Lenovo Android Tablet Plans Paused Until Honeycomb

Lenovo has been talking about its Android plans, and contrary to previous reports about a potential LePhone launch outside of China sometime in the second half of 2010, CEO Rory Read has said the company will be focusing on Chinese market share for the next two years.  Meanwhile the company's Android tablet plans are similarly on the slow-burner, with Lenovo holding off from releasing a slate until Android 3.5 Honeycomb – Google's promised tablet-centric version the OS – is available, likely sometime in summer 2011.

It seems the main reason for holding back from the tablet market is from having seen other OSes – unsuited to tablet-style use – fall flat.  Despite offering convertible touchscreen netbooks running Windows 7, Lenovo's director of new technology, Howard Locker, says the OS is simply unsuited to slate use.

"The challenge with Windows 7 is that it's based on the same paradigm as 1985—it's really an interface that's optimized for a mouse and keyboard. It has to be optimized for touch. How do you do that?" Howard Locker, Lenovo

Lenovo is willing to wait for Android 3.5's better power management and other benefits, since the company isn't convinced Android 2.2 Froyo offers the right starting point for slates.  "I don't believe 'Froyo' is the right base to have a fully functioning pad," Read said.

[via Android Community]