Will the next Nook tablet ditch Android for Windows 8?

After the 300 million dollar investment from Microsoft in acquiring a 17.6 percent stake of Barnes and Noble, the software giant is likely to persuade the e-book company’s flagship Nook tablet. The influence is arguably an incorporation of Windows in Nook.

The first step is anyways taken by Microsoft. The Nook will get an application for Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system. This is just an offshoot though. There are stronger reasons to visualize a Nook Tablet running Windows operating system; preferably Windows 8.

It goes something like this. Andy Lees, who had been the head of the Windows division until December 2011 was suddenly pulled off without a clear job description for a new role.

“I have asked Andy Lees to move to a new role working for me on a time-critical opportunity focused on driving maximum impact in 2012 with Windows Phone and Windows 8. We have tremendous potential with Windows Phone and Windows 8 and this move sets us up to really deliver against that potential.”. This is a leaked memo from the Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer. Given the Barnes & Noble stature, this is one of Microsoft’s biggest business strategies in 2012. The “time-critical opportunity” strongly indicates a Windows 8 version in the Nook Tablet. What else could Ballmer see in moving Lees out of the job?

 And if this happens, the Nook would see a Windows RT, an outgrowth of Windows 8 version specifically designed for Tablets. Microsoft claims Windows 8 the most significant revamp of the Windows interface since its pioneering Windows 95 OS.

 Also, it’s intimidation time for Google in terms of the Android contract and Amazon in terms of an e-book competitor. Microsoft’s software development team is bound to boost the Fortune 500 B & N’s capabilities.

 Having stated all of this, there are chances still of Nook still favoring Android. But if, instead it goes for the Windows version, this article might turn out to be reminiscent.

Via ComputerWorld