Could An Android Desktop Replace Your Windows PC?

Summary: HP and Lenovo are betting that Android PCs can convert both office and home Windows PC users to Android.

Android as a PC operating system isn't a new idea. Samsung announced a dual-boot Windows 8.x/Android convertible tablet, the Ativ Q, in June 2013. There are also rumors that Intel and its partners will be announcing "PC Plus" devices that will run Android apps on top of Windows 8.1, ala Bluestacks, at CES. HP and Lenovo have a more radical idea: Replace Windows entirely with Android on the desktop.

Once a Microsoft mainstay, HP announced a new series of Android 4.3-powered enterprise PCs at CES. These Android PCs are coming in a wide variety of formats.

• ProOne 400 All-in-One (AiO): This all-in-one PC is a 19.5-inch PC that starts at $749. The device, available Feb. 3, is tailored for video and audio conferencing and runs that latest Intel Core processors. A 21.5-inch version will be available March 31 for $799.
• HP 205 AiO. Another all-in-one that runs on AMD processors and starts at $449. The display is 18.5 inches.
• HP 200 MicroTower uses Intel Pentium or Celeron Processors, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 and has a design with easy port access starting at $349.
• HP Pro x2 410 is a commercial notebook with a detachable screen so it can be used as a laptop or tablet for $899. The screen is 11.6 inches and there's a full-size keyboard.
• The HP 350 G1 is a business notebook that'll run on a variety of Intel processors.