Asus Transformer Book Duet TD300, which runs on two operating systems, will not make it to the shelves as Microsoft and Google look at opposite directions.
The Taiwanese tablet maker revealed the Asus Duet at the International CES 2014 in Las Vegas. The device uses two interchangeable operating systems: Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Google Android. The Asus Duet received high attention from the media and the company planned to release the device in 2014, but now the company has canceled the launch of the tablet.
The PC market is declining at a very rapid pace and reports suggest that global tablet shipments will surpass PC shipments soon. The portability factor of tablets is one of the key reasons why many customers want to buy it instead of a PC.
A hybrid product such as the Asus Duet, which can run on two operating systems, may attract customers who are looking to manage work and get entertainment from a single device. Asus suggests that shifting between operating systems such as Microsoft Windows to Google Android, or vice versa, with just a simple command. The Asus Duet would have allowed users to run PC-based application as well as mobile-oriented apps developed for Android tablets.
The Wall Street Journal cites sources familiar with the matter and reports that the Asus Duet may conflict with Microsoft patents.
"Microsoft has sought patent royalties from several hardware makers using the Android software, claiming it owns some mobile patents used in Android," reports The Wall Street Journal. "Asustek, typically known to consumers as Asus, grew up in the PC industry but has made forays into mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. It has products that run Android as well as Windows, the mainstay of PCs."
The Asus Transformer Book Duet TD300 is not the first device planned to run on multiple operating system. Asus already sells the Transformer AiO P1801 and AiO P1802, which runs on Windows and Android.
However, The Wall Street Journal also reports that per an internal communication circulated to Asus's internal employees that besides stopping the launch of the Asus Transformer Book Duet TD300, the company will also stop selling the AiO P1801 and P1802 all-in-one PCs, which were launched in 2013. The move is due to Microsoft's policy of not supporting dual operating system platforms.
