Microsoft isn't the only one having trouble with Windows RT. Sure, its much-hyped Surface RT tablet hasn't performed the way it was expected to, but what about hardware from the company's partners?
If this news is any indication, they're not finding much success with Windows RT, either. The price of the Dell XPS 10 has been slashed to $299. Considering the tablet initially sold for $449, this is a very significant price cut.
You can check out the Dell XPS deal on Dell's website.
This makes the Dell XPS 10 the cheapest Windows RT device out on the market. The tablet sports a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, a 10.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 resolution, 32GB of storage space (with a microSD card slot of expandable storage), cameras in the front and rear, and a battery intended to last for about 10 hours.
Of course, the real differentiator on the Dell XPS 10 is Windows RT. The mobile- and touch-focused operating system comes packing a built-in version of Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, dubbed Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 RT. And, of course, it features Windows 8's distinctive (and divisive) Metro Live Tile interface.
The Dell XPS 10 could be a good buy for the right person, but it's important to remember that, while Windows RT comes with a desktop mode, users cannot install programs onto it. The only things you can download and install are from the Windows Store, and even then apps will be added to the Metro screen, not the desktop.
While Dell is jumped into the Windows RT field with the XPS 10, it's been one of the few to truly commit to the platform. Many hardware makers have treated Windows RT as if it's radioactive, with both Samsung and Acer hitting the brakes on developing Windows RT devices.
It's possible this could change with the upcoming Windows 8.1 update (also known as Windows Blue). The upgrade is intended to optimize Windows 8 for smaller tablets in the iPad mini range, and Windows RT would make much more sense on smaller, cheaper tablets.
