We heard about MSI WindPad pills for the first time at a press event in Taiwan back in June. While the Tablet seemed they were months away from release and now 7 months later, 10-inch Android and schist Windows much closer to becoming reality. Today at CES, MSI showed off the beta units based on itsAndroid Windpad 100A and Windows 7-powered WindPad 100W. The company also talked specifications and availability, but many details remain unclear.
Both tablets will sport a 10-inch, 1024 x 600 capacitive touch screens and have similar looking chassis. Both also have light sensors that marred their screens based on condition numbers and g sensor, which feels drops and protects internal components, though it wasn't immediately clear how does fall protection, or whether it is effective and to prevent damage.
Android-based WindPad 100a, pictured above, has no release date, but we know that it has 2 Tegra CPU, GPS locator, Optional 3 G, HDMI output, weighing just 1.6 pounds and has approximately 8-10 hours of battery life.
We got a hands-on Demo prototype 100A WindPad which unfortunately not any button standard Android on its bezel to home, back, or settings. This makes it very difficult for our MSI rep show us any system software, although she failed to show a little device unique software, which has eReader, view photos and a few other embedded applications, we don't get to see.
MSI showed us the layout under glass same chassis with buttons and said that the lack of buttons is because test unit preproduction. It's not a deliberate attempt to ensure the buttonless experience. Although there is no word on pricing and availability, the device will start shortly after the release of Android, which can have enormous consequences for the user interface and software. Check out hands-on video below for a closer look at the MSI WindPad 100A
MSI WindPad 100W has the release date of Q1 and the starting price of $ 499. However, given that sport in the older generation Intel Atom Z530 processor, which is notoriously slow and small 32 GB SSD, it may not be the fastest Tablet around and may not last for very long on a charge. MSI told us, next-gen version WindPad 100W will have Intel's new processor low power, high performance Oaktrail, so it sounds like a pretty current 100W may have short lives.
