Asustek Computer Inc., the Taiwanese company that pioneered the netbook, joined the battle to take on Apple Inc.’s iPad, unveiling a tablet computer that will run on Microsoft Corp. software.

Speaking ahead of official start on Tuesday of the Computex trade show here, Asustek executives said their new device, called the Eee Pad, will start selling in the first quarter of next year. The touchscreen tablet PC will use Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system and Intel Corp.’s Core processor.

In a potentially risky move that underscores the importance of software in the burgeoning tablet market, Asustek will also launch an application store, like Apple’s App store. Long a hardware make, Asustek has far less experience developing consumer software.

Speaking at a news conference, Chairman Jonney Shih said, “We want to provide a content service as well, because it is very important…and we aim to enhance [consumers'] Internet mobile experience.” Mr. Shih gave few details about the application store, but said Asustek will develop it jointly with Intel, and that the store will also run on Windows.

Asustek’s announcement, which was expected, marks a limited victory for Microsoft in the intensifying battle over whose software will control tablet PCs, a segment that has been gaining increasing attention since Apple unveiled the iPad in January. That device, which came on the market in April, has already sold more than two million units.

Android, the operating system developed by Microsoft rival Google Inc. for smartphones, has so far had the upper hand. Acer Inc., the No. 2 PC maker after Hewlett-Packard Co., announced last week plans to start selling a tablet in by October that will use Android. And No. 3 PC maker Dell Inc. said it is developing a five-inch tablet computer that will run on Android.

Asustek is smaller than those companies, but it has gained wide notice in recent years with its Eee PC line of netbooks, which kicked off an industry-wide craze for the lighter, less expensive versions of notebook PCs. Company executives have said they were also working on an Android tablet, but they made no mention of that Monday.
Jessie Lee, an Asustek spokeswoman, said there will be 10-inch and 12-inch models of the Eee Pad, which will sell for between $399 and $449. Asustek said the 12-inch model is designed to serve as a multimedia player, e-reader, and compact PC, and will come with a docking station that can be connected to a physical keyboard. The lighter, slimmer 10-inch model will be geared towards casual computing such as Internet browsing on-the-go.
Asustek is also planning to sell an e-reader, called the Eee Tablet, that will be available in September and will sell for $199 to $299, Ms. Lee said. The company said it has a two-megapixel camera, an electronic notepad, a media player and a battery life of 10 hours.

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