Holy dual-platforming netbooks, Batman, have you seen Acer's revamped Aspire One D250? The netbook has developed a split personality since we last saw it and now rolls with both Google's open-source Android OS and Microsoft's closed-source Windows 7 software in 32-bit form.

But this isn't your typical dual-booting setup. To load Windows 7, you must first fire up Android and poke around the OS's slide-out menu to select "Switch OS." Jim Wong, Acer's Senior Corporate VP, downplayed the additional step, noting that Android gives users "instant on" functionality. And judging by the YouTube clip, he's right - following the POST screen, Android appears to boot in under 10 seconds.

Acer's dual-boot strategy is a continuation of the company's previous plan to ship a combo Android/WinXP ultraportable. Acer's original stance was that Android hadn't matured to the point where it would be a suitable OS for netbooks, at least in standalone form, and that a dual-boot solution would carry less risk than an Android-only netbook. There's probably some truth to that, considering XP-based netbooks remain a much more popular choice than ones running Linux.

The downside to dual-booting is that Acer still has to factor in the cost of a Windows 7 license, so it seems pointless to toss an open-source OS into the fray without the benefity of a cost reduction. But Acer might be on to something by using Android as essentially a Splashtop replacement, which would count as an extra feature for those who planned on purchased a Windows 7-based netbook anyway.