EviGroup launches SmartPaddle Windows 7 tablet

French manufacturer EviGroup has launched a Windows 7 tablet designed to offer business users an alternative to netbooks.

The SmartPaddle comes with an 11.6in screen with a resolution of 1,366 x 768, and weighs 985g. The tablet is powered by an Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz processor and has 2GB of RAM and 64GB of SSD storage built in.

A ‘Scale' interface has been added to the Windows 7 operating system and head-tracking capabilities have been built in, the firm said.

The tablet has a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, SD card reader, mini HDMI output and two USB 2.0 ports built into the chassis.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G connectivity are included as standard, and the device is shipped with a wireless Microsoft Arc keyboard.

EviGroup also ships the SmartPaddle with a docking station that features additional connectivity in the form of three USB 2.0 ports and Ethernet input.

"The SmartPaddle represents a new generation of tablets," the firm noted on its web site.

"We believe that the tablet is the future of the personal computer and, in view of what is on the market, we decided to make no compromises with connectivity and power."

However, with the iPad 2 already available in the UK and the Motorola Xoom about to hit the streets, the SmartPaddle could struggle to attract users.

The use of a 3D interface for the Windows platform could pique interest, but the €1,290 (£1,137) price tag of the SmartPaddle is unlikely to sway people away from the Apple and Android platforms.

Have a look at the SmartPaddle in action and let us know what you think.