14 DAY TRIAL // While some tablets, especially Android-powered ones, are already selling or will start selling soon, Intel is getting ready to push its Oak Trail platform out in force, something that might just happen by the end of June.
Although the Apple iPad is still firmly dominant on the tablet market, models powered by other, ARM chips and running Android are steadily getting more widespread.
Still, one should not forget that Intel is also seriously trying to grab a solid slice of this segment.
In fact, although its Atom chips have failed to gain recognition among tablet suppliers, the Oak Trail platform is meant to remedy that.
Oak Trail is the codename for the new generation of Atom CPUs that the Santa Clara, California-based company is preparing.
The new chips should rival ARM processors even in terms of power efficiency, although few things are known of their specs.
Once they debut, they will be locked in battle with both ARM chips and Fusion APUs (accelerated processing units) from Advanced Micro Devices.
That said, Intel has planned to provide its first products form this series by the end of the second quarter of 2011, which just started.
It is now reported that the chip giant intends to do all it takes to meet this self-imposed deadline, meaning that Computex might just see some products based on it.
Shipments of tablets are expected to commence during May, although availability isn't actually expected to ramp up until the aforementioned trade show actually starts (May 31).
Samsung, Lenovo, Fujitsu and others of their kith will be among those with items of this sort on display, although there is no way of knowing just how many companies are in on this, something that also goes for launch schedules.
As such, it is impossible to guess how many design wins Oak Trail has or will manage to score.