Windows 8 prototype tablets being flogged on ebay

Microsoft have struggled to get a foothold in the mobile sector, with their Windows Phone 7 platform under performing to date. In a recent event in California, Microsoft detailed information on Windows 8 and tablet support, giving 5,000 developers who attended a free prototype Samsung tablet with Windows 8 pre loaded.

Some of the tablets have already been appearing on ebay for sale.

The tablet above has been listed and bidding is already just under $3,000. We aren't sure the Core i5 based product will be worth this kind of money, but people are willing to pay well over the odds for a slice of technology which has not yet been officially released.

$2,385 is about the best price of any auction to this point, but there are still 6 days left to go.

We aren't sure that Microsoft will be particularly happy about seeing some of these machines being auctioned on ebay, but the potential market looks to be too tempting for some.

Microsoft need to be able to release an operating system with almost instant on, and one that can run on lower specified hardware . The prototype machines which are being sold have an Intel Core i5 embedded, a rather powerful chip sure to compensate for any unoptimised code.

Kitguru says: Windows 8, even though it is some way from release is receiving mixed opinion from the enthusiast audience.

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