Acer confirms it will develop Windows 8 tablets

Firm latest to commit to Redmond's new operating system

Acer has confirmed that it will "definitely" be producing Windows 8-based tablets in the future as hardware manufacturers around the world gear up to develop products for the hugely anticipated new operating system.

"Windows 8 tablet are definitely coming", Acer's product manager for tablets, Anna Artemyeva, told V3 that.

The confirmation came on the same day Microsoft provided the first consumer preview of the platform at Mobile World Congress (MWC), based on the Metro interface found in Windows Phones.

While Acer's commitment to Windows 8 will be good news for Microsoft, the firm is also continuing to heavily push its work with the Android platform, showing off its A200 device running Ice Cream Sandwich.

The device, first unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, is aimed at first-time tablet buyers, and the firm has deliberately removed some of the specifications from its A100 device to lower the price point, Artemyeva explained.

This includes removing an HDMI slot, taking out a rear-facing camera and offering only basic sound quality, rather than the inclusion of Dolby technology as is found in the A100, in order to be able to sell the device for £279, including VAT.

V3 also had the chance to get its hands on the Iconia A510 tablet, a higher-spec device than the A200 that is branded with the Olympic rings, as Acer are one of the tier one sponsors of the event.

The device is powered by a Tegra 3 quad-core processor from Nvidia, which certainly made the device slick to use, and it also boasts a 5-megapixel back camera and a 1-megapixel front camera, and the firm claims it has battery life of 13 hours.

As such the device is expected to sell for around £369 for the 16GB model.

The firm also announced that in addition to the A510 Olympic branded tablet it would be launching a monitor, notebook and all-in-one PC also branded with the Olympic rings as it expands its growing portfolio.