The Australian firm Tegatech announced a tablet PC that can boot into either Android 1.6 or Windows 7. Offered with available 3G cellular or WiMAX, the “Tega v2” includes a 1.6GHz Atom N455 processor with 1GB or 2GB of DDR3 memory, a 32GB SSD (solid state disk), and a 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen with 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, the company says.

Tegatech's Tega v2 is reportedly based on the same hardware as a recent, as-yet-unnamed 10-inch tablet that has been shown off by ViewSonic (see later in this story for an Engadget video of that version). Notable features of both the ViewSonic and Tega incarnations include the ability to boot into either Windows 7 or Android 1.6, plus power, home, and enter buttons to the right of the screen.

Tegatech's Tega v2
(Click to enlarge)

The Tega v2 (above) has a 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, according to Tegatech. Touting the system's slim design (0.55 inches thick) and light weight (1.76 pounds), the company says the device will run for between four to five pounds on its integral lithium-polymer battery.

Like many products of its ilk, the Tega v2 employs netbook internals, but at least here they are up-to-date ones. The system uses Intel's Atom N455 processor, equipped here with 1GB or 2GB of DDR3 memory, and the NM10 I/O controller. It also provides a 32GB SSD rather than hard disk storage, for what should be a notable speed boost.

Ports on the Tega v2
(Click to enlarge)

Arranged along one edge (above) of the svelte Tega v2 are a power connector, a microSD slot, a mini-VGA port, two USB 2.0 ports, and a headphone jack, according to Tegatech. The tablet also includes an accelerometer, for automatic screen rotation, plus a camera that is available in either 0.3 or 1.3 megapixel versions, the company adds.

According to Tegatech, the Tega v2 includes 802.11a/b wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1. A SIM slot will allow the device to support 3G cellular, WiMAX, or WiBro wide area networking, the company adds.

For experimenters, the most notable aspect of the Tega v2 may be the capability of being booted into either Windows 7 or Android. Tegatech claims to offer — though the link appeared to be dead at the time of writing — a downloadable ISO image of Android 1.6, along with instructions for creating a dual-boot configuration of the tablet. The company adds that "due to popular demand … [it] is currently working to release Android 2.1 and 2.2 in the near future for the Tega v2."

Features and specifications listed by Tegatech for the Tega v2 include:

• Processor — Intel Atom N455 clocked at 1.6GHz
• Chipset — Intel NM10
• Memory — 1GB or 2GB of DDR3 RAM
• Storage — 32GB SSD
• Display — 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen with 1024 x 600 resolution
• Camera — 0.3 or 1.3 megapixel
• Expansion — microSD slot
• Networking:
• WLAN — 802.11a/b wireless networking
• PAN — Bluetooth 2.1
• WWAN — 3G cellular, WiMAX, or WiBro (optional)
• Other I/O:
  • mini-VGA
  • 2 x USB 2.0
  • headphone jack
• Battery — lithium-polymer battery with duration of 4-5 hours
• Dimensions — 9.56 x 7.48 x 0.55 inches (243 x 190 x 14mm)
• Weight — 1.76 pounds (800g)

Further information

According to Tegatech, the Tega v2 will "launch globally in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and New Zealand on Oct. 12 with immediate delivery," at which time pricing will be announced. More information may be found on the company's Australian website, here, and European website, here.

Company principal Hugo Gaston Ortega maintains a blog here and Twitter feed here. Engadget's item on the related ViewSonic tablet may be found here.

This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.