东芝宣布放弃基于ARM的Windows RT平板

国际电子商情讯，微软近日公布了四家Windows RT合作厂商名单，公布的首批Windows RT合作厂商名单中，戴尔、联想、三星和华硕等四家厂商上榜。其中惠普、东芝、索尼、富士通和宏碁都在名单上缺席了，今天日本知名的电子产品制造商东芝对此事做出了回应，原本生产基于微软最新操作系统Windows RT平板电脑的计划，由于部分配件厂商的延误不得不取消。 东芝美国发言人Eric Paulsen表示，东芝决定取消基于Windows RT系统平板的生产，原因是某些器件延误，致使东芝几乎不可能按时发布，公司将专注于生产采用Windows 8操作系统的台式机和笔记本，东芝会继续研究在未来推出Windows RT产品的可行性，但一切会视具体市场条件而定。 其实东芝早在 6 月初的Computex大展就展示过搭载 Windows RT 的相关原型机，不过最终还是取消了生产计划。东芝原本计划生产基于ARM架构的Windows 8平板，该平板采用德州仪器的处理器，但是目前并不清楚是否是因为处理器还是其他器件的问题，导致东芝最终放弃了原先生产Windows RT平板的决定。 此前，微软已证实，戴尔、三星和联想都会生产搭载Windows RT操作系统的电脑。另一家PC厂商华硕，也已经发布了基于Windows RT的Tablet 600。加上微软自主品牌的Surface平板，东芝决定放弃Windows RT市场也许是个明智之举。 这可能意味着平板中引入Windows 8系统会变得更缓慢，正如另外一家公司，宏碁也表达了对微软Surface平板的怀疑。但是还是有很多公司，例如三星、华硕和联想，还是有研发Windows平板平板的计划。Windows RT的征途是否是平坦的还是崎岖的，让我们拭目以待吧。 编译：Luffy Liu 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 参考英文原文：Toshiba cancels ARM-based computer

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{pagination} Toshiba cancels ARM-based computer Peter Clarke LONDON – Toshiba Corp. has cancelled plans to sell computers that run the Windows RT operating system from Microsoft Corp. and that are based on an ARM-based processor, due to delays in getting adequate supplies of components, according to reports. Toshiba was planning to use OMAP processors form Texas Instruments Inc. (Dallas, Texas) in the design and in June TI had produced a video showing off Windows RT running on a Toshiba tablet. Because of poor chip supply Toshiba will now focus on making machines running the alternative Microsoft operating system called Windows 8, which runs only on x86 processors, which come from Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Toshiba did not say which components are in so short supply as to force the cancelling of its Windows RT product, but many leading chip companies are either fabless, or have gone fab-lite, meaning that they are all dependent on foundries for their leading-edge 28-nm silicon. In particular, most are dependent on the leading foundry Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Hsinchu, Taiwan). There has been much discussion of low yields and shortages of supply of 28-nm silicon during this year. "Toshiba has decided not to introduce Windows RT models due to delayed components that would make a timely launch impossible," Quoted Eric Paulsen, a U.S.-based spokesman, as saying in an emailed statement. "For the time being, Toshiba will focus on bringing Windows 8 products to market. We will continue to look into the possibility of Windows RT products in the future while monitoring market conditions," Microsoft reportedly had restricted the number of companies and chip makers who would work on the initial release of Windows RT computers and tablets. Nvidia Corp. has been working with Asustek Computer Inc. and Lenovo Group Ltd. while Qualcomm Inc. is chartered with supplying Dell Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Executives with both Nvidia and Qualcomm have spoken out about their inability to get enough 28-nm chips from TSMC and that the undersupply was expected to last through until the fourth quarter of 2012. Texas Instruments gave a weak outlook for 3Q12 in discussing the most recent financial results.