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ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users

By | August 15, 2011, 1:15pm PDT

Summary: ViewSonic’s Atom Z670-powered viewPad 10pro tablet offers the best of both worlds — the apps and 1080p HD video quality of an Android Gingerbread device, as well as the familiarity of the Windows 7 environment. Are dual-OS tablets the way of the future?

Tablets just became more work-friendly than mere mobile entertainment machines with the introduction of ViewSonic’s dual-OS, Intel Atom running 10.1-inch slate, the ViewPad 10pro. Available in either 16 GB or 32 GB running Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional, the ViewPad 10pro will be in stores later this month.

The ViewPad 10pro is one of the first to market with Intel’s “Oak Trail” Atom Z670, a chip designed specifically for low-powered, fan-less devices like tablets that the chip-maker announced back in April. With most of the current crop of slates running Texas Instrument and Nvidia’s Tegra CPUs, it was only a matter of time that Intel would crash the party bringing Windows 7 in tow.

Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. For business and Windows power users who have been reluctant to migrate to a tablet running a non-Windows OS, the ViewPad 10pro makes the transition less painful as they get the best of both worlds on one device. Want to play some Plants vs. Zombies? Tap on the Android icon on the home screen to load Gingerbread (Android 2.3) on top of Win 7. Need to get started on that presentation? Run full Excel and PowerPoint without wasting time looking for an app to mimic the programs. Plus, Windows 7 has some native multi-touch controls so it is possible to use the OS on a touch device. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to see just how well this dual-OS tablet really works in person, so I’ll give its performance the benefit of the doubt.

On the hardware front, the ViewPad 10pro’s Atom Z670 CPU clocks at 1.5 GHz, has Intel’s GMA 600 integrated graphics according to Engadget, 2 GB RAM, offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR connectivity, a microSD card slot expandable up to 32 GB, and has a 1024×600 capacitive multi-touch display. But it is not all work and no play: the tablet supports HD 1080p playback and can be hooked up to a HDTV via its built-in HDMI port. The tablet comes equipped with a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for web conference calls but the press release does not mention a rear camera, which is a surprising omission for a tablet these days. Judging from the photo of the left side of the ViewPad 10pro, the device also includes a full-sized USB port, and a single headphone jack. ViewSonic claims the tablet will last up to eight hours between charges.

This hybrid Windows and Android tablet will be available in two capacities: the 16 GB comes with Windows 7 Home Premium and Android Gingerbread for $599, while the 32 GB is preloaded with Windows 7 Professional and Gingerbread for $699. A dock will be sold separately for $59. Knowing how some Atom-powered netbooks have trouble running Windows 7 quickly, I’m really curious how a tablet with no way to upgrade its RAM could handle two OSes. Assuming it works well, dual-OS tablets could very well be the way of the future with manufacturers eager to convert more Windows users into tablet customers. Watch out Apple, HP and Andriod!

[Source: MarketWire, Engadget]

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ViewSonic Corp., Android, Tablets, Notebooks, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Gloria Sin

Gloria Sin is a freelance journalist based in New York City.

Disclosure

Gloria Sin

I have no stocks or investments in any companies or interests which may lead to a conflict of interest in my coverage.

Biography

Gloria Sin

Gloria Sin is a New York-based freelance journalist who writes about the tech toys that you can't live without for ZDNet. She has little patience for poorly designed user experiences, and is not afraid of opening the guts of her own machines for repair or hacking her gadgets for new uses.

She has written for FastCompany.com, Popular Science, Olympic News Service; she currently covers the startup scene in the Tri-State area for NYConvergence.com.

Prior to ZDNet, Gloria was the online editor for Dance International, and dabbled in web design and social media consulting. When she is offline, you will find her at an ice rink living out her figure skating dreams. Follow her on Twitter.

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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
jfreedle2@... 31st Aug
If I were to have one of these devices, I would remove the Android garbage software.
View in thread
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Gloria, contact Apple Counsel
Dietrich T. Schmitz * Your Linux Advocate Updated - 15th Aug
I see a juicy lawsuit opportunity here.
Yep, that's definitely a rectangle.

Oh, make sure we have a copy of Photoshop, mmkay?
Thanks.
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Apple Counsel will then give Gloria a google link
baggins_z 15th Aug
to trade dress and Gloria will feel stupid for listening to you.
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Oxymoron
facebook@... 15th Aug
Atom processor and power users are mutually exclusive terms.
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THANK YOU!
Joe_Raby 15th Aug
@facebook@...

I second that.

I was hoping it was going to read "HD video provided by AMD Fusion", but that wasn't it.

If this is another GMA, it doesn't do HD video playback. The only GMA chipset capable of HD video playback (meaning smooth H.264) was the 4500HD. Flash isn't even optimized for those chipsets though, so you were usually using software playback, and even then, the 4500 was designed for Core 2, which is more than enough for software decoding. The Atom is not.

Besides, not only is the screen not 1080p, but a 1024x600 screen doesn't even fit within Microsoft's WHQL logo requirements. In order to meet the requirements, a screen needs to have a minimum of 768 pixel vertical resolution, which is why we see 16:9 screens moving from 1280x720 to 1366x768. Running Windows on anything smaller than 1024x768 usually means that many applications just won't fit on the screen.

"Power users!?". HAH!

Gimme a tablet with a minimum of an E-350 APU, and we'll talk.

Does the Z670 even SUPPORT hardware virtualization???
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Wow! This is a FAIL
Joe_Raby 15th Aug
I thought I recognized that CPU. It's a Z-series. These things should be withdrawn from the market.

They should have put an N570 in there, and then at least it would be DUAL CORE!
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Holly krap .... this thing is not even 720p capable?
wackoae 15th Aug
@Joe_Raby At that resolution, this thing can't even display Win7 right.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
jgm@... 16th Aug
@Joe_Raby Took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to say give me an AMD processor with decent graphics and 720p and I'd take it. My only other complaint would be a real hard drive or SSD for increased storage space.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
awkward hug 16th Aug
@facebook@... Poweruser in context. No, a tablet won't have the juice to run a full on suite of tools, but its a tablet.

The tablet CAN run hd video through its hdmi out, its right in its specs. You won't be running applications that need more than 1024x600 on your tablet. Get your laptop for that.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
symbolset 18th Aug
@facebook@... Atom is almost there. But you'll never see it in anything but a Windows tablet. And we've seen enough of that to know it's toxic.

After this crashes and burns put cyanogenmod on the one you buy on eBay and it will rock.

Viewsonic's not the best quality tablet around, but my wife's happy with the gTablet she stole from me. We'll update it to cyanogen after she's beaten Angry Birds so we can have the wonderful Honeycomb I have on my Transformer, Google Marketplace with its hundreds of thousands of apps and Netflix. It has the same resolution, Tegra 2 processor and most importantly video, SD card storage, and it was only $270. For the price of the item in the fine article you could get two.

BTW, a screen with resolution of 1024x600 cannot even display 720p, let alone 1080p. You need to call out that this is enabled through the optional HDMI cable, to your optional HDMI capable TV - and only for content that permits this use (of which there are almost none available). This platform is not capable of real HD video. It's a flat lie.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
Samic 15th Aug
Apple's Lawyer:
Rectangle - checked
Rounded corner - checked
Shiny surface - checked

Community Design Lawsuit time!!!
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
deusexmachina  16th Aug
@Samic

Please research trade dress protection law before you post more ignorant comments.

Thanks.
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Don't be a fool
symbolset 18th Aug
@Samic Suing Intel over patents is the functional equivalent of teen cutting. Even Apple isn't that crazy.
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Does it run iTunes?
hmt3 15th Aug
Something that I never see covered in any of these stories: the fact that iPad has a 64MB tablet and everyone else maxes out at 32. Some offer expansion slots so you can get to 64, but then the price point starts to get close to that of Apple.

Which brings up my next point; aside from apps, a lot of people have gotten used to iTunes (no matter how clunky and hard-to-use it may be) for buying media (music and video content). When I get a BD/DVD with digital copy, I always select the iTunes version over the Windows one because I have an iPod.

To me, that is the biggest hurdle that most tablet makers have to figure out and why they're losing market share to the iPad. iPods came first, and they (still) are the best MP3 players on the market. Oh, there are people out there who will swear on their Zunes or other players, but iPod has the easiest interface.

Last month, my 80-year-old mother-in-law gave us back the Kindle we bought for her last year; she had acquired her son's iPad (after he upgraded to the iPad 2) and it was so much easier and more intuitive for her to use. After setting it up for her, now I want one to replace my Kindle (and I love my Kindle).

Love it or hate it, iTunes is the most prevalent conduit for getting media to the masses. Amazon and Google can try, but they came too late to the game. When they can figure out a way (or pay royalties to Apple) to allow iTunes content to run on competing devices, then we'll start to see some market share equalization.
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Won't make a big difference in the future
Joe_Raby 15th Aug
@hmt3

When customers realize that Windows tablets are a FULL computer, AND they can run iTunes on it, the rest are going to go away.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
deusexmachina  16th Aug
@Joe_Raby

Windows tablets have been available for over a decade. This negates the entirety of your post.
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Um, yeah, what he said
symbolset 18th Aug
@Joe_Raby The rule of thumb in technology sales (where I work) is that Windows tablets are the product you sell to customers you need to be rid of. One Windows tablet shipment and you're free of a costly and risky relationship forever.

Windows tablets have been around for fifteen years. They're not taking off. The entire history of Windows tablet units would fit in a single month of iPad shipments.

And by the way, this is a nice FULL computer. Once you strip the Windows off it, it will do nicely. It's not going to sell well because it's a Windows tablet, but the community welcomes the platform. It will sell well on eBay once the Linux and Cyanogen builds are ready for it.

This tablet's problem is that it can run Windows, and Microsoft has huge leverage with PC vendors (control over their Windows pricing and co-marketing dollars) so no Intel Atom tablet is going to ship from most traditional PC vendors with Android only even if that's the smart thing to do, which obviously it is. Even Asus who make the awesome Transformer powered by Tegra 2 and Android, and look to launch the Transformer 2 (5x powerful nvidia kal-el platform) this Christmas wouldn't dare ship an Atom platform with anything but Windows. When Windows runs on ARM next year they're going to have quite the quandry. I hope they choose right, but the outlook is not so good.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
kc63092@... 15th Aug
@hmt3
nobody is late. had steve jobs, bill gates , et al believed that they are late from the party, they could have given up and became losers. the market had seen its fair share of ups and downs, the apple that we know now are fleeting moments in the scheme of things. somewhere in one of the dark basements in america is a work in progress that will shake the establishments as we know it. remember rca, fairchild, etc.? the whole business cycle is like a ballgame, some are up at times and down at other times. so your apple will fall down as before and if steve is still alive, he might score another goal that will revive it. if....
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RE: nobody is late
hmt3 16th Aug
@kc63092@...
It's not my Apple. I've been using Windows ever since 3.1 and I've never owned a Mac. I've owned iPods and I'd love to get an iPad because I'm invested in digital copies for that format. But I'm not going to buy a MacBook because I have too much money invested in the Windows platform to switch.

In my comment above, I was remarking on how the iPad seems to be the kingpin because it's the first and easiest to use for the average consumer (i.e.: my mother-in-law) and it has the ubiquitous iTunes store to sell its wares. Like it or not, Apple has the stronghold and Steve Jobs isn't going to let that go easily.

I do hope that there is an innovator out there with the next world-shaking technology to give Apple, Microsoft and Google a run for their money. I like competition; it encourages the leaders to keep innovating and the new ones to create even more.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
Fletchguy Updated - 16th Aug
@hmt3 Not really. Itunes is the apple user software but anyone who doesn't use apple exclusivly does not use itunes as it is not a good program and is apple exclusive. there are so many better software options then itunes and you almost never see itunes on pc users un its or non apple tablets. Zunes are a much better device then the ipod along with the Archos devices. The ipod is more for those who don't like individuality and need a very basic over priced device. Itunes will run on windows machines and android but you don't see it as itunes is just completely crappy and buying from itunes is just stupid and overpriced.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
deusexmachina  16th Aug
@Fletchguy

Hahahahahahahaha
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
strangefruit 16th Aug
@hmt3
An interface easier than the Zune I cannot imagine. I mean, what is complicated about it? MS are fools for letting it max out at 120GB. Itunes is for those with tunnel vision. You can buy media from many other places than the iStore.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
deusexmachina  16th Aug
@strangefruit

And you can play that media on iTunes. What is your point?
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
aiellenon 18th Aug
@hmt3

easiest does not equal best, the ipod is a hunk of junk with extremely limited options (when compared to most of the other media players available), unless you get the touch.
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AMD Fusion, PLEASE!
Grayson Peddie 16th Aug
Then I'll buy a tablet with that. happy Oh, and Gingerbread looks to be pretty nice with AMD Fusion, too, right? Or no?
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
opcom 16th Aug
sure "atom" means energy economy, but isn't the "Intel?s ?Oak Trail? Atom Z670" a pretty new one? I like the set of features here, the additional freedoms offered by a dual o/s really interests me. Might be worth a trip to the store to check it out.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
kris_stapley@... 16th Aug
Will have to test out the performance, but it sounds like they hit a sweet spot.... assuming it works as intended.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
mwalkerdos 16th Aug
needs a cellular modem, preferably 4G...
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
feyaia 16th Aug
I love the idea of a win 7 tablet but the fact that everyone just keeps missing is PRICE! Most of the people looking for a Tablet in these hard times are priced out from the get-go. Also, when a new gadget comes out that is at or even more expensive than the Ipad, they almost 90% go for the Ipad because it's a known device that someone they know already has. I Know that it can be done but the first company to put out a win 7 tablet that runs decently, and priced at or under the Nook 2, will hit it Big.
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Why Windows AND Android?
SbySW 16th Aug
If I have Windows onboard, why would I need Android?

I'm not bashing Android (I use an Android tablet daily), but I use it because there are no viable Windows tablets available yet.

Viable Windows tablet = 8+ hour real world battery life, $500, 1.7lb weight.
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We have Android apps
symbolset 18th Aug
@SbySW We have Android apps and we like them. HP is actually doing some great integration of mobile and desktop with WebOS, but it's doubtful the masses will ever see the promise.

The Android tablets serve a need: we need innovation, and we haven't had it in desktops for 20 years. We need new stuff and the Android apps have it. Android tablet apps aren't just Office with the buttons moved yet again. They're whole new ways of doing things.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
RobertMoore12@... 16th Aug
I think this tablet for it's specs is way overpriced. If it had better specs I could see the $700 price tag for the low end tablet. Until someone can bring these specs to a lower priced unit it will never challenge anything.
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RE: ViewSonic's dual-OS ViewPad 10pro is a tablet for Windows power users
jfreedle2@... 31st Aug
If I were to have one of these devices, I would remove the Android garbage software.

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