Dell and HP Windows 8 tablets powered by Atom processors are delayed Until 2013

Tablet makers are struggling to create stable drivers for tablets powered by Intel Clover Trail Atom Chips. Therefore Dell, HP and other vendors had no choice but to push back the release date until January. These Windows 8 tablets which use the new chips are said to be more energy efficient. According to Information Week this processor is on even footing with iPad and Android counterparts in terms of performance and battery life.

Intel designed these chips specifically for Windows 8 for features such as connected Stand by which lets tablets stay up to date with new emails and messages even when powered down. On top of it, Intel assures much better battery life.

But a problem has arisen. The manufacturers have had problems building drivers to work with Clover Trail and make them stable enough to pass through Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Quality Labs testing, a condition that is included in their contract with Microsoft.

Dell’s Latitude 10 Tablet which starts at $649 with Windows 8 Pro and aimed towards business users runs the newer Clover Trail Chip Atom Z2760. But due to the driver issues with the processor, those who made a pre-order will not get this unit at the promised date late December 2012.

HP delayed their convertible tablet “Envy X2” until January the 8th. Originally, the company said that it will be shipped in November.

Other manufacturers such as Asus and Lenovo have not announced specific launch dates for VivoTab Smart and Thinkpad Tablet 2. As of now, only Acer’s W510 with Clover Trail is available for immediate purchase.

Although this will not really affect consumers, when it comes to enterprise users it does create delays as the company will need to send evaluation samples to the companies who then place an order if they’re satisfied.