Samsung ATIV Q Tablet Hosts Both Android And Windows

For people who cannot get enough operating systems, Samsung has released a tablet device that runs both Android and Microsoft Windows 8.

Dubbed the ATIV Q, the convertible tablet has an unconventional form factor as it comes with a 13.3 inch screen that sits over a keyboard, which can be either be folded out for typing or set up as a stand. It also comes with a stylus.

Hybrid Tablet

Samsung released the device at a press conference in London on Thursday. At that event, it also released the ATIV Tab 3, which it says is now the world’s thinnest Windows 8 tablet, coming in at just 0.32 inches thin, coupled with an 10 hour battery life and an S Pen. Samsung also released new PCs at the event.

But it was the ATIV Q which has attracted the most attention. It boasts a 13.3-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 275 pixels per inch, which Samsung says is 2.8 times the density of full HD displays for viewing the “finest of details”. ATIV Q is also designed to provide an “optimised viewing experience regardless of location and high brightness in outdoor environment.”

The device itself measures 12.87 by 8.54 by 0.55 inches, and weighs 1.29kg. This makes the tablet quite a bit larger than the retina display Apple iPad for example, which has a 9.7-inch display with 265 pixels per inch and measures 9.5 by 7.31 by 0.37 inches.

And the ATIV Q is able to transform itself into four different modes, thanks to a clever hinge. The tablet mode is achieved by laying the display over the keyboard. Or users can opt for a more traditional laptop approach by raising the display upright so they can type on the keyboard. There is also a floating or hover mode, where the display is parallel but above the keyboard (which sounds like something for touch-typists only). The final mode is the stand mode, designed so that users can watch movies or for presentations or demonstrations.

The device itself comes with an Intel Haswell fourth generation core processor and 4GB of memory, a 128GB SSD, and of course the usual Wi-Fi, bluetooth and USB connectivity options. It also has a 720p camera on the front, as well as a HDMI  port and a microSD slot, as well as a microphone and headset jack.

A Youtube video of the ATIV Q can be found here, complements of AndroidCentral.

“Busy lives demand convenience, and the convertible nature of these tablets deliver the versatility, mobility and adaptability consumers should expect from personal computing today,” said DJ Lee, President and Head of Sales and Marketing Office, IT & Mobile Communications Division, at Samsung Electronics.

“These tablets are the result of people-centric innovation, and they were designed to provide consumers the flexibility to manage their digital lives on their terms whether they are in the office, at home or on the go,” Lee said.

Two Operating Systems

Whilst the transformative ability of the ATIV Q is noteworthy, the fact that it runs two operating systems, namely Windows 8 and Android 2.2 (Jelly Bean), is another significant development. And the question has to be why. Why would anyone want a device that runs both Android and Windows 8?

“The ATIV Q – a truly convertible device with the ability to change modes and the power to enjoy both Windows and Android,” explained Samsung. “Born of the tablet family, the ATIV Q allows users more flexibility than ever to adapt the device to fit any situation, posture or environment. Built with today’s evolving consumer lifestyles in mind and usable as a notebook or tablet, it delivers on the ATIV promise to make work more seamless and life more convenient.”

Under the marketing speak, it seems the real reason is that Samsung believes there are consumers that want to use Android Apps on Windows. Android can be fired up with a press of the icon, and Android apps can be transported and pinned back on the Windows 8 homescreen, allowing for easy use.

“Addressing consumers’ desire to access Android apps on a Windows-based PC, the ATIV Q allows users to experience both Windows 8 and Android (Jellybean 4.2.2) on the same device,” said Samsung. “Users will not only get access to Android apps via Google Play but also be able to transfer files, to share folders and files from Windows 8 to Android, truly marrying the mobile and PC experiences.”

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