Tablet computers are all the rage right now and everyone wants in on the activity. Although it might feel similar there are endless options for the consumer, most of the devices are more similar than they are dissimilar, specially in terms of software. While iOS is express to Apple tree's products, Google's Android tin can be found on just about all other mobile devices -- tablets or smartphones.

Although y'all may not realize it, there exists a third competitor in the tablet Os market place: Microsoft. Over one-half a dozen manufacturers offer Windows 7 tablets, including the ViewSonic ViewPad 10Pro, Acer Iconia Tab W500, Fujitsu Stylisitic Q550, HP Slate 500, EXOPC Slate, Asus Eee Slate EP121, Motion Calculating CL900 and of grade, the MSI WindPad 110W. With so many Windows slates in production, why don't y'all hear nigh them more?

Like pre-Honeycomb Android builds, Windows 7 simply wasn't adult for tablets. Android 2.x was meant for smartphones that have smaller screens, and so the software didn't scale upwardly properly. Windows 7 can display various resolutions and it features native touch support, but it was still primarily designed for keyboard and mouse input. This shows. Using it with your fingers can be awkward and downright frustrating.

Manufacturers accept attempted to address this shortcoming by shipping their devices with various interface tweaks and enhancements. For example, the WindPad 110W offers "Smart Tracker," which provides users with a more conventional mode to navigate the operating system while hotkeys make it easier to admission frequently used functions. Windows 7 isn't perfect with these additions, just they certainly brand usage more enjoyable.

Along with offering a familiar user experience, devices such as the MSI WindPad 110W are granted a broader selection of hardware. Whereas virtually all Android Honeycomb tablets utilise an ARM-based SoCs like the Nvidia Tegra 2, Windows 7 tablets are free to choose from a wide range of Intel and AMD processors. This flexibility volition only expand in the futurity every bit Windows 8 brings full native compatibility with the ARM architecture.

The WindPad 110W is powered by the 40nm AMD Z-01 dual-cadre Fusion APU, which is specifically congenital for tablet computers and features a thermal design power rating of only five.9 watts. This is currently the just tablet we're aware of that utilizes the Z-01 equally the vast majority utilise the Intel Atom range, which is largely comprised of single-cadre processors. With that in heed, let's proceed to analyze the WindPad 110W'due south finer details, along with impressions after installing Windows 8'due south Developer Preview on the tablet...