Acer's Android/XP Dual Boot Netbook Out Now

By Jane McEntegart
published

Good news for the folks eager to run Google's Android OS, Acer has released its very first Android netbook. The bad news is that you're not escaping Windows just yet.

Acer's line of Aspire One netbooks is expanding to include the company's first Android offering. The dual-boot Aspire One AOD250 comes with both Android and Windows XP Home.

The company is using the Android side of the netbook as a sort of "always on" feature that allows you to power up and perform limited functions without having to boot Windows.

Aside from being dual-boot there's very little about the AOD250 that we haven’t seen in Acer netbooks already. Specs-wise you're looking at a 10.1 inch LED-backlit display, Intel's 1.66 GHz Atom N280 CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. 

We're pleased to hear the slim-line OS has finally made it to an Acer machine, but it'd be nice to see how a completely Android netbook works out. The AOD250 is available in the U.S. in four different colors from $349.99.

Jane McEntegart
15 Comments Comment from the forums
  • cryogenic
    feature that allows you to power up and perform limited functions

    Oh, I'm so excited about being able to perform limited functions on an already limited piece of hardware, a netbook.

    The joy!!!
    Reply
  • toxxel
    CryogenicOh, I'm so excited about being able to perform limited functions on an already limited piece of hardware, a netbook. The joy!!!
    I believe you miss quoted in leaving the full statement out.
    Reply
  • JohnnyLucky
    The limited function part does not sound like a very good deal.
    Reply
  • cookoy
    after your first boot to XP and you got very disappointed, don't panic. reboot the acer again and boot to Android. Now you're really fumed up. That's when you reach for the hammer... Everything deserves a second chance.
    Reply
  • liemfukliang
    My friend HTC Hero boot in Androit longger than my laptop booting Windows 7 =)).
    Reply
  • Regulas
    Limited functions is to be able to quickly check email or look something up on the web, write a note or two. If you want to run iTunes and such load up XP.
    Reply
  • dual boots never where in...
    Experience proves people still go to Windows. Booting Windows on a dual boot configuration still takes longer.
    Anyone willing to have Android, can download and install it.
    I'd say it's a bad deal.
    Reply
  • outacontrolpimp
    the only reason i would want android is if i need to check my email in 30 seconds or less, then android starts instantly.
    i used to have a program like that, called pesto or something, very useful, but then the beta expired and i had to pay $200 or something lol
    now it looks like ill do the same with andriod
    Reply
  • Intel_Hydralisk
    So this is like ASUS Express Gate.
    Reply
  • Niva
    ProDigit80dual boots never where in...Experience proves people still go to Windows. Booting Windows on a dual boot configuration still takes longer.Anyone willing to have Android, can download and install it.I'd say it's a bad deal.
    I dual boot all of my systems at home, I got 3 right now. It started with opensuse years ago that I began dual booting but over the years I switched to Ubuntu. I highly prefer all computer experiences in linux over windows but I understand I'm strange like this. There are still things, such as games, that require a machine to have windows and that is why i dual boot.

    The longer boot time does not bother me in the least bit. I definitely prefer the semi independent OSs on the same machine for many reasons.

    That being said I'm very skeptical of Android as a desktop OS. I understand it's a modified version of linux but I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. I'm going to have to research it more before I even think of running it on any of my desktops.
    Reply