In , Microsoft named Asus, Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung as the first Windows RT hardware makers, joined, of course, by Microsoft and its own . More details on these devices will come closer to the , but Microsoft says to expect more than just tablets from Windows RT.

"Some of our Windows RT PCs come with full keyboard and touchpad solutions, whether removable/dockable or a traditional clamshell," Microsoft's Mike Angiulo wrote.

So far Windows RT, which is designed for ARM-based chips from Nvidia, Texas Instruments, and Qualcomm, has been most notable for what it can't do: It can't run legacy Windows software, and it can only install apps from Microsoft's Windows Store. Windows RT will include bare-bones desktop functionality and a version of Office 15, but the RT version of office will reportedly , compared to the full version of Office for x86-based processors.

Microsoft's blog post points to some of the benefits that Windows RT devices will enjoy. For instance, they'll have a "connected standby" feature that allows them to update e-mail and other information while the device is sleeping, without draining battery life.

Microsoft also suggests that battery life on Windows RT devices will be superior to x86-based Windows 8 machines, falling in a range of 8 hours to 13 hours of HD video playback. But since we haven't seen any official specs for x86 Windows devices, we can't make any real comparisons.