Windows 8 Preliminary Hardware Requirements

The hardware requirements for the Windows 8 Developer Preview seem similar to the requirements for Windows 7 but feature some important differences, particularly to support new Metro applications and Hyper-V. Efforts to reduce the memory requirements and the number of running OS processes in Windows 8 mean that the processor and RAM in most computers today should be sufficient. Key differences in the requirements for the Windows 8 Developer Preview are in the areas of monitor resolution and aspect ratio and multitouch support, which are important for running the new Metro applications. Microsoft has also recently refined the definition of a tablet. Under the Windows 8 Hardware Certification Requirements, a tablet form factor is defined as: “A standalone device that combines the PC, display and rechargeable power source in a single chassis. A tablet does not include a permanently attached keyboard and pointing device but can be connected to a port replicator, keyboard and/or clamshell dock.” Under this definition, some current Windows 7 certified devices would be classified as merely touch-enabled laptops or convertibles.