Microsoft nudges Tablet PCs into the mainstream

As Microsoft continues on their quest to bring the Tablet PC into the mainstream, they have taken a new approach will likely prove to be more effective than simply adding more bells and whistles to the existing models. Cheaper. By making the Tablet PC more cost effective for the average person, they are hoping to see the Tablet begin to see to a more diverse crowd in the future.

Some two years after its introduction, Microsoft is seeking to drive its Tablet PC technology into the mainstream with lower prices. But some analysts say that alone won’t do the trick — and not many PC vendors are helping Microsoft’s (Profile, Products, Articles) effort.

Microsoft and vendors including Toshiba and Acer want to move beyond niche markets, so they will no longer target Tablet PCs chiefly at mobile professionals and specific industries such as health care and insurance. This year both Acer and Toshiba (Profile, Products, Articles) will start selling tablets that are not as thin, light or powerful as their predecessors, but are up to 25 percent cheaper.

“We’re right on the verge of seeing a lot more competitively priced tablets on the market,” said Robert Williams, director of business development and partner engineering in Microsoft’s Mobile Platforms Division. “This spring you will see tablets go into retail in the $1,500 to $1,600 price range.”