By Stephen Schenck

Yesterday, we learned about an event Microsoft will be throwing this coming Monday, where rumors have suggested that the company would be focusing on Windows RT tablets. We talked a little about what we could stand to learn, especially if Microsoft finally gives people a chance to try out some of these devices first hand, but now there’s another wrinkle to the rumors. Supposedly, Microsoft might have its own tablet to unveil, and there’s some speculation that Barnes & Noble could factor in.

Legal documents between Microsoft and Barnes & Noble have suggested that we might be seeing some sort of hardware alliance from the companies, with the implication that it could lead to some sort of Windows Phone 8 or Windows RT-based Nook. The tablet would presumably be positioned to compete against the Android-based Kindle Fire (or, at least, its successor). It could arrive with the Nook name, or be positioned as a pure Microsoft device “featuring Nook”.

That all raises some more questions, because Windows RT sounds a little like overkill for an e-reader, even with tablet abilities, especially when you consider how that would affect the device’s cost. Might that mean that there could be Windows Phone 8-based devices with a tablet form factor? It’s not impossible, considering what we know of upcoming resolution support, but again, sounds unlikely.

This just leaves more anxious than ever to get the official word from Microsoft and learn what it has to share; check back with us on Monday for the story.

Source: ZDNet, The Wrap
Via: WPCentral