<p>Windows 8 tablets aren't in good shape: Microsoft's OS gets plenty of hate for its desktop functionality, and many people aren't willing to pay premium prices for the ability to run Officeand not much elseon what amounts to be keyboard-less PCs.</p><p>Indeed, with Windows 8 and Windows RT making up just 7.5 percent of the total tablet market, many manufacturers are fleeing what they perceive to be a sinking platform. It looks really bad, right? Not so fast. At Thursday's big Samsung event, the Korean tech giant might have just thrown Microsoft the life-preserver it needs to help keep Windows tablets in the game.</p><p>Here are three ways Samsung can lend Microsoft a helping hand.Solving the software problem</p><p>After announcing another handful of Android smartphones (all with the name "Galaxy S4" and whatever noun Samsung decided to tack onto the end), the company surprised those in attendance by unveiling two new slates running Windows 8: the Ativ Q and the Ativ Tab 3. The Ativ Q is the more noteworthy of the two for its ability to seamlessly switch between Windows and Android, giving it access to a whole mess of software normally unavailable on Windows 8 devices.The convertible Ativ Q runs both Windows 8 and Android.</p><p><a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2042600/how-samsung-can-save-windows-8-tablets.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/20/samsung-reveals-the-ativ-q-a-convertible-windows-8-tablet-that-runs-android-too/">Samsung Reveals The Ativ Q, A Convertible Windows 8 Tablet That Runs ...</a> (TechCrunch)</p><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/20/4449116/samsung-ativ-q-windows-8-android-hybrid-hands-on-photos-video">Ativ Q: a first look at Samsung&#039;s new Windows 8 and Android hybrid laptop</a> (The Verge)</p><p><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57590378-92/android-rising-duels-with-windows-8-on-samsung-hybrid/">Android rising: Duels with Windows 8 on Samsung hybrid</a> (CNET)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dgf1fDqy0AFdykMp4UOLWNEJXXvGM&ned=us">1,163 additional articles.</a></p>