s current budget.

Regardless of how we feel about Nokia’s current situation, Microsoft or anything Windows related, the Nokia we love was made by the PEOPLE who designed the devices and services that we have enjoyed over the years. A lot of those same people will be working on projects at Microsoft if the Nokia D&S deal closes this year. It is my hope, that the drive, the zeal, and the excitement that those people have at Nokia is transferred to Microsoft and that their talents will flourish so that the end result is great devices and services for all of us.

Our very own Jay Montano said it best at MWC 2014:

‘Meeting important team members means a lot. It’s always a pleasure to see the passion and the people of Nokia. I find it really inspiring to see people doing the things they love and because they love it, they do it so well.’ – Jay Montano

As I come to a close, the Dell Venue 8 Pro is a great Windows tablet but it is missing Nokia, not just the name, but the passion of the people of Nokia. Nothing against the people of Dell but I would like to meet the people of Nokia and tell them “THANK YOU!!!” for all that they have done over the years and I wish them the BEST of success in their future endeavors.

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXXsfP1mpig

Microsoft, don’t let us down.

Sincerely,

Demitrius Harris – The author formerly known as Deaconclgi

Tags: Microsoft, Nokia, Tablet, Windows

Category: Applications, Lumia, Nokia, Video