Computex Tablet Show Begins — MSI, Asus Drop Slates
All eyes are on the Computex show in Taipei which is underway today and as expected there are already a number of tablets on display to compete with the iPad. Computer makers Asus and MSI are taking the scattergun approach as both companies are showing off a number of slates. It would seem the tablet strategy for these firms is to throw a few tablets against the wall to see what sticks. Windows 7 seems to be the platform of choice for both companies, with Android only making an appearance on one of the models so far.
ASUS
The company that brought us the Eee PC, the original netbook that kicked off that storm, is continuing the product line in name with the tablet products. The Eee Pad (don’t think Apple will like that name) is being shown in two sizes — a common 10-inch model and a large 12-inch slate.
The EP121 is a 12.1-inch slate running an Intel Core 2 Duo CULV processor for decent power and a promised 10 hour battery life. Windows 7 Home Premium is the OS running the show making this slate a “full” computer. There is an onscreen keyboard for data entry along with an external keyboard in a dock.
The smaller EP101TC has an interesting platform, Windows Embedded Compact 7. The 10-inch slate uses the Nvidia Tegra chipset to get things done, and also has a long claimed battery life.
Both Eee Pad models are expected to hit the market in early 2011 according to Asus, and according to those attending Computex neither model is very functional yet as shown. Asus has a long way to go to get the Eee Pads available for market.
The most unusual tablet being shown by Asus is the Eee Tablet (I see a theme), an 8-inch grayscale (1024×768) displaying slate. Yes, Asus has decided that a non-color slate is what consumers are dying to get. In addition to the grayscale screen, the Eee Tablet also uses a special high-resolution touchscreen that requires a special pen. Regular touch won’t work on the Eee Tablet which is being positioned as a portable note-taking device by Asus.
MSI
MSI is showing off two 10-inch slates, both dubbed the Wind Pad, one with typical netbook hardware and the other based on the Nvidia Tegra platform. The Wind Pad 100 will run Windows 7 and have an Intel Atom processor along with an SSD for storage. The Wind Pad 110 has the Nvidia Tegra chipset powering the Android platform. MSI is putting a custom touch-friendly UI on top of Windows 7 on the Wind Pad 100 that looks nice in preliminary photos.
The company is being coy about when the Android model 110 might hit the market, but states the Wind Pad 100 should appear for $499 by the end of the year.
Wind Pad 100
Wind Pad 110
Images courtesy of Asus, engadget.
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Win7 12″ display with 10hr battery life? If it works “properly” I’d go for that until Chrome OS w/PNaCl gets going. 10 hours? Really? They should be able to get it. Some netbooks are around that.
HOWEVER, until we see these on the market it’s all just chit chat. These are devices I definitely want to lay my hands on and play with before purchasing. Some touch devices with Win7 are OK and others are horrible.
The sketch pad thing looks pretty cool. I know a little artistic type that would love it.
Don’t know about Win7 on a tablet, just doesn’t seem a viable type device at all since convertable windows notebooks have been around for years with limited success. Now the Tegra 2 with Android is the bees knees or at least the cat’s meow. :-P
I have an iPad 3G and it is a great tablet but I am open to other devices and would love a fast Android 2.2 tablet in my tool chest for sure. A guy can never have too many tools.
I say, Bring’em All and let the market shake out the winners. It should only take about a year to see the two or three tablets that are left standing IMO.
I don’t expect any of the win7 models to fly off the store shelves (if they actually ever reach them in the first place).
Like Wang, I’d like to see a few good Android alternatives.
(posted from my iPad)
The EP101TC looks nice, I just wish there were more apps for the Windows CE Platform… Windows CE is the same as “Windows Embedded Compact 7,” no?
I’m not sure that’s true. I read today that it is a compartmentalized version of Win7.
Oh, I’m gonna have to do some research then. :) I’m just not sure what the advantages there are, if any of a compartmentalized version of windows 7. I’d assume that since the different parts are divided, it would be slightly faster, maybe there would be limited application storage (which is a con in my mind)? Heck, I didn’t even know OSes could be compartmentalized.
I find myself very disappointed that the launch dates coming out of Computex are so far away. I really don’t know if I will have the patience to wait for these to be available.
I would invite you to grab an iPad today and enjoy it for 6 months of so. Then get a shiny new Android tablet for X-mas and put the iPad on eBay. I am sure the iPad will have strong resale value since they can’t make enough of them. Of course next year you will most certainly have to give it up for that earth-shaking second-generation iPad. It just never ends this cycle of gadget evolution. You can’t wait on these things, you just get one and hope it hasn’t been upgraded before you finish unboxing it.