When the developer version of Windows 8 came out, I installed it on an Inspiron Duo computer at the office to see what all the fuss was about. What I came away with is that Windows 8 is a legitimate tablet OS.

Tablet use on the Windows platform has always been clunky to me. The tablet functionality was bolted on to the operating system in such a way as to make interacting with the device far from seamless. But, with Windows 8 it is clear the focus was on a multitouch interface and a seamless tablet experience. I for one think Microsoft is getting it right with this OS, and they are developing a solid tablet platform.

The ability to swipe between apps is nice. It is a little rough around the edges at this point, but I imagine they are working on multitouch gestures that will allow for more control. The Metro interface is nice and I prefer it over the Lion launchpad as it is more that just application launching, but also widget type functionality. I haven't used a Mango phone yet, but I can see the similarities with the tiles. The bottom line is: I like it.

The on-screen keyboard is improved. You can toggle between a large keyboard for two handed more traditional typing, or a split keyboard where you can use just your thumbs. I saw people when they first got an iPad trying to type "iPhone" style with their thumbs, so this may be a more natural interface for them.

The speed of the OS is also impressive. The Inspiron Duo doesn't sport the greatest hardware, but the boot times are relatively fast and the computer was pleasantly responsive during use. Given that most OS updates add more functionality at the cost of performance on older machines, it was nice to see that Windows 8 was very speedy.

Windows 7 is a great desktop OS. It has pretty much anything you would want for a desktop or laptop OS, but the problem is it not a great tablet OS. I used one today and was fat fingering half the stuff I was trying to do, whether it be launching an application, resizing a window or typing. It simply wasn't made for a multitouch interface.

If you are looking for a full-featured OS for your next tablet, it will most likely be Windows 8. If it is as cool as it has the potential to be, I think it puts Microsoft right back into the tablet mix, and it may even put them on top as most people still have a tablet as a secondary device to their laptop. Microsoft has the potential to create an OS that replaces the laptop and the tablet with a single device, and that will put them in a powerful position in the tablet market.