ViewSonic is known to most as a display manufacturer, but the company has been producing tablet computers at least since 2001, when it released the ViewPad 1000. Shown at right, this device had a 10.1-inch resistive touchscreen, an 800MHz Intel Celeron Processor, a 20GB hard disk drive, a front-facing camera, Wi-Fi, and the Windows 2000 operating system.

Now, says ViewSonic, it will unveil an updated ten-inch tablet that again uses an (undisclosed) Intel processor, but now boots into either Windows or Android. The company provided no details of what Windows and Android versions will be on offer, adding only that more will be revealed at next week's IFA 2010 show in Berlin.

ViewSonic's ViewPad 7

ViewSonic did provide more details on a seven-inch tablet to be known, not too surprisingly, as the ViewPad 7 (above). This device will run only Android on what we presume will be an ARM-based CPU, and will offer the following attributes, according to the company:

• 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity
• assisted GPS
• a microSD slot
• Bluetooth
• an accelerometer
• USB connectivity

ViewSonic added that visitors to its IFA stand will be able to view a 3D digital camera, a 3D digital camera, and a 3D digital photo frame. The company also said it will release an all-in-one PC known as the VPC200, an "HD media streamer" known as the VMP74, and a touch-screen e-reader known as the VEB625, though no further details were provided.

In addition, ViewSonic announced today that all of its display products will feature LED backlighting "by early 2011." The move will offer customers "significant energy cost savings and improved performance and contrast," according to the company, which added it will still produce CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) displays for its OEM customers "until demand for them subsides."

Further information

ViewSonic's press release about its IFA 2010 exhibits was reproduced by the TechLand website, here, while its release about LED displays may be found here.

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