While many of the tablets debuting recently have chosen to feature an Android 2.2 operating system, Viewsonic has chosen a bit of a different route in their latest offering. The Viewpad 100, unveiled this week in Berlin at IFA 2010, will give users the option of using either Windows 7 or Android 2.2. by offering both in a dual-boot configuration.
The dual-boot tablet is an attempt by Viewsonic to give customers more choices in the way they use the tablet, and may also ease the fears of consumers who may not be eager to leave the familiarity of a Windows-based OS.
In a press release, Viewsonic’s European Product Marketing Manager, Derek Wright, said, “We want to supply users with a tablet computer that incorporates both Android and Windows as we believe in providing an open approach to mobile technology to users who may not wish to be tied to a specific operating system. The ViewPad 100 is aimed at those who want the speed and portability of Android without losing the advantages of having a Windows-based system. We recognise many users may be transitioning from a netbook but will possibly struggle with the learning curve of a new OS, even for simple tasks as uploading photos or using a VPN. Eventually they may choose to favour one over the other, but they will always have the choice.”
The Viewpad 100 has a 10-inch 1024 x 600 LED panel, a 16GB SSD, an Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz processor, 1GB DDR3 RAM, and two USB connections. It also has wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a G-sensor for automatic display orientation changes, a micro-SD slot which supports up to 32GB of expandable storage, and a GPS.
With an October release date, the Viewsonic 100 will hit the market just in time for the holiday season. If you’re interested, however, be sure to start saving up your money now. This is not a small tablet by any means, and that includes the price tag, which is expected to be around $845 USD.
While I like the idea of the dual-boot configuration, I’m definitely put off by the size and the price of this tablet. As many of the tablets recently unveiled will have 7-inch displays, a 10-inch screen will likely make a big difference in the level of portability of the device. Also, for a tablet that’s trying to gain support from a waning netbook fan base, $800+ is probably a couple hundred dollars more than that crowd would be willing to spend.
Will customers buy? That’s the question we’ll be waiting to have answered this holiday season.
