14 DAY TRIAL // Even with how Apple's launch of the iPad 2 seems to have turned notebook makers' own tablet plans on their heads, ASUS seems to just be pushing forward anyway, intent on developing not just a new tablet but also a netbook running MeeGo.
Apple already showed that its iPad, and now iPad 2, is not a device that will be satisfied with just meager sales.
From how it looks like it wants to dominate this segment, one might think that the outfit is trying to return the favor for how it failed to gain a solid foothold in the PC market about 25-30 years ago.
Nevertheless, some notebook players, like ASUS in this case, have faith that there are ways of overcoming Apple on the slate industry.
As revealed in an interview with Hi-tech.mail.ru web-site, Google's Android OS has a fair shot at achieving this, although the end result will depend on how supporters of the OS (hardware and software designers) perform. ASUS says that one should exploit Apple's weakness, namely the fact that it has a closed ecosystem in a market with larger companies than itself.
That said, ASUS has plans for a tablet measuring 7 inches and equipped with an auto-stereoscopic 3D display.
It will utilize a quad-core processor, as multiple cores are needed for high-quality multimedia playback, though it will also need one to wear special glasses. Either way, advanced video playback is what is seen as relevant here.
About 20% of tablet users are expected to need HD as a common feature on tablets, and the rest will no doubt not mind such a capability either, so better 'many-core' chips are a must, ASUS states.
The other plan that the company has put together is for the creation of a netbook (entry-level mobile computer) running the MeeGo operating system.
Of course, before any sort of Apple/Android slate market showdown (with MeeGo on the side) can take place, it will have to become clear whether companies really did delay their tablet launches.