MSI to Release Its Own Tablet, Does Multitasking

MISI's Android-based touchscreen tablet will definitely have one advantage over iPad: multitasking.

MSI is expected to release a 10-inch touchscreen tablet the second half of this year for around $500 USD. The unnamed prototype was originally revealed earlier this month at CES 2010, however the tablet is now expected to compete with Apple's lower-priced iPad models in the coming months. MSI is just one of many manufacturers preparing tablets for the second half of 2010, including Acer and Asus.

Under the hood, MSI's device will feature Nvidia's Tegra 2 chipset and Google's Android operating system. Ubergizmo reports that the device will be able to run Full HD video at 1080p resolution, beating out the iPad's 720p video playback on its 1024 x 768 pixel display. Digitimes adds that it will be more PC-friendly, combining the light-weight design of a mobile device with the functionality of a notebook.

Ars Technica adds that it's apparent MSI has made a few customizations to the Android operating system so that it can adapt to the larger form factor. But Ars also has its doubts about MSI's ability to rival the "refinement of Apple's user interface." Ars points out one huge advantage MSI's gadget will have over Steve Job's little cherub: Android has full support for multitasking, which we expect Apple to solve before the iPad goes on sale in 2 months.