Android the OS of choice for iPad rivals from Asus and Lenovo

While iPad has the tablet market all to itself at the moment, the competition is slowly moving into view.

The question of what OS each tablet will run is something of a battle in itself however, and it's a contest in which Android seems to be gaining ground.

Though Asus initially appeared to be putting its weight behind Windows 7 with its Eee Pad line up, Engadget now reports Microsoft's OS has been dropped at least partially in favour of Android.

The site claims the lower-spec EP101TC will now run Google's OS, with Asus using Android flavour 2.2 (aka Froyo) on prototypes but attempting to implement Gingerbread (3.0) before the tablet launches at the start of 2011.

All aboard Android

Asus' support for Android comes as Lenovo has also announced an Android based tablet the LePad for the end of the year, with LG, Samsung and HP all developing tablets running Google's OS too.

Like Asus, HP planned to launch a Windows 7 tablet, pulling support following its takeover of Palm is favour of a dual Android-webOS strategy.

Microsoft isn't completely out of the race, however, as Asus' other Eee Pad the EP121 is still expected to run Windows, with LG also accommodating the OS in its tablet line-up.

[source: Engadget]