If you are looking for a 24-inch Jelly Bean tablet with last years internals, Viewsonic has just the thing for you. The VSD241, a concept which we first saw last January at CES with the VSD240, is what Viewsonic calls a "smart display." This means it can double as a monitor through its HDMI input, or act as a stand-alone Android tablet. And at 24-inches, I almost hate to use the word tablet.
In all fairness, it's not such a bad idea. Hook it up to your laptop for a second display, or if you need access to Android you can use the VSD241 stand alone. The internals, however, may not be up to the task of pushing modern Android apps out to 24-inches.
It's packed with a Tegra 3 inside, which Viewsonic says will deliver blazing performance, but there is no mention of how much memory will be on board, or the resolution. The VSD240 we saw at CES had a 1080p resolution, so we imagine this model will be the same.
It's good to see companies push the envelope. I think we all agree on that one, but I can't help but think this is one envelope best left un-pushed. What say you? Speak out in the comments and let us know if there's any interest in this one. The full press release is after the break.
ViewSonicSmart DisplaysDeliver Full HD Touch with NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 Processor and Android™ Jelly Bean for Powerful Performance
ViewSonic connects commercial customers with unrivaled desktop experience; Announces new VSD241 smart display for Android™
WALNUT, Calif. – October 28, 2013 –ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solution products, announced its second-generation smart displays today.
The 24” (23.8” Vis.) VSD241 is a self-contained Android 4.2 Jelly Bean-based smart display which delivers blazing fast performance, courtesy of an NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor, making it perfect for local Android apps and cloud-based computing. Paired with a 2MP webcam with integrated microphone for video conferencing, and built-in speakers, this dual-point optical touch screen display is ideal for commercial vertical markets such as signage, point of information, and kiosks for interactive applications in enterprise, SMB, education, POS, hospitality and more.
“Recognizing the changing way people compute, ViewSonic was first to introduce Android based smart display technology in 2012,”said Erik Willey, Desktop Solutions Product Marketing Director, ViewSonic. “Now we’re taking this innovation to the next level, giving our customers even better performance and larger screen options, along with the latest Android operating system. The result is the best possible desktop experience for Android stand-alone usage, cloud connectivity, and remote desktop capabilities.”
For further functionality and interactivity, the VSD241 offers connectivity options, including HDMI® for connecting a notebook or tablet, as well as two full-sized USB ports,a micro USB and a mini USB,and SD card storage. Plenty of network connection options are integrated for instant access and transfers of data, documents and multimedia files, including integrated networking (RJ-45 Ethernet), 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® support. Paired with VESA mount capabilities and DC power support, the VSD241 is well suited for both stand-alone and extended display operation.
Matt Wuebbling, Director of Product Marketing for the Mobile business at NVIDIA, added: “Powered by an NVIDIA Tegra processor, ViewSonic’s VSD241 Smart Display delivers brilliant graphics capabilities and exceptional speed. They make for a truly amazing consumer experience.”
The VSD241 is now available in North America for an ESP of $499. A new 22” model, the VSD221, will be available in December for an ESP of $399. For a locked down, manageable version of the Smart Display, businesses may consider the 24” SD-A245 and 22” SD-A225 which integrates the Citrix® XenMobile platform.For further information, visit ViewSonic.com or follow ViewSonic on the Company blog, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
About ViewSonic
Founded in Walnut, California in 1987, ViewSonic is a world leader and pioneer in desktop display technology. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic keeps the world connected with a diverse portfolio of display solutions including smart displays, projectors, desktop displays, digital signage, and touch devices. Continuing our heritage as a desktop technology leader, ViewSonic delivers the latest in desktop virtualization and cloud computing products that change the way you compute, communicate, and connect. For further information, please visit ViewSonic.com.
ViewSonic’s Finch Club offers resellers an opportunity to benefit from specialized product training and discounts. To sign up, please visit FinchClub.com.
