Vizio MT11X-A1 puts Windows 8 in an 11-inch slate

(Credit: Vizio)

LAS VEGAS--Vizio, a relatively new entrant into the PC space, is taking a less-traveled approach by releasing a standalone Windows 8 slate, called the MT11X-A1. Up until now, most of the Windows 8 tablet-style devices we've seen have been laptops that fold into quasi-slates, or else hybrids that allow their screens to pop off from laptop bodies.

This 11.6-inch system deviates from the norm in other ways, too. All of the other Windows 8 hybrids and convertibles we've seen run Intel Core i-series or Atom processors. The MT11X runs a low-power AMD Z60 (which, on paper, seems very Atom-like).

The resolution is a full 1,920x,1080 pixels, which will scale fine in the Windows 8 tile UI, but using the traditional Windows desktop mode at 1080p on an 11-inch screen might get tricky, especially if you're trying to tap a button on the touch screen.

The one model we've seen details on has 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD, and weighs 1.7 pounds. With a low-power AMD processor, and relatively small SSD, this will have to be priced aggressively to stand out, but Vizio has not yet announced any release date or price details.