Windows 8 is the tablet optimized operating system from Microsoft that could put it on the map as far as tablets go. Naturally, entering the tablet space requires that Windows 8 be compared against the king of tablets – iPad. That too running the latest iOS 5, albeit in beta.
WinRumors ran a test that compared functions of the developer preview of iOS 5 with Windows 8 (early beta). The video is almost 11 minutes long and compares the tablets on many counts excluding native apps for email, calendar, etc., that are not part of the current Windows 8 build.
According to the test, both tabs feature clean lock screens. Double pressing the home button on iPad shows music controls, Windows 8 does nothing. Both tabs will display notifications on the home screen in the final release. After unlocking, iPad shows the pass code entry app while Windows 8 offers three login options. An iPad home screen has a stack of static icons and widgets whereas the tiles on windows 8 are constantly updated. Rearranging home screens and moving apps is similar on both slates.
On Windows 8 you can mark an app and delete it and in iPad you just hold an icon and touch the cross to delete it. Windows 8 slate come with IE 10 and iPad with Safari, both have slightly different ways of managing tabs but performance is equivalent. Keyboards are similar and easy to use. Windows 8 allows you to change settings for specific apps from the settings button unlike iOS 5 where you go to the Settings page. Searching across the device is more granular on Windows 8.
To conclude, iOS 5 and Windows 8 have similar kinds of functions with slight differences. We have to wait for both operating systems to go out of beta so an exact comparison can be made.
[via winrumors]
