Acer announces Aspire One AOD250 netbook with Android and Windows XP dual-boot option

Acer has delivered on its promise to develop a netbook incorporating the Android operating system with the release of the updated Aspire One AOD250. Featuring a dual-boot option, the model operates with both Android and Windows XP.

Continuing a busy time for Acer releases, the Aspire One AOD250 offers the choice of booting up in Android for a faster “instant on” option, as opposed to waiting for the Windows OS to load. The system features a “one-click” OS switching function, giving the user the option to change OS depending on the demands of the task at hand.

It's early days yet for the union of Android and netbooks, with the OS traditionally geared towards smartphones. Android comes pre-loaded with several applications and offers full Flash support, and while a user can boot up quickly to check emails and the like, more complex tasks will require a switch to Windows XP.

Much like the previous model of the same name, the updated AOD250 weighs less than 3lbs, features a 10.1-inch CrystalBrite backlit LED display, 160GB HDD and 1GB RAM, this time with a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor. Integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Intel GMA 950 graphics, as well as a Crystal Eye webcam, microphone and a Multi-Gesture Touchpad are also part of the package. A 6-cell battery is standard, which provides around six hours of life on a single charge.

Available in four colors, the Acer Aspire One AOD250 with dual-boot is retailing from US$349.99.