Archos battles Samsung Galaxy Tab with new 8.9in Windows 7 tablet

Archos has launched a 8.9in Windows 7 tablet as the firm aims to attract enterprise users by offering multimedia functionality and productivity gains on the move.

The Archos 9 PC Tablet comes with an Intel Atom 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 32GB of SSD storage and an 8.9in LED backlit touch screen with 1024x600 resolution.

Other features include a USB 2.0 port, WiFi, 1.3-megapixel webcam, optical trackpad with mouse buttons and the firm's trademark kickstand.

Additional connections can be added via a port replicator, which is available for £60. This will include an Ethernet port, two additional USB ports to plug in more external devices and VGA output to display the images from the tablet to a TV or monitor.

The Archos 9 comes with dimensions of 256x134x17mm, but weighs in at 800g, making it heavier than the similarly-sized iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom.

The device ships with Windows 7 Starter and comes with Microsoft Security Essentials virus protection software, Skype and the Lotus Symphony productivity suite. Weather, news and social networking widgets are also included, the manufacturer added.

Battery life is usually a problem for Windows 7 tablets and it will be interesting to see if the Archos 9 can last for five hours as claimed by the manufacturer. However, the battery is removable so users can replace it to extend the life of the device if required.

Another possible stumbling block could be the £400 price tag, especially as other dual-core Android tablets such as the Asus Eee Pad Transformer are available starting at £370. It will also be interesting to see how it stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9in device.