Dual-boot Tablet Runs Windows 7 & Android 1.6: The Best of Both Worlds?

[Jason Lee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://gizmodo.com/5629282/a-dual+booting-tablet-running-android-16-sounds-barmy-viewsonic' target='_blank'>http://gizmodo.com/5629282/a-dual+b...barmy-viewsonic</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"After warning us last week of their impending dual-booting tablet, ViewSonic has now spilled the beans on the ViewPad 100's specs. I don't think anyone will be impressed by the Android 1.6 flavor, even if Windows 7's also there too."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/adt/auto/1283528967.usr206.jpg" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>I'm honestly not sure what to think of this device. Spec wise it looks to be a very nice "netbook-like" tablet, something I could see myself using while on the go. The part that I don't really get is the fact that you can choose to either boot into Windows 7 or Android 1.6. Beyond the fact that it is Android 1.6 and not 2.2, why would I ever boot a Windows tablet into Android? What do you guys think? Do you see any benefit in being able to choose to boot into Windows or Android on a single device?</p>

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Android 1.6 kinda kills it if you ask me. As well as the size; Samsung's on the right idea with the 7" screen.

[Sven Johannsen]

You guys don't think it'll catch up? Android is supposed to be free, right? That's the appeal of open source, isn't it. Can't you just go download the latest version from somewhere? Or are we saying it to is subject to the whims of the developement community, hackers and OEMs, just like everything else ;)

My only interest in a dual boot would be getting some experience with Android without having to spring for a dedicated device. At this point I really don' see that there is anything that I can really do with an Android device that I can't already do with what is available today in MS or Apple based products.

[Jason Lee]

I'm sure if this device is popular enough that someone will have the latest version of Android hacked on to it in no time. Though, that may depend on the hardware. Is there just an Android device shoved in there or is Android actually running on the Atom CPU? That might slow the dev community down a bit.

I also wonder how the battery life will be for each OS. You would think similar, with Android slightly ahead, if they are both usinjg the same CPU.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

The last version of Android for x86 is 1.6, hence, 1.6 is all you're going to get.

[Sven Johannsen]

The last version of Android for x86 is 1.6, hence, 1.6 is all you're going to get.Ah, so that's it. That could take some time to fix. I personally would be a bit hesitant about the 16G SSD for Win 7. I say that because I loaded Win 7 on my HP Mini with 16G SSD. ran great, but took up 14+ G. Admittedly I think it was premium, so I suppose a lower level, and optimized installation could be smaller. I am also adamant that any touch capable Win 7 thing I get must have stylus support. Real stylus, ala HP tablet, not pencil eraser stylus ala iPhone/iPad. If I am going to get Win 7 on a screen interactive device, I will not settle for poking at it with my fat fingers exclusively.