Windows 8 tablets on display at HIMSS

Here at the HIMSS conference, you'll find a wide assortment of Windows 8 tablet PCs on display at several different booths. So, if you haven't had a chance to play around with Windows 8, here's your opportunity. You can swing by the vendor-specific booths like HP, Dell, Lenovo, Fujitsu, Samsung, and others. Or, you can visit the Microsoft or Intel booths that both have several Windows 8 tablets on display.

Have you tried Windows 8 yet? The experience is different when you're using a touch-screen device.

I'v personally been impressed by the form factors, the build quality, and the long battery life seen on many of these Windows 8 tablets. Plus, several of them are coming out with different options such as: 1) removable keyboards; 2) cases; 3) battery options; 3) and other accessories.

Windows 8 is a new operating system that combines an enterprise OS with a mobile OS in a single device. In some cases, you can run applications side-by-side. The Windows 8 user interface is different, so you'll need to spend a little bit of time swiping up, down, left, and right to see what those finger swipes will do when you're running an application. Give it a few minutes and you'll quickly get the hang of it. Pinch-to-zoom seems to have achieved universal adoption. Soon, we'll see more swipe gestures getting incorporated into all types of mobile operating systems.

At the HP booth, you'll see the ElitePad 900 on display. A few of the HP folks may be carrying their ElitePad in an expansion sleeve that has an extra battery and expansion ports. At the Lenovo booth, you'll see the ThinkPad Tablet 2 sitting on a dock or on a removable keyboard. At the Dell booth, you'll see that the Latitude 10 now comes in several configurations including one a security edition that has a built-in Smart Card and fingerprint reader. Fujitsu and Samsung are showing off their convertible Windows 8 tablets that pop off a keyboard dock. So, as you consider your clinical workflow and how you use mobile computers in the clinical setting, you'll be able to find a device that will meet your needs.



Here's yet another reason to come to the HIMSS conference: these Windows 8 tablets are business products that are generally not sold at Best Buy or Staples. Therefore, if you want to hold one and feel how it works in your hands, you'll want to be at HIMSS where you can touch and use these mobile computers.

HIMSS13 coverage is sponsored by HP. HP’s extensive portfolio of products, solutions, services and relationships can help your healthcare organization achieve quality business practices and provide quality patient care.