Toshiba Encore - an 8" tablet running Windows 8.1 powered by Intel Bay Trail

If you've been following the Windows 8 tablet PC market, you'll know that most of the current Windows 8 slate tablet PCs have a 10" screen size. Then Acer announced the Iconia W3, an 8" Windows 8 tablet to compete against smaller mobile tablets like the iPad mini and the Google Nexus 7 (by Asus) running Android. It's nice to be able to hold a smaller, thinner tablet in one hand.

Toshiba has announced the Encore - an 8" tablet running Windows 8.1 powered by Intel's Bay Trail processor (the latest generation Atom processor featuring quad-core performance and even longer battery life).

Intel Bay Trail is the successor of the Intel Atom processors named Clover Trail which are powering some of the current Windows 8 tablet PCs. Clover Trail has very long battery life, but overall system performance is slow compared to the ultra-fast (but more battery-draining) Intel i3, i5, i7 Core processors. The next generation of the Intel Core processor is called Haswell and it's supposed to delivery very fast performance along with very long battery life. Intel Bay Trail is supposed to deliver the same: fast performance with even longer battery life.

So, it sounds like the performance/battery life lines separating the performance between Bay Trail (Atom) vs. Haswell (Core) may be getting blurred. But, the key distinction here is that tablet PCs powered by Bay Trail will also have the ability to run the Android OS if the manufacturer chooses that capability. So, perhaps the future of many Windows 8.1 tablets will also include a dual-booting option with Google Android.

Speaking of Windows 8.1, you can preview an early version of Windows 8.1 (not the final version) by downloading and installing Windows 8.1 Preview (windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/preview‎). Or, you can wait for the final version of Windows 8.1 which is getting released on October 17.

Here's how to tell if your Intel Core processor is 3rd vs. 4th Gen (Haswell)

Everyone is excited about Haswell. After all, if you can extend my battery life for over 50%, then who's going to want the older product? Intel Core processors on most ultrabooks, tablets, and laptops are currently their 3rd generation processors. You can tell by looking at the number that follows the i3, i5, or i7.

Let's look at this example: Intel Core i7-3667U Processor
The 3667U indicates that it's a 3rd Gen processor. Notice the 3 in the front of the 3667U?

Here's another example: Intel Core i5-3427U Processor
The 3427U indicates that it's a 3rd Gen processor.

The older 2nd Gen processors had a number that starts with a 2. Here's an example:
Intel Core i5-2467M Processor

So, naturally the 4th Gen Intel Core processors (Haswell) will start with a 4 like this:

Intel Core i7-4765T Processor
Intel Core i7-4670R Processor
Intel Core i5-4570S Processor

We're up to 4th generation Intel Core processors and in my opinion, we're finally seeing a major leap in battery life. Intel Atom significantly extends battery life, but it does this at the expense of performance.

Dell Latitude 10 reviewed by @DrJosephKim

I recently had the opportunity to spend several weeks reviewing the Dell Latitude 10 tablet PC. This is a business Windows 8 Pro tablet PC that is powered by the Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core processor @ 1.80 GHz. It comes with 2 GB of RAM and a 64 GB SSD. Overall, the device performs well and lasts up to 10 hrs (standard battery) for a mobile PC. If you need some serious computing horsepower, you'll want to get a PC powered by an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor.

The Latitude 10 comes in several different configurations:

• Essential edition: 32GB of storage & a non-removable battery (no active stylus or HDMI)
• Productivity edition: Includes a removable battery, active stylus and HDMI.
• Mobile edition: Includes mobile broadband, removable battery, active stylus and HDMI.
• Security edition: Mobile broadband, fingerprint and Smart Card readers (along with  removable battery, active stylus and HDMI).

The Latitude 10 version that I tested was the Enhanced Security version of the Latitude 10. For me, the best features of this Windows 8 tablet PC were:

1. Removable 30Whr standard battery (up to 10 hrs) plus an optional 60Whr extended battery (up to 20 hrs). The extended battery adds some weight and bulk, but you won't run out of power all day. 
2. Full-size SD card slot (not found on most Windows 8 tablet PCs).
3. Added security features of the fingerprint and Smart Card readers.

Here are some other some features that I'd like to highlight about this tablet PC:

Size and Style:

The Dell Latitude 10 Enhanced Security version is one of the thicker, wider Windows 8 tablets on the market. Given that it's designed for the Enterprise environment, it's made with a reinforced magnesium alloy frame. The tablet only weighs 1.47 lbs (the iPad weighs 1.46 lbs).  The top portion of the Latitude 10 Security Edition is thicker (13.4 mm) than the rest of the tablet (10.5 mm) because of the integrated smart card and fingerprint reader. You'll want to get the  Enhanced Security Soft-Touch Case that was designed specifically for this tablet.

Wacom Active Digitizer Pen:

The 10.1" capacitive multi-touch HD display is crisp and bright. The Latitude 10 uses a standard-appearing Wacom digitizer pen for precise input and "inking," so if you're a traditional Tablet PC user, you can still go back to scribbling and jotting down notes. You won't find a silo for the pen on the tablet, so you'll need to carry the pen separately or use the case that has a built-in elastic loop for the pen.

Keyboard:

I wish that the Dell Latitude 10 also came with a mobile docking keyboard option that you 'll find on the Dell XPS 10 Tablet (which runs Windows RT). Instead, you can get the Kensington KeyFolio Expert case which has a wireless Bluetooth keyboard and hands-free stand, but this keyboard does not include a built-in mouse pointer.

Summary:

The Dell Latitude 10 is a great Windows 8 business tablet PC that gives the user flexible options with battery life and robust security features. The productivity dock allows you to connect a monitor and multiple USB peripherals so that you can have a workstation at your desk and a mobile tablet when you're walking around.

New Intel Haswell Processor

If you're thinking about upgrading your laptop or Windows tablet PC, you may want to consider waiting for computers that will use the new Intel Haswell processor. We're finally about to see fast performance in mobile computers that have all-day battery endurance. These newer computers will get released this summer.

The Intel Haswell processor is a 4th-gen Core processor. It's much more power-efficient. Imagine the power of i5 but the battery life of Atom.

Right now, your options for all-day computing on a Windows platform are dual-core Atom-based mobile computers like Windows 8 tablets. While these devices perform very respectably for basic computing tasks, they don't compare to the processing speed that you'll find with ultrabooks computers equipped with Intel i3, i5, or i7 3rd-gen Core processors (Ivy Bridge). So, you have to make a compromise. Either get a small and light Atom-based PC that has really long battery life but slower performance, or grab a larger, heavier device that is fast, but doesn't last all day.

One of the first laptops to come with the new Intel Haswell processor could be a refreshed MacBook Air in the middle of June. I'm sure the Microsoft Surface Pro will also get a new processor this summer that will give it longer battery life.