Laptop Thoughts: Asustek Readying Several (Android and Windows) Tablets

"Asustek Computer plans to launch its first tablet device with Google's Android mobile operating system in March, the company's CEO said Friday. The Android tablet will be the third in the Eee Pad family and will cost less than US$399, said Jerry Shen, CEO of Asustek, speaking to reporters after the company's second quarter earnings conference.

"Asustek will launch its first tablet device in December or January, a 12-inch touchscreen tablet that will cost around US$1,000, Shen said. What makes the device more expensive than, say, the iPad, is that it comes with a docking station that transforms it into a laptop computer ... The device, officially called the Eee Pad EP121, has Microsoft's Windows 7 Home Premium operating system and an Intel Core 2 Duo processor inside."

The competition is heating up! Of particular interest to business users may be Windows versions that may allow "enterprise-class" applications. Also mentioned is a version with a 10-inch screen that runs Windows Embedded Compact 7 software, that ships without a docking station and should be priced between $399 and $499. Of course, a lot may change in the upcoming months, but the future looks bright for tablets!