BEIJING, June 1 — Asustech Computer, a PC manufacturer of Taiwan, China, joins the race to challenge Apple’s iPad by introducing its own tablet PC named Eee Pad.

Ahead of Tuesday’s start of Computex trade show in Taipei, Asustek said its new device will be on sale in the first quarter next year.

The touch-screen tablet PC will use Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system and Intel Corp.’s Core processor, according to Asustek.

“We looked at how we could best address the needs of users from all walks of life, and I believe this is the product,” said Asustech Chairman Jonney Shih.

Asustek was also working with Intel and Microsoft to push out its own version of an application store, trying to beef up their software offerings to compete with Apple, Shih said.

Asustek will sell a 10-inch Eee Pad for 399 to 449 U.S. dollars. No price tag was given for a 12-inch model.

Last week, the world’s second largest PC vendor Acer unveiled a 7-inch touch-screen tablet that runs on Android, an operating system distributed by Google. 

On Xinhua Web site: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-06/01/c_13327306.htm