Asus To Launch iPad Rivals In 2010

Taiwanese giant Asus has confirmed that it will be delivering at least two competitors to Apple's iPad over the forthcoming months and the first models are likely to be unveiled at Computex in June 2010.

In an interview with Forbes, Jonney Shih, the chairman of the company, said that, like Apple's Steve Jobs, he believes that there is still a significant niche market between smartphones and netbooks.

Shih also said back in February 2010, after Asus' manufacturing arm, Pegatron Technology was spun off, that Asustek would launch  "killer product" in June.

He also confirmed that operating systems from both Microsoft and Google will be used although he failed to say whether Asus will stick to the mobile version of Windows (Windows Phone 7 Series) or embrace Windows 7 altogether. Expect to see Android or Chrome OS Asus tablets by the end of the year.

Asus launched the netbook revolution back in 2007 with the EEE 900, a diminutive laptop that cost so cheap and was so good that it compelled the rest of the market - including Sony - to embrace the format or risk being completely alienated.

It is likely that Asus will retain the EEE brand and may or may not refine the existing EEE hybrid tablet designs - like the T91 or the T101H that went on sale last year.