Acer tweaks tablet with MeeGo move
Mobile Linux fondleslab joins Iconia ranks
Acer has revealed the first product in its forthcoming M Series - a 10in tablet that runs on MeeGo, the mobile-centric version of Linux.
The Iconia M500 - unveiled by Acer's Asst VP David Lee at Computex this week - is a doppleganger of Acer's android alternative, the A500, sharing similar dimensions and an identical screen resolution of 1280 x 800, Engadget reports.
MeeGo, put her on the tab
Powered by an Atom processor, the M500 runs on MeeGo, customised with an Acer skin. Described as a "snackable UI", the impetus here is on easy access to apps that matter.
Demonstrated at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, MeeGo has had quite a ride, with co-developers Nokia opting against the platform in favour of Win Pho 7. Backing remains strong, though, with the Linux Foundation dubbing MeeGo an 'unstoppable force'.
There's no definitive words on pricing or availability yet, all we know is that the Acer Iconia M500 should hit shelves later this year. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Tablet OS comparisons from one manufacturer
Wouldn't it be refreshing if they let you do that with all computing products? Unbundle Windows now!
Tablet OS comparisons from one manufacturer
Are Acer trying to provide reference hardware that runs all of the different flavours of Tablet OS so you can see which one you prefer?
Never heard of the Wii then?
Or the Pippin?
OK, scratch that second one.
@David Gosnell
You tried what, exactly? A commercially-released MeeGo device running a properly customised UI (because if so please tell me where I can buy it)? Or did you in fact come by your harsh and ill-formed opnion based on the reference UI of a pre-release version of MeeGo running on a device which has had minimal or no QA?
Thought so.
... and its general crapness
I tried it for, oooh, a day. For a mobile-oriented system, its 3G support is woeful (though at least better than non-existent in the last version). Get the APN wrong, no GUI way of fixing it - and so few tools installed that impossible to search the drive for likely config files etc. Dialog boxes still go off screen (with Alt-mouse not helping) and the whole thing is generally clunkier than an Audi's door, with incomprehensibly-volatile tabbing between apps (assuming they've not already bombed out) and other downright strange GUI decisions and inconfigurability.
Such promise, but the only "unstoppable" bit will be its consignment to history, I fear.
