ASUS may have given up on Win EC7 for tablets

ASUS may have already tossed Windows Embedded Compact 7 aside for the Eee Pad EP101TC in favor of Android if a visit to the company proves true. The device doesn't have more details, including whether it would use Android 3.0, but it would still have its 10-inch display and possibly the 10-hour battery life. A formal debut would take place at CES in January but would be preceded by carriers getting subsidized versions in December.

The computer builder hasn't corroborated the Netbook News claim, though it had already said the EP101TC wouldn't be ready until 2011.

A switch to Android would be yet another loss for Microsoft in the tablet arena following the increasingly likely end to the HP Windows 7 slate. The software developer has been keen to counter the iPad by showing that Windows tablets are enroute, but it's been rumored that some of this has come about by pressuring companies into downplaying Android tablets even when they will be more important than Windows in the company lineup.

Windows Embedded Compact 7 is largely seen as a reaction to Android and the iPad. Although it still runs on Windows CE underneath, it should support much more recent touch features and will support ARM processors where Windows 7 is forced to run on less power-efficient x86 processors like Intel's Atom.

By Electronista Staff