TAIPEI: Taiwan’s Asustek Computer Inc is set to start selling its first tablet computers in January next year, joining other tech rivals to compete with Apple Inc in the fast-growing market.
An Asustek official said the company will sell its EeePad tablets running Windows software in January and then others with Google’s Android system in April, but the selling prices have not yet been decided.
A growing number of tech firms hope to take advantage of the buzz surrounding Apple Inc’s popular iPad. Tablets, with their bright LCD touchscreens and longer battery lives, have hurt sales of regular laptop computers.
Dell Inc expects to launch a significant number of tablet PC models next year, and LG Electronics plans to launch a tablet device based on an upcoming version of Android.
Apple controlled 95 percent of the market for tablet computers with its iPads in the July-to-September quarter, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.