ViewSonic Corp., a maker of monitors and other output solutions, on Tuesday announced its latest 10pro tablet that features Microsoft Windows 7 and Google Android operating systems thanks to an Intel Corp.'s chip that can run both. Tailored for business users, the ViewPad 10pro is compatible with both productivity apps for Windows and entertainment applications for Android.

“We made the ViewPad 10pro dual OS interface as quick and intuitive as possible, while partnering with industry CPU leader Intel to deliver the latest in design and innovation across all fronts,” said Michael Holstein, vice president of business development at ViewSonic.

The ViewPad 10pro is one of the first tablet solutions to be powered by the new Intel Atom processor Z670 (1.50GHz) system-on-chip. The new tablet sports 10.1" capacitive multi-touch panel with 1024x600 resolution, 2GB of DDR3 memory, 16GB or 32GB solid-state storage, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, an HDMI out for content sharing, a 1.3MP built-in front camera, microSD card and a high capacity battery for up to 8 hours of battery life.

While dual-OS tablet sounds impressive and is generally useful, actual implementation of dual-OS is rather questionable. Android 2.3 runs as an application on top of the Windows 7 operating system so users need to simply tap on the Android icon to make a seamless switch between business productivity and entertainment. This means that even when the tablet is running Android applications, it continues to support Windows services and thus drain battery life. Moreover, Android 2.3 is not really optimized for tablets and generally aims smartphones.

“Our Intel platform supports multiple operating systems, and this tablet shows how consumers can move between Windows and Android experiences in a way that offers rich graphics, high-definition audio, easy Internet browsing and longer battery life in a slick form factor," said Bill Kircos, general manager of marketing for Intel’s netbook and tablet group.

The dual OS ViewPad 10pro is available in two configurations – with Windows 7 Professional (with a 32GB SSD hard drive) and Android 2.3 for an ESP of $699, or with Windows 7 Home Premium (with a 16GB SSD hard drive) and Android 2.3 for an ESP of $599. A custom docking station accessory is also available for an ESP of $59. Both tablet configurations will be widely available in late August, with limited numbers currently available.

Tags: Viewsonic, Google, Android, Intel, Moorestown, Atom, Microsoft, Windows