ViewSonic Android Tablets Include ViewPad 7, ViewPad 10 with Windows 7

by Clint Boulton

Here is a first look at the device that will challenge the Galaxy Tab and media tablets from Archos and others. “With access to the universe of Android apps, our new ViewPads are perfectly suited for enjoying digital entertainment and social media,” claimed ViewSonic.

The Android 2.2-based ViewPad 7 sports 3.5G data technology in a lightweight form factor, enabling instant messaging and VOIP in addition to basic Web browsing.

The 800-by-480 WVGA LCD screen makes it just fine for gaming, certainly better than on your average 3.5-inch smartphone screen.

ViewPad supports 802.11b/g and Bluetooth connectivity, 512MB of memory, and up to 32GB of storage capacity via the microSD card slot. Battery life is 10 hours. Plus it’s super thin.

The ViewPad 7 enables video calling with a 3-megapixel camera in the rear and a 0.3-megapixel camera in the front.

ViewPad 10 sports a 10.1-inch, 1,024-by-600 LED backlit screen, sporting a G-sensor and capacitive multitouch.

What’s interesting about this device is users can choose between Android 1.6 and Windows 7 Home Premium within the same device.

ViewPad 10 is fast. We’ve become accustomed to 1GHz chips in high-end smartphones. This tablet leverages the type of processor a user would see in a laptop or netbook, the Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor.

There is 1GB of memory, a 16GB SSD storage drive and expandable microSD slot. ViewSonic said this makes the gadget primed to view Flash-based content and Office programs in addition to mobile apps via Android.

A 1.3-megapixel Webcam with built-in microphone will enable video conferencing.