Samsung Ativ Q
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 13, 1969 |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Consumer electronics, including laptops, tablets, smartphones |
The Samsung Ativ Q was a convertible laptop featuring a 13.3-inch display, developed by Samsung. Introduced during the Samsung Premiere event on June 20, 2013, this device was designed to operate on Windows 8 while also supporting the Android OS through dedicated software. Its hardware stood out due to its multiple folding configurations and a high-resolution screen.
Samsung initially planned to launch the Ativ Q in the third quarter of 2013, aiming for availability in time for the back to school shopping period, as confirmed by a company spokesperson. Nevertheless, in August 2013, the South Korean branch of ZDNet revealed that the product's release faced indefinite postponement caused by patent complications related to its Android emulation technology. Since then, Samsung has not provided further updates regarding the Ativ Q's market debut.
Hardware
The Ativ Q showcases an innovative and sturdy hinge design, which also contains the CPU, enabling the display to be positioned in various modes. These include fully flipping the screen to serve as a stand, angling it above the keyboard in a "floating" stance, or setting it up like a conventional laptop. Due to spatial limitations, a pointing stick replaces a traditional trackpad.[1][2]
Powered by a 4th generation (Haswell) 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 4200U processor paired with 4 GB of RAM, the device offers a 13.3-inch capacitive touchscreen boasting a resolution of 3200×1800 pixels at 275 ppi. Additionally, it includes an S Pen stylus for enhanced input options.[3]
Software
Although Samsung’s demonstration highlighted the Ativ Q running Windows 8.1, demonstration units at launch operated on Windows 8. The tablet was intended to come preinstalled with stock Android 4.2.2 within a virtual machine accessible from Windows. Users could switch between Windows and Android environments using shortcuts and a dedicated keyboard key; furthermore, files were shareable across both platforms, and Android applications could be pinned directly to the Windows Start screen. The device also included Samsung’s "SideSync" software, facilitating connectivity and control over other Samsung Android smartphones and tablets.[1][4]
Release
Samsung initially planned to launch the Ativ Q in late 2013, aiming to coincide with the back-to-school period. However, in August 2013, ZDNet South Korea reported that the release might be postponed or even cancelled due to patent disputes related to its dual-OS capability.
By March 2014, reports emerged indicating that both Microsoft and Google were actively preventing devices from being marketed with simultaneous support for their respective operating systems. This move was intended to safeguard their market dominance and software ecosystems. As a consequence of this corporate pressure, Asus halted production of its comparable Windows/Android dual-boot devices, such as the Transformer Book Duet, which also ended up as vaporware.
See also
References
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