Microsoft to launch Windows tablet

In news that was really only a matter of time in getting here, Microsoft is tipped to be prepping its own Windows-based tablet for launch, with an official announcement due at a “secretive” Los Angeles event on Monday night.

According to reports over on TheWrap and AllThingsD, the device will run Windows RT, a tablet-based version of Windows 8 that only supports software available through the Windows Store and excludes third-party browsers like Chrome and Firefox – much the same as Apple’s iPad.

ZDNet, however, claims that the tablet may be introduced not a a rival to the iPad but instead as a competitor to the Kindle Fire.

Predictably enough, Microsoft has refused to comment on any of the rumours, but that’s more interesting than denying them, isn’t it? I guess we’ll all just have to wait until Monday to find out. In the meantime, I’m putting my money on a Windows-powered death laser in space, because if that’s what it really is, I’ll look so clever.