Acer planning AMD Z-series tablet?
updated 09:45 am EDT, Thu June 9, 2011
Places large order for low power mobile CPU
According to reports, Acer has placed a substantial order for AMD's Z series APUs for its next generation of Windows 7 tablets. AMD's newest mobile CPU is an x86-based platform tailored to Windows 7, with support for DirectX 11, Adobe Flash 10.2 and HTML 5. The Z-series offers lower power consumption that Intel's competing Oak Trail platform, which would provide longer battery life and run time for tablets.
Acer has not committed to one exclusive OS for its tablets. The company has already released a Windows tablet, the Iconia Tab W500, and an Android tablet, the Honeycomb-based Iconia Tab A500. A tablet with the MeeGo OS is due out this summer.
Windows 7 has several potential advantages over Android. Analysts believe Windows tablets may be a better fit for the lucrative enterprise segment. The next iteration of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, isn't due until fall. The fear of being shut out of that market might lead to more Windows tablets being developed now, rather than waiting for the Android update. [via Slashgear]
