Major netbook players plan their moves in response to the iPad 2

Over the past year or so, we have been witnessing a significant rise of tablet computer popularity among consumers. The recent announcement of Apple's iPad 2 has contributed even further to the tablet hype while making things much harder for Apple's competition from the portable PC division. Apparently, major players in the netbook business are getting worried about Apple's tablet stealing too big of a portion from the netbook market. With the original iPad now costing as low as $399 and the iPad 2 hitting the shelves in three days, many may consider getting one of them instead of a conventional netbook for the sake of couch potato computing.

In response to that, some manufacturers are already in the works of adding tablet capabilities to their future netbook designs. Big names such as HP, Acer, and ASUS, have already started developing new design strategies in order to make their products draw a bit more attention from the tablet-demanding crowd.

ASUS' 10.1-inch Eee Pad tablet already features an optional external keyboard, which turns the device into a fully-functional PC. Acer is also working on new tablet-inspired netbook concepts with the primary goal to compete with Apple's iPad 2. HP may have not launched its competitor to the iPad yet, namely the HP TouchPad, but it is said that future HP tablet designs may be developed by the company's netbook department. Note that the upcoming HP TouchPad is the work of HP's handheld device team instead.

Whatever changes companies may turn to, Apple remains somewhat ahead of everyone with an unmatched $399 clearance price for the first generation iPad and the powerful iPad 2 right around the corner. Are future tablet-like netbooks something Apple should be concerned about? Feel free to let us know in the comments.

source: DigiTimes