Microsoft expected to debut iPad tablet rival

Microsoft Corp. on Monday may unveil its own tablet to boost its new Windows 8 operating system and counter Apple Inc.'s hot-selling iPad, according to media reports.

Such an effort, which the company has not confirmed, would be a departure from its usual focus on software and potentially throw Microsoft into direct competition with its closest hardware partners, such as Samsung and Hewlett-Packard.

The company has invited media to what it called a major announcement in Los Angeles this afternoon, but gave no details.

Talk is swirling that Microsoft will introduce its own tablet, say anonymously sourced reports in The New York Times and the AllThingsD tech blog. Microsoft declined to comment.

It is not the first time such talk has surfaced, as Microsoft looks for a way to make an impact with the tablet-friendly Windows 8 and put the best product it can in the market to counter Apple's iPad.

Apple makes both hardware and software for greater control over the performance of the final product.

Microsoft charges hardware makers $50 or more to incorporate its software in machines. But analysts say hardware makers are struggling to produce tablets at a low enough price to challenge the iPad. By having its own tablets made, Microsoft would presumably use its software for free, bringing down the overall price.