With Apple leaking rumors about solidifying their introduction into the tablet PC arena, which we still don’t know for sure exists, Asus is doing the same thing with the same product category -another Tablet device, apparently called the Asus Eee Pad.
The Asus Eee Pad will be a device with a 4 to 7-inch touchscreen display, will offer a range of tablet and MID functions, and will probably be based around Asus’ Eee PC netbook platform with Windows 7.
I would actually take more stock in this rumor than Apple’s, since the Tawainese manufacturing giant has come to market with some pretty nifty technology recently. Interesting to note that Asus actually makes product components for other giants like Apple (iPod, iPod Shuffle, MacBook), HP, Alienware and Palm. Asus is also a main support of Intel’s Common Building Block innitiative.
In general terms, the tablet PC refers to a laptop or slate-shaped mobile computer, or Pen computing device, equipped with a touchscreen or graphics tablet/screen hybrid to operate the computer with a stylus or digital pen, or a fingertip, instead of a keyboard or mouse.
This Tablet form factor offers a more mobile way to interact with a computer. Tablet PCs are often used where normal notebooks are impractical or unwieldy, or do not provide the needed functionality, such as lying in bed, low lighting when a lighted screen is the input source, standing or with one hand.
They also allow you to record non-character based information such as diagrams and mathematical notation and symbols. They’re lighter weight, and lower power models can function similarly to dedicated reading devices like the Amazon Kindle. Finally, the Touch Environment makes navigation much easier than conventional use of keyboard and mouse or touch pad.
Tablet PCs are probably going to be as popular as netbooks have been, and the first manufacturer that delivers a decent tablet with a range of functions for a reasonable price is going to make some serious bank. And since Asus has come out with some sharp products at very reasonable prices, they may be sitting in the catbird seat for this emerging market. (www.asus.com)
