Asustek Computer expects its tablet PC shipments will reach its goal of 1.8 million units in 2011 as the company launches its second-generation quad-core Transformer Prime on November 9 and the company is set to launch two more new tablet PC models in February of 2012, according to company CEO Jerry Shen.

Shen noted that the company's new products will help the company maintain the position as the top-2 vendors outside of Apple and Amazon.

The company sold 1.2 million Eee Pads from the launch to the end of the third quarter and with the Transformer Prime, Shen expects the company's tablet PC shipments will reach 600,000 units in the fourth quarter.

As Google is set to release its Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), Asustek will be able to upgrade its machines to the latest Android system in early December and that should help boost demand for its upcoming Transformer Prime.

In addition to the two new Eee Pad Transformer tablet PC models, Asustek will also release its Padfone in February of 2012 with some market watchers expecting one of the Eee Pad Transformer models to feature 7-inch display with a price of US$299.

As for Windows 8, Shen pointed out that that the new software's user interface and performance are both satisfactory and the increased speed of the related application software is also within expectations. With the Window 8's familiar user experience, Shen expects the software to completely change the current status of the tablet PC market and defeat iOS and become the mainstream platform of the tablet PC market.

Source:digitimes