14 DAY TRIAL // If the Windows situation weren't so lukewarm, there probably wouldn't be such interest in Android for x86 products, but there definitely is a market, enough for even Intel to develop a version of the software.
Things are very different from a few of years ago, when Android was an operating system purely aimed at smartphones and the occasional gadget.
Now, many tablets use it, and since slates are considered a new type of PC in certain circles, this has opened possibilities for Android to become a PC OS.
Intel is working very hard to provide Android compatible with its Atom processors, and releases distributions under the Android open Source Project (AOSP).
Just a short time ago, it released an early build of Android 4.2.2, one only for software developers.
Compared to previous releases, the software can only boot under UEFI BIOS.
Also, the OS uses Linux Kernel 3.8.0 and an Interactive Installer / Windows 8 Dual-Boot, plus Gummiboot boot loader (SYSLINUX no longer supported).
Intel also uses signed kernel modules, a unified Installer for all platforms (except Samsung xe700t) and rebased Mesa onto freedesktop upstream.
Unfortunately, this is a pre-alpha build, which means it is riddled with bugs of all kinds, and has poor performance due to lack of optimizations.
Dual-booting with legacy BIOS installations doesn't work, for instance, although Windows 8 devices will allow it. The command line for the installer is rather crude as well.
Things will be improved over the coming weeks, but there is not enough information to guess when Intel will finally have Android 4.2.2 ready for production release. We also do not know what products will be made with both Android and Windows 8, or maybe just Android 4.2. Intel may or may not make a download of the OS available to everyone who owns an Atom PC.