itablet puts the i in Windows and Android

We love a plucky British upstart, so we can't help having high hopes for the itablet range of tablet computers from AHX, which is run out of scenic Evesham. With a name that's a cheeky wink and a purple nurple to the iPad, the itablet range includes two Windows and two Android tablets, with more on the way. 

All have 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreens with 1,024x769-pixel resolutions. The Windows tablets, the W101 and the W102, both have 32GB of storage and space for an SD card. They also have two USB ports, and the W101 also has an HDMI port and a 2-megapixel video camera.

The W101 is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor with 2GB of RAM, while the W102 keeps it cool with a 1.3GHz Atom processor and 1GB of RAM. 

3G isn't built-in, although you do get the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi and you could conceivably use a broadband dongle to get connected via the USB port.

Both tablets are 271 by 163 by 16mm in size, but its weight seems to be a bit of a sore subject because it would only admit to being under 1kg. 

If wrapping your meat mitts around two handfuls of Windows 7 Starter Edition doesn't float your boat, there will also be two Android itablet options to choose from.

The A101 has an 800MHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 16GB of storage on board. Other than that it's similar to its Windows siblings, with the same 10.1-inch display, two USB ports and HDMI port.

The A102 ditches the HDMI out and the webcam, but runs on the same 800MHz processor with 512MB of RAM.

The Android options are bigger, at 283 by 177 by 13mm,  but apparently lighter at under 900g.

Both run Android 2.2 Froyo, rather than the latest 2.3 Gingerbread version, or the 3.0 Honeycomb that's been shown off on Motorola's upcoming tablet.

AHX, the company that's making the itablet, is something of an unknown quantity after being formed from the head of X2, a British company that makes bespoke tablets for businesses, and the body of AMtek systems, an OEM from Taiwan. AMtek says it's been hoarding the itablet name since 2004, after hiding it in the cracks of Mount Doom to keep it from Apple's lawyers.

We first heard about the itablet back in February, when it was a mere twinkle in a Photoshopper's eye. Now all four versions claim to be available for pre-order for UK residents only on the itablet website, although prices won't be announced until next week.

AHX says the Windows itablets will start shipping in March, and it's hoping to get them into UK shops too. Until then, let's just say there's still a whiff of the vapours about the itablets.

If you want to see more, click the photo above for a gallery of the Windows and Android itablets.