Microsoft has been the only manufacturer apart from Nokia pushing the Windows RT brand, their tablet focused platform that runs a few Office applications and the rest is all about the Start interface and mobile apps.
New rumors claim Microsoft is looking to add to the lineup by introducing the Surface Mini, a Windows RT tablet with a lot of similarities to the iPad Mini, Apple small success story.
The Surface Mini will come with a 7.5-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, similar to the iPad Mini but a little smaller. Specs on the Windows RT device should be average, a dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a large battery to keep it running all day. Stylus support will be available once again on the Surface Mini.
Microsoft will most likely employ their own hardware division to create the Surface Mini, keeping Nokia away from the brand. Nokia has officially been acquired by Microsoft earlier this month, but we are unsure how much this will matter in the short term.
Windows RT may still be one of the most unloved platforms Microsoft has ever put out, with every partner saying they don’t want to work on it and even Microsoft looking for ways to bury the name into the ground.
The idea of having desktop with limited functionality is just pointless, Microsoft should have implemented Office apps on the Start interface and just made it a fully fledged Windows tablet platform.
Microsoft should reveal the Surface Mini on May 20 at an event, they sent out invitations to journalists saying “Join us for a small gathering” emphasis on small, hopefully we will see some new updates to Windows RT, but the likelihood is this is a full hardware announcement.
