Acer Android netbook to dual boot Windows
Taiwanese firm Acer has announced that it plans to release its first Aspire One netbook featuring Google's Android open source mobile operating system. Jim Wong, president of IT Products Global Operation at Acer said “The Android operating system offers incredibly fast wireless connection to the Internet; for this reason, Acer has decided to develop Android netbooks for added convenience to our customers”. Acer isn't the first netbook manufacturer to announce plans to release an Android netbook, however, they are the first to promise one that will dual boot both Android and Microsoft Windows.
According to the DigiTimes, Acer's chairman JT Wang said that the company decided to choose a dual operating system strategy because, as consumer acceptance of the Android platform is currently unclear, they felt it would be a safer option. Wang also said that Acer has not ruled out the possibility of releasing Android-only models, provided that there is enough demand from consumers and telecom providers.
Acer is currently displaying an Aspire One netbook running Android at the Taiwan trade show Computex in Taipei. The first production Acer Aspire One netbooks running android are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2009. Acer has not, however, announced which version of the Android operating system it will include.
See also:
- Google planning Android 2.0 for 2009, a report from The H.
- Eee PC running Android seen at Computex, a report from The H.
(crve)