ViewSonic launches Android/Windows dual-boot tablet

ViewSonic has unveiled the ViewPad 100, a dual-boot tablet designed to give business users the choice of the user-friendly Android platform without losing the advantages of a Windows-based system.

The tablet will ship with Windows 7 Home Premium and Google Android 1.6, allowing customers to check emails and browse the internet with Android, and switch to Window 7 for more complex tasks, according to ViewSonic.

The ViewPad 100 comes with a 10in LED screen with a resolution of 1,024 x 600 and capacitive multi-touch capabilities. It is powered by an energy efficient Intel Atom N455 1.66GHz processor with 1GB DDR3 RAM, and has two USB 2.0 ports and video output via mini VGA.

Additionally, the device has a Micro SD slot supporting up to 32GB of storage, assisted GPS navigation, a front facing 1.3-megapixel webcam and a built-in 16GB solid state drive, giving a faster boot-up and read/write times than standard hard disk drives, the firm claimed.

"We want to supply users with a tablet computer that incorporates 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," said Derek Wright, European product marketing manager at ViewSonic.

"We recognise that many users may be transitioning from a netbook, but will possibly struggle with the learning curve of a new operating system, even for simple tasks such 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 will be available from approved resellers in October, and is expected to retail for around £550.

ViewSonic announced a hybrid smartphone/tablet earlier this week in the form of the ViewPad 7, which could provide the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Apple iPad with some competition on its release.

The Galaxy Tab is also expected to land in the UK this October, but pricing has yet to be confirmed.