30Dec2010

MSI’s Windows tablet shown ahead of CES, underwhelms

MSI at a Taipei preview of its CES plans had a demonstration (below) of the WindPad 100W. Despite plans to launch it in 2011, the Windows 7 slate is entirely unchanged from its May appearance at Computex and still runs a 1.66GHz Atom Z530, 2GB of RAM and a 32GB SSD. The processor is reportedly the best MSI could manage on a Windows tablet without having to use a noisy fan, NetbookNews was told in its look.

In testing the device, the system was considered disappointing. The decision to use the older processor made it “thick and outdated,” they said. Hands-on time in the video showed that the Intel graphics are slow to redraw when the tablet rotates and that either the multi-touch screen, Windows 7 or both aren’t immediately responsive.

Company chair Joseph Hsu said better WindPads won’t start arriving until March, when the company’s model using an Oak Trail-based Atom provides a modest boost. He also confirmed rumors that MSI was waiting until April for Android and would use Honeycomb (Android 2.4/3.0) along with NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor.

Microsoft has been counting on having a slew of Windows tablets to try again at rivalling the iPad, but the lack of an updated WindPad at the show would hurt its stance at a Las Vegas show where both Android and support for the iPad are expected to take center stage.