"Even after Windows 8 is launched, I think you're still going to have people think about the Apple iPad rather than Windows 8," Ma said. "How do you make Windows 8 'cool,' and how long will that take?"

Windows RT will run on processors from ARM licensees Qualcomm, Nvidia and Texas Instruments. However, Qualcomm has said it may struggle to meet the demand for its latest Snapdragon S4 processors due to manufacturing issues. At least one analyst has said that could delay the launch of Windows 8 devices based on the S4 chips.

While Windows 8 could face a long road in the tablet market, the OS could be a selling point for ultrabooks. The laptops are intended to be thinner and lighter than existing x86-based products, and the novelty of a touch interface could appeal to some users.

Ultrabooks have gotten off to a slow start because few models have been released, and because prices have been higher than consumers have been willing to pay, said Gartner analyst Tracy Tsai. They've sold for $800 to $1,000, and prices need to be at $500 to $700 to improve sales, she said.

Intel is aware of the challenges and has said ultrabooks will get down to in time for the back-to-school shopping season.