While most of the 80 tablet PCs rolled out at CES 2011 were Android-based, a good chunk actually run on Windows 7. We give you a list of the best we saw at the show.
Scores of tablets were announced and demoed at CES 2011, and while most of them were Android-based, a good chunk ran on Windows 7 and an Intel processor. And why shouldn't there be a bunch of those floating around, what with Google screwing over every other tablet maker by delaying its Honeycomb Android OS? Almost every Android tablet ran on a 2.2 build that was buggy and clearly unfinished. Even the Motorola Zoom, which had an early version of Honeycomb running, demoed the user experience via a video because it didn't want anyone touching the unit. Interestingly enough, the closest thing to a finished tablet at CES 2011 was one that ran on a full-blown version of Windows 7. Though I wouldn't call them all winners, there were several that stood out from the crowd.
The Asus Eee EP121 is easily the most powerful slate tablet coming out of the show, as it runs on an Intel Core i5 processor (an ultra-low voltage variant) and can be configured with up to 4GB of memory. Its 12-inch screen is among the biggest for tablets, and the 1,280-by-800 resolution is nothing short of spectacular. One of the characteristics that make it a viable tablet contender is its Wacom digitized screen and pen, which take advantage of Windows 7's handwriting recognition engine. And because it's a Windows operating system running on robust parts, it can handle full blown apps like Adobe's Creative Suite or Microsoft's Office 2010.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slate (an official name hasn't been chosen yet) looks promising because in addition to running Windows, it also has a user-friendly interface built around touch. Shortcuts to any Windows applications are distributed between two viewing panes: one for "Work" the other for "Play." The screen is also equipped with a digitized layer (made by Morgans Touch) and pen, much like the Asus EP121. An Atom N570 processor powers this tablet, which isn't as powerful as a Core i5 but will last up to 6.5 hours on a single charge (an Atom processor is more battery efficient).
The Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series is Samsung's first Windows-based tablet PC. While the tablet could use a little refinement, the concept is pretty neat. A sliding screen reveals a physical ketyboard (if one is absolutely essential). Slide it back over the keyboard, and it can be used as a slate tablet. It runs on an Atom Z-Series processor and 2GB of RAM, though it doesn't have a digitized screen for handwriting recognition.
If the Asus EP121 is the largest Windows slate tablet, then the Viliv X70 should qualify as the smallest. It weighs less than a pound, thanks, in large part, to a 7-inch screen that boasts a 1,024-by-600 resolution. It's truly a handheld PC that comes with the gamut of wireless radios, including 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G HSPA, WiMax, and Verizon's EV-DO.
Last but not least is a Windows tablet that cannot be bought in the United States, but it's an intriguing one nonetheless. The Lenovo U1 Hybrid was actually announced at last year's CES, but is now officially shipping—in China only. It's a Windows 7 laptop that undocks to form a slate, with each portion running on a different processor and operating system. What makes this tablet unique is that you can experience Windows 7 and Android in one system.
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