Asus expects to shift more tablets than laptops in 2013

Asus has revealed it expects tablets to become its primary product category in 2013, predicting it will sell more slates than traditional portable computers.

Speaking to Pocket-lint an unnamed Asus spokesperson suggested consumers viewed tablets as more portable and that the difference in price is a significant factor too.

Currently leading the charge is the Google-branded Nexus 7 which sold far more units than the company expected and Asus believes this will continue to sell well into 2013, no doubt due at least in part to its incredibly low price tag and reasonably punchy spec.

However, the company has big ambitions for its Windows 8 and Windows RT Vivo hybrid tablet range. These devices follow Asus’ successful Transformer Android tablet range, though admittedly they now face much more competition from rival manufacturers entering the hybrid space on the back of Windows 8.

That said, Asus has good reason to expect competitive sales as it has just announced the VivoTab Smart ME400, a device aimed at hitting the hybrid Windows 8 tablet market in a similar fashion to the runaway success that was the Nexus 7 on Android.

The VivoTab Smart will offer an Intel processor, full-blown Windows 8 (rather than Windows RT) and a high quality display all for £399.

Considering Windows 8 devices typically cost £800 or more that’s quite an appealing prospect and something that currently no other tablet-maker is offering.