ASUS prepping Eee Pad inspired by Apple tablet?
updated 07:50 am EST, Thu December 10, 2009
ASUS hoping to preempt a rumored device
ASUS is in the early stages of developing a tablet device partly in response to Apple's rumored tablet, a supposed leak claimed Thursday. To be called the Eee Pad, it would actually be significantly smaller than the as yet unconfirmed Apple device and would have a screen between just 4 inches and 7 inches and fit into the MID category. However, it would have some full tablet computing functions and would be "inspired" by its Apple counterpart, DigiTimes claims.
ASUS is often one of the PC makers most receptive to touchscreen technology and has made a number of Eee-branded devices with touchscreens, including its Eee Top all-in-ones and convertible Eee PC tablets. Below this size, however, it has so far only produced modest-selling Windows Mobile smartphones and PDAs.
If true, the development suggests an increasing number of preemptive reactions to a device that isn't even certain to become a finishing product. The print industry has gone so far as to prototype tablet e-books with Apple in mind even though they have received no information from the electronics maker.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
I had heard sometime back that
tablet companies were holding back production of their tablets in order to wait to see what Apple was going to offer in the way of a tablet. Maybe that was just a rumor. I wouldn't think that many companies would do that. I doubt if it would change much since the tablet market is relatively small and a company could revise a model with added features if necessary.