CES: Lenovo and Samsung bet big on Windows 8 touch capabilities

Companies expect touch and BYOD trends will convince business buyers to upgrade PCs

LAS VEGAS: Lenovo and Samsung have both touted the touch capabilities of Windows 8 systems as a key part of their strategies to build business-focused devices.

Lenovo senior vice president, Peter Hortensius claimed that the arrival of tablets and smartphones has fundamentally changed users' perception of computing.

"Touch has become ubiquitous. We are seeing more and more applications for both consumers and business users that take advantage of touch. Tablets and smartphones have transformed the way people interact with devices via touch capabilities," Hortensius told V3.

"It makes sense that PCs will become a viable part of that ecosystem. People always expect more from each new generation of PCs and operating systems and the enterprise is no exception."

Samsung US president Tim Baxter also highlighted the appeal Windows 8's touch application for businesses during the company's keynote address.

"Traditional concepts of mobile computing being redefined its about smartphones tablets and even hybrids of these devices," said Baxter.

"Windows 8 has brought a whole host of possibilities and one of these is touch."

Hortensius said Lenovo planned to target the enterprise market by offering users devices that could function as both a tablet and a PC, like its recently unveiled Thinkpad Helix.

"Lenovo offers the enterprise a variety of secure, convertible devices that help users take advantage of everything touch has to offer, ideal for business users in the enterprise," said Hortensius.

"All of these new convertible options from Lenovo with Windows 8 are giving users, both consumers and business users alike, the opportunity to interact with their PCs in an entirely new way."

Meanwhile, Samsung's Baxter claimed the appeal of touch combined with the Samsung brand's popularity and the growing bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend would allow the company to increase its presence in the business computer market.

"We think this is a big opportunity for us. We're one of the most trusted consumer brands in the world and today we are also the top slate seller in the US and we're growing in the ultrabook space," said Baxter.

"B2B is a major focus for Samsung this year and we expects to see increase in the consumerisation of enterprise.

"Most companies embrace BYOD movement and we're well positioned to lead the market, there is more passion behind our brand than ever."

Windows 8 was released in October 2012. For a full look at Windows 8 and its touch capabilities check out V3's review.