A media report on Friday reaffirmed Microsoft Corp.'s plan to demonstrate its operating system for tablets next week, presumably at Computex Taipei 2011 trade-show. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict when an operating system by Microsoft specifically designed for slates becomes available on the market.

Bloomberg news-agency reports citing three independent sourced with knowledge of the plans that Microsoft will preview its Windows operating system designed for personal computers in tablet form-factor during demonstrations planned for next week. The world's largest developer of programs intends to showcase the software’s touch-screen interface running on hardware with an Nvidia Corp. Tegra chip.

Steven Sinofsky, the head of Microsoft Windows division, is scheduled to present at the All Things D conference, while vice president Steve Guggenheimer will address the Computex show in Taipei.

Earlier this year a report already indicated that Microsoft would demonstrate its solution for tablets by the end of this fiscal year (which ends in June). The user interface for tablets, according to the media report that cited people familiar with the technology, will utilize some concepts from the Metro interface of Windows Phone 7. Other details remain unknown.

Microsoft needs to release a competitive operating system for media tablets as soon as possible in order to capture its share of the rapidly expanding market of slates. At present Apple dominates the market of media tablets with its iPad and iPad 2 gadgets and there are tens of slates incoming based on Google Android operating system. There will also be tablets featuring BlackBerry OS, MeeGo, HP/Palm webOS and so on.

Just a demonstration of the interface will not help Microsoft to grab contracts from Android or MeeGo, but if the company reveals release date for Windows-based tablets (and that date is not years away), it may catalyze some end-users to wait with their purchase of tablets.

Previously it was believed that Microsoft Windows 8, which is to be tailored for various PC form-factors, including tablets, will be released sometimes in 2012 – 2013.

Microsoft did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: Microsoft, Windows, Android, webOS, iOS, Apple, Blackberry