Windows and Android on Viewsonic’s ViewPad 10 Tablet

Viewsonic’s new tablet has a unique answer for cutomers who are still clinging to Microsoft’s Windows, even as Google’s Android operating system gains traction: It has both options.

 The ViewPad ten may be a dual-boot unit. It will launch either Windows seven or Android as you begin the pc.Out of the box, the specs are spectacular. The ViewPad encompasses a ten.1-inch show, that is larger than the iPad’s nine.7 inches. It weighs but two pounds, has in-built Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and is full of a comparatively quick Intel one.66 GHz processor. It prices $599 for the 16-gigabyte version, and $679 for double the memory.The ViewPad encompasses a built-in camera, however the resolution is simply one.3 megapixels, well wanting what the iPhone and alternative smartphones supply. So, do not expect nice pictures.The device conjointly options a mini VGA port, a customary audio jack, 2 USB ports and a MicroSD card slot. It’s pretty full-featured for a pill.The computer comes with Windows seven Home Premium put in, and that i updated the check unit with version two.2 of Android, conjointly referred to as Froyo.I spent it slow with Android 1st, as i used to be already accustomed to that surroundings as an owner of an Android-powered phone from HTC. The ViewPad did not gift as wealthy an expertise because the phone, primarily as a result of the graphical interface that presents the shortcuts, widgets and navigation on the pill is not as advanced as those on smartphones. HTC’s sleek “Sense” surroundings for phones, for instance, is among the best-of-breed for presenting the Android tools and apps.Moreover, the apps shortcut on the pill did not pre-sent the total giving of apps offered on Google’s Android Market. Instead, it took me to a far smaller choice at one thing referred to as “AndAppStore.” an on the spot link to the total slate of these Market apps would are higher, however the device seems to be hamstrung.Google doesn’t permit the Android Market to be pre-installed on Android two.2 tablets with screen sizes larger than seven inches. And Viewsonic has no current plans to update the ViewPad beyond that version of the operating system. therefore there is an impasse that leaves the ViewPad wanting.You could attempt to install a more moderen version of Android, like Honeycomb, on your own. however it needs advanced technological skills, and there is no guarantee from the manufacturer or Google that the ViewPad can perform well.Once apps are launched, they work for sure. they are fast to begin up and straightforward to use. however most apps for Android are designed for a smaller show, not one thing as massive because the ViewPad. The 10.1-inch show size, in most cases on behalf of me, was wasted on the Android facet of this dual-boot device.The better 1/2 the ViewPad is Windows seven.It ran quick and was pretty intuitive concerning responding to the correct icons, scroll bars and objects on the show that i used to be making an attempt to the touch. it absolutely was a brand new expertise on behalf of me to navigate the online in Firefox by swiping across the screen. It fared well – higher than surfing for content on the Android facet.When it came to additional intricate programs, interacting with the pill was difficult.You could attempt to edit photos with Adobe Photoshop for Windows, however you would be creating the task abundant more durable than it’d be in an exceedingly traditional mouse-and-cursor surroundings. Trust me, I tried.Every erroneous faucet propelled me into a wrong window or menu that had to be backed out of and commenced over. the primary factor that came to my mind was to undo an action with “CTRL+Z”, however the keyboard wasn’t there unless I swiped it onto the screen from its very little hidden perch in an exceedingly corner of the show.I’ll leave Photoshop, and many alternative detail-oriented tasks, for normal computers with real keyboards. Tablets, at this stage, are higher for content consumption than content creation.Despite my success with a spread of Windows experiences (movie watching, Gawker reading, Flickr photo browsing and Facebook time-crushing) the pill expertise begs for apps. higher apps. Finger-friendly apps.Browsers work to deliver this content, however full-fledged apps brewed up particularly for human digits work higher. they are designed with larger touchable regions and fewer (if any) little scrolling controllers.It’s swell of Microsoft to form Windows seven touch-friendly, however the corporate has to fashion a tablet-specific version of its operating system to compete with Android and iOS.Is dual-boot for the pill price it? Not very at now.Android is best left to phones. however with many enhancements or maybe an infatuated pill operating system, Windows can slot in quite nicely during this growing pc section.