Will Wintel match the might of Apple?

Tablet makers are certainly hoping so as Intel and Microsoft team up to build a fresh OS exclusively for tabs, to be released in 2012.

Some of the names previously tipped to carry the new platform were Asus (confirmed late last year), Hewlett-Packard, HTC,Toshiba, LG and Lenovo.

However, Micro-Star International (MSI) postponed its proposed Wintel tab last year, opting for Google’s Android 3.0 OS instead.

The release is “raising hopes among non-iPad tablet PC vendors that they may be able to compete more effectively with Apple in the segment in 2012 with models other than ARM/Android-based products,” Digitimes reports, citing industry sources.

This comes on the back of less than spectacular market performance so far from Android tabs including the likes of Acer, who released both Android and Windows 7 versions of the Iconia.

Samsung, the first to release a rival Android tablet to the iPad last year also admitted 2010 sales of its 7″ Galaxy Tab were less than sparkling, saying it shipped a total of 1.5 million devices.

Several vendors were said to be rethinking design specifications and reduce costs in the wake of the iPad 2 release in March, which saw Apple sell the mobile device for $499 in the US ($579 here in Australia).

By the time Wintel sees the light of day next year, it will most likely be the iPad 3 that it will be looking to beat.

Wintel new formula is said to be a combination of Microsoft’s Windows 8 OS and Intel 5W low-power CPU.