Asustek Computer

Netbook pioneer Asustek Computer plans to launch its own e-reader and a tablet PC to rival Apple's iPad in the second half of this year.

Asustek Computer, which pioneered the netbook market with its Eee PC line, plans to further slim down its business units and reduce the variety of netbooks it sells.

The first bamboo laptop by Asustek will hit the market in Taiwan on Saturday.

Asustek Computer plans to launch an all-in-one PC built into a monitor designed to rival Apple's iMac.

Asustek Computer has turned back the clock to use Intel microprocessors first launched in 2004 in its latest Eee PC netbooks, in part due to a shortage of Intel's Atom chips. Asustek also turned to Intel's older Celeron M 353 chip because it costs less than the Atom, and Asustek's new Eee PCs are being aimed at price-sensitive developing nations, an Asustek executive said.