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Gigabyte releasing dual-core Windows 7 tablet in Taiwan

Teaser
The 10.1-inch tablet will sport Intel’s N570 processor with USB 3.0 and 320GB HDD.

Popular for its PC motherboards, Gigabyte Technology is now ready to release its first tablet based on Windows 7 in its native Taiwanese market.

Called the S1080, the 10.1-inch tablet includes a 1024x600 resolution display and makes use of the dual-core Intel Atom N570 processor. Because of its Windows 7 OS, the device was likely limited in its choice of processors during its design phase, as the more popular ARM-based CPUs from Nvidia, Qualcomm, or Texas Instruments are out of the question. Regardless, the S1080 still includes a healthy amount of connectivity options, including 3G support, 802.11n, video-out, and even USB 3.0. Hard drive space will be plenty at 320GB, but the additional girth of the HDD will bump up the weight of the tablet to 895 grams (1.97 lbs) versus the 613 gram (1.35 lbs) iPad.

The release of the S1080 is most notable for its choice of Windows 7 support. According to ComputerWorld, Gigabyte chose a Windows OS because of its stronger support and native compatibilty with Microsoft Office, a rather important advantage when compared to the more popular Apple iOS or Google Android.

The Windows advantage is that it’s easy for users to coordinate their office data,” said Gartner analyst Tracy Tsai. Gigabyte hopes that the Windows OS will attract more business customers to the S1080, possibly making the tablet more of a productivity-focused device rather than an entertainment device.

Windows 7 tablets are currently less common compared to tablets with the Android platform. The Microsoft OS in its current state is simply not optimized for tablet and multi-touch use, which reduces usability by a notable degree. Other upcoming tablet such as the webOS-equipped HP TouchPad will make the mobile market penetration of Windows even more difficult. Tsai, however, believes the Windows tablet can succeed not in the mass market, but in a “niche market of mobile professionals.”

The S1080 is available in Taiwan for a hefty NT$22,900 ($787) and is expected to ship in additional countries starting this May.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2011 04 > Gigabyte releasing dual-core Windows 7 tablet in Taiwan
Allen Ngo, 2011-04-15 (Update: 2012-05-26)