Stefan Mileschin

Intel and Asustek's plan to release mobile gear that can run both Windows and Android have hit a brick wall with both Google and Microsoft saying no.

Taiwanese personal-computer maker Asustek has indefinitely postponed plans to sell a high-profile device designed to run both Android and Windows software.

The Transformer Book Duet TD300, which converts from a tablet to clamshell-style laptop, was shown off in January at the Consumer Electronics Show. The device was slated to go on sale in the first half of this year.

Dual-OS devices were seen as a way Intel could push itself into the mobile market. Hybrid products, in theory, could appeal to buyers looking to deal with both work and leisure-time on the same machine. They could allow users to run PC-oriented application programs as well as mobile-style apps developed for Android tablets.

While Android is available under open-source licenses that give Google little control, it does have total control over Google's app store. Google has little incentive to approve dual-OS models, since that could help Microsoft move into mobile devices where Android is dominant.

Microsoft also is not that keen on dual OS machines as it could give Google a leg up into its source of income of business-oriented desktop and laptop PCs.

Vole can lock out OEMs that make dual-OS machines from marketing funds from Microsoft that are an important economic force in the low-margin PC business.

Asustek will stop selling the dual-OS Asus Transformer AiO P1801 and P1802 all-in-one PCs launched last year due to Microsoft's "new policy" of not supporting dual-OS products.

http://news.techeye.net/software/asu...n-twin-os-gear