Challengers to Apple Tablet Dominate CES

Denizens of the non-Apple world—Microsoft, HP, Lenovo, etc.—appear to be starting competition with the Mac-daddy’s rumored tablet computer before its expected unveiling later this month with a preemptive strike at the Consumer Electronics Show. But whatever the CES reveals, Apple is keeping mum. A look at what's out there:

• Microsoft, of course, has its own rumored “Courier” tablet—which the New York Times notes is a collaboration with HP—that may see the light of day tonight during Steve Ballmer’s keynote speech.

• Lenovo raised the veil on its Skylight smartbook yesterday, but today the company will announce a variation with a detachable touchscreen monitor that serves as a tablet, Fast Company reports.
• Amazon is also in the mix, trying to salvage share of the quickly obsolete Kindle with an international version.
• HP will offer a “pseudo-tablet PC like experience” in the body of a netbook.

(More Apple stories.)