I just picked up an ASUS Q200E. It is a 13" ultrabook format i3, Windows 8 notebook with 500GB mechanical drive. It sleeps in seconds, resumes nearly instantly, has great standby power. Not sure about run-time yet. Runs quiet and relatively cool, though.

I don't see it as a threat to my Nexus 7 (which is really more like an iPad by intent and design in the way Google built it)... but it is a threat to my ASUS TF300.

The question there is, "Can Windows be a better desktop OS with mobile-OS like features than Android can be a mobile OS with desktop like features?"

Apple is just a mobile OS. The Nexus 7 is really designed to be a content consumption device. So is the Kindle Fire. I'm not saying there isn't a market for those kind of devices. There is a strong market. And I'm not saying you *can't* use them for content creation. But they're not the ideal devices for that last goal.

I'm sure I'll let you know my opinions after I spend awhile trying this new rig out. So far, I really like it, and I'm feeling like the 10" Transformer tablets may have some challenges ahead of them.

That should really be the take-away right now. This isn't about Android vs. iOS or Android vs. Windows 8 or whatever other direction you might want to compare. Right now there is a mobile platform all-out bar-brawl taking place. As someone mentioned above, it looks like RIM is standing on the sidelines just ready to jump in and throw some swings too.

If Microsoft can produce a hybrid OS that runs on hybrid and convertible devices and deliver the best experience of both worlds on one device at a reasonable price...

It might not matter if Android or iOS is "better" than the other for content creation.