IDF 2011 Intel shows off a Windows 8 Ultrabook

CHIPMAKER Intel gave this year's Intel Developer Forum attendees a look at an Ultrabook running the Windows 8 operating system.

During a keynote that almost forgot about Sandy Bridge, Intel's vp Mooly Eden invited Brett Carpenter from Microsoft's Windows Ecosystem Group to show off an Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook running on Windows 8 as well as a 32nm Atom based tablet. Carpenter gave a brief demonstration of the Windows 8 'Metro style' user interface with its live tiles and navigation using the keyboard and mouse even though the operating system was designed for touch input.

Eden's keynote presentation focused more on the Ultrabooks that will run on the firm's third generation Ivy Bridge processor, which are due in the first half of next year as well as looking ahead to 2013 when Haswell based Ultrabooks will "complete the Ultrabook revolution". Eden rounded off by saying, "What we are trying to do together is Windows 8, Microsoft's newst operating system, and Intel's new platform solution together provide a no compromise based user experience."