Computex: Windows-Android hybrids and phablets launch

[Pleng]

Basically having a PC/netbook around with me everywhere, it's like two devices in one.

What would you need from Android if you had a device capable of running Windows?

 

[loco365]

What would you need from Android if you had a device capable of running Windows?

Half-phone, half-computer, or perhaps you want it split so Android stores all your porn warez pirated music pirated films cracked software cracked games perfectly legal documents and leave Windows for the kids to play with? Or the other way around?

 

[The Real Jdbye]

What would you need from Android if you had a device capable of running Windows?

Until M$ Store gets a large amount of touch-optimized apps Android will still be better at that sort of thing. I'd use Windows for more complex tasks when I was in a place where it's convenient to use a keyboard, and Android for quick gaming on the go, browsing the web, checking email... stuff like that.

 

[Pleng]

Half-phone, half-computer, or perhaps you want it split so Android stores all your porn warez pirated music pirated films cracked software cracked games perfectly legal documents and leave Windows for the kids to play with? Or the other way around?

Half phone half computer doesn't make any sense at all. The rest you can achieve by dual booting Windows/Windows or Windows/Linux. Or even better, running a VM inside your primary boot OS.

Until M$ Store gets a large amount of touch-optimized apps Android will still be better at that sort of thing. I'd use Windows for more complex tasks when I was in a place where it's convenient to use a keyboard, and Android for quick gaming on the go, browsing the web, checking email... stuff like that.

Really... it's more convenient to shut down your Windows apps and launch Android just to do a bit of browsing and email checking, than to just make do with what's available in Windows. Similarity if you're in Android, are you really going to boot into Windows to do <complex stuff - definition please??> rather than make do with an Android alternative.


I don't doubt that some of the people using sites like this might want a device like this. Which is fine. There's nothing wrong with wanting a device for its geek factor, if that's your thing. But a few people who frequent a geeky forum, plus a few developers who are short on space or don't already own appropriate hardware, doesn't often represent a big market opportunity.

 

[Veho]

What would you need from Android if you had a device capable of running Windows?

In theory, Adroid is smaller, lighter, boots faster, is less hardware intensive and saves you battery, it's optimized for touch control (very much unlike Windows), and smaller resolution screens. In theory. So in theory, Android would be the simple OS on the go, and when you need some heavy duty work, you boot it in Windows mode.

If you have hardware capable of booting both, why not enable dual-boot? The alternative would be to launch two versions, an Android-only and a Windows-only device, but that would fragment your market. A dual boot implies your device is a powerhouse, gives the users the contentment of choice (even if 99% of them permanently keep it on one OS), and makes for good marketing.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Half phone half computer doesn't make any sense at all. The rest you can achieve by dual booting Windows/Windows or Windows/Linux. Or even better, running a VM inside your primary boot OS.



Really... it's more convenient to shut down your Windows apps and launch Android just to do a bit of browsing and email checking, than to just make do with what's available in Windows. Similarity if you're in Android, are you really going to boot into Windows to do <complex stuff - definition please??> rather than make do with an Android alternative.


I don't doubt that some of the people using sites like this might want a device like this. Which is fine. There's nothing wrong with wanting a device for its geek factor, if that's your thing. But a few people who frequent a geeky forum, plus a few developers who are short on space or don't already own appropriate hardware, doesn't often represent a big market opportunity.

Those were just examples. Anyway, complex stuff means heavy multitasking, programming, playing PROPER games... stuff like that. There are no android alternatives to those things.
But it's true that if I had a Windows 8 tablet that also ran Android I might not use Android much. Can't really tell beforehand.