Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu Linux distribution that in 2013 tried to crowdfund a $32 million smartphone that could double as a PC, is back to its old tricks. The UK-based firm has announced its first-ever tablet and like its Ubuntu Edge smartphone, this new slate can also serve as a computer when peripherals are connected.

Described as the first fully converged Ubuntu device, the Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition tablet is simply an Aquaris M10 from Spanish manufacturer BQ. Nevertheless, it packs a 10.1-inch FHD display that's powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT8163A processor clocked at 1.5GHz alongside 2GB of RAM and 16GB of local storage (11GB of which is usable).

The slate includes a microSD card slot for expansion, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, an FM radio, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, front-mounted speakers, a micro-HDMI port and a spacious 7,280mAh battery.

Hardware-wise, it's nothing to get excited about. No, the real star of the show here is the software as the Aquaris M10 can be used as a standard tablet or as a full-fledged computer when a monitor is connected. During a brief hands-on, The Verge said the transition between mobile and desktop mode was snappy but the OS didn't seem all that lively. The publication suggested this could be a result of a simple lack of processing power.

Canonical says the Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition tablet will go on sale during the second quarter. No official word yet on how much it'll cost although rumors suggest it'll be around €250 ($280).