I am at Dell World and there’s a lot of buzz that Dell will drop Android and go all in with Windows 8 for the tablet market.

Dell CEO Michael Dell hinted at the news during a press and analyst event yesterday. He followed up today in his keynote with jabs at Android and pumping up Steve Ballmer and the exciting things he will show in his keynote tomorrow.

I caught up with Dell after his keynote this morning and asked about Windows 8 and its fit with the company.  He said Apple’s master is the consumer, not the IT manager, which creates an opening for Windows 8 tablets. Google Android is being integrated with Dell security and IT management technology to allow for such things as remote wiping. But it was clear his thoughts were on Windows 8 and the capabilities it has. It’s an easy fit in the enterprise.

From a market perspective, the situation favors Microsoft. Google is having major patent issues. Its tablet has been banned in Germany and faces inquiries across Europe. Here in the United States, its market share is insignificant.

Further, the iPad controls the market and the HP WebOS is in total limbo. RIM is floundering.

So, why not a Windows 8 tablet? It makes perfect sense.  The enterprise market is still pretty wide open and if there is not a push then Apple could gobble up market share.

But more so, look at Dell’s roots. This is a PC company. And unlike HP, Dell is not nor will it anytime soon scrap its PC business.

Dell made that clear yesterday in his opening chat with the press and analysts. He again talked about Windows in positive terms while also expressing concern about Android.

We are very aligned with Microsoft around Windows 8. You’ll hear more about Windows 8 from us and see a wide range of products released.

Android is certainly another opportunity as well, but that market has not developed to the expectations they would have had.

Services Angle

Dell is hammering on the proof that it is a services company. But they also are very clear about the focus on the PC market which extends to mobile.

Consider, too, that Microsoft and Dell have deep roots as partners, dating back to the PC-era when the two companies earned the lion’s share of their wealth. HP is considering vacating the space. And Apple is not the ideal enterprise machine. Google? It’s a wild card now in the tablet market.