An earlier tablet that ran the Windows 8 operating system. In addition to vendors such as HP, Dell and Samsung, Microsoft also makes Windows tablets (see
Surface tablet).
Windows 8 vs. Windows RT
There were two kinds of Windows 8 tablets. A "true" Windows 8 tablet ran all the applications that run on a Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 or 8 computer, whereas a Windows RT tablet ran apps only written for RT. Windows RT tablets came with Microsoft Office at no extra charge, but Windows 8 tablets did not. Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft dropped support for the RT version of the tablet. See
Windows RT,
tablet PC and
Windows tablet.
A Windows 8 Tablet
This Windows 8 tablet from Samsung ran any desktop Windows application that ran on XP, Vista, 7 or 8. (Image courtesy of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd.)