At the opening of the Computex Taipei 2011 trade-show, Intel Corp. demonstrated more than ten tablets based on the company's latest system-on-chip for ultra-portable devices. The tablets come from different manufacturers and utilize different operating systems, including Android, MeeGo and Windows. In addition, the company revealed some peculiarities about Medfield-based devices.

Sean Maloney, an executive vice president at Intel, demonstrated more than ten tablets from both own-brand manufacturers (Fujitsu, Lenovo, MSI, Toshiba, etc.) as well as contract makers of electronics (Clevo, Compal, ECS, Foxconn, Pegatron, Quanta, Wistron, etc.). All of the tablets are based on the company's Oak Trail platform featuring the Atom Z670-series microprocessors and utilize either Google Android 3.0 "Honeycomb", various MeeGo flavours as well as Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 7 operating system.

The Intel Oak Trail platform already has more than 35 design wins since its launch in April, with several convertibles, sliders and other innovative designs on shelves now and more coming through the rest of the year, according to Intel.

Even though Intel claims that some of the tablets on dispay at Computex Taipei 2011 are available now, they do not seem to be available widely. In fact, even Intel itself did not show any particular eye-catching tablets during the keynote, which may mean that their availability is currently either very limited or the chipmaker's partners only offer those devices to resellers, not the final end-users.

Mr. Maloney also discussed the next-generation solution code-named Medfield, Intel’s first purpose-built 32nm system-on-chip for smartphones and tablets. According to the chipmaker, Medfield has been optimized for both low power and high performance and is projected to deliver long use-time, rich media and gaming, and advanced imaging capabilities. The new Medfield SoC, which will hit production later this year, will enable sub-9mm designs that weigh less than 1.5 pounds for tablet design. Intel expects actual devices running the new chip to emerge in the first half of 2012.

Intel showcased a Medfield design running Google Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) for the first time. The SoC will also be supported by variety of operating systems, including MeeGo, but like in the case of Moorestown, Windows support may be omitted.

Tags: Intel, Medfield, Oak Trail, Moorestown, Android, MeeGo, Windows