ASUS can’t seem to abandon the mirage of the dual OS multi-mode device

Jun 7, 2014 10:58 GMT  ·  By

Remember the ASUS Transformer Book Duet? Just a few months ago, ASUS made a big splash at CES 2014 when it unveiled the world’s first 2-in-1 tablet/laptop hybrid capable of switching between Windows 8.1 and Android in mere seconds.

However, after seeing the device on the grounds at the trade show, we soon realized the convertible evaporated into thin air.

Afterwards, several reports came in declaring ASUS was facing pressure from both Microsoft and Google to abandon the project altogether, which is what happened.

But puzzling enough, ASUS doesn’t seem to have learned its lesson and keeps persisting. On Monday, the company was present at Computex 2014 and launched an entire portfolio of new product.

But the one that drew the attention the most was the Transformer Book V, a laptop/tablet/smartphone hybrid.

The new product has a standalone 5-inch ZenFone like smartphone that docks in the tablet part. Both smartphone and laptop/tablet parts take advantage of Intel processors, with the latter boasting a 64-bit quad-core Intel Atom Moorefield chip.

Basically the device can be used in five different modes, as a Windows tablet, Windows laptop, Android smartphone, Android tablet and Android laptop.

You might be wondering how the transition is achieved. When the Android 4.4. KitKat-equipped smartphone is docked, the Android interface will appear under on the screen inside Windows 8.1.

All nice and good but has ASUS lost its common sense, going down the same road again? To be fair, compared to the ASUS Transformer Book Duet, where the OS swipe was achieved by virtue of a button click, the company is adopting another strategy with the new model.

Android 4.4 is being offered by virtue of the integration with the additional smartphone and is not embedded per se into the system like the case was with the Transformer Book Duet.

ASUS has a new dual-OS device available
ASUS has a new dual-OS device available
Will this tactic melt the hearts of Google and Microsoft, so that they will allow ASUS to market the device properly? We don’t know yet.

Even if at first Microsoft was apparently excited about the project, hoping the dual-OS tablet endeavor will help it increase adoption of the Windows 8.1 OS, which only has 3% market penetration, it soon changed its benevolent views.

Google feels the same and doesn’t want Microsoft sponging off its back, especially since Android tablet popularity is sky high at the moment.

But forget about Google and Microsoft for a second. Consider this, it could be argued dual-boot devices are way too confusing for the average consumer. And now ASUS has upped the game and is providing a dual OS machine that can be smartphone, tablet and laptop.

How will the average consumer respond to that, considering that the device will certainly be sold for a hefty price tag, if we’re to take into account all it can do.

But think about it, give a 3-in-1, 4-in-1, 5-in-1 machine to somebody and add dual-OS on top of that, with sprinkles. They will certainly end up spending more time using one mode of the device and one particular OS.

So why would anybody pay premium to have all this, when most of users have actually really basic needs. ASUS might be on to something since it's continuing to push the dual OS device agenda, so fiercely. But so far the company is doing a good job at keeping its intentions asecret.

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ASUS is not willing to put dual-OS behind it
ASUS has a new dual-OS device available
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