Computex 2011: Intel Atom Powered Android Tablets Make an Appearance [Intel Showcases Tablets Running on Power-Saving Medfield Platform; Devices Can Run Both Android & MeeGo]

Posted on TFTS by J. Angelo Racoma on Tuesday, 31. May 2011 under: PCs, Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets

Intel promised to debut at least 10 Android tablets at Computex, and they’ve made good on that promise, with devices running the Medfield platform.

Intel’s Atom-powered tablets run the latest “Medfield” class processors, which are created using Intel’s 32-nm fabrication process. These chips are optimized for high performance at low power consumption, and will be appropriate for gaming, rich media and advanced imaging in portable devices. Intel says the platform will let manufacturers design tablet chassis with less than 9 mm in thickness and 1.5 pounds in weight.

Intel says Medfield will support a variety of operating systems, which include Android and MeeGo. Demo tablets at Computex ran either Android 2.3 Gingerbread or Honeycomb3.0.1. Product hands-on sessions at Computex got mixed feelings for Medfield, though, as performance was found to be sluggish with some operations. Perhaps Google is still working on optimizing Android for Atom.

Products based on Medfield are likely to hit market by first quarter of 2012, though, so don’t expect any Atom-powered Android netbooks in the mass market yet.