Acer & Lenovo Set To Join Quad-Core Tegra 3 Processor Rush In Tablets

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Seems that the rush to get Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor–otherwise known as the Kal-El chip–in tablets is carrying on nicely, as both Acer and Lenovo have recently unveiled plans to get the chip in their tablets by the first quarter of 2012.

The current word suggests that Lenovo and Acer’s tablets are expected to not only launch with Kal-El processors under the somewhat metaphorical hood, but are expected to do so with Ice Cream Sandwich installed. Even better, they’re set to launch at prices that will make them competitive with the iPad: between $459 and $599.

Naturally, neither Acer nor Lenovo has actually confirmed their tablets as yet, and with CES set to land in just over a month, well, that’s probably where we’ll get our first glimpses of same. And considering that these are set to pack quad-core processors, that will give them an edge over even the iPad, at least in its current incarnation. But considering that a new iPad will be landing likely in the first half of 2012, they won’t have a whole lot of a lead before Apple comes surging back. And considering that, at last report, HTC and Asus were looking to join the fray as well with their own Tegra 3 processors, it’s going to make for a downright horse race before Apple can destabilize the market by virtue of being Apple as it so often does.

Still though, it’s good to see that there will be plenty of competitors in the game, and plenty of options for consumers, who are all no doubt pretty wary given the current economic conditions. Though since everyone’s sticking right around the same price, it’s kind of a surprise to see that the economy hasn’t started driving down prices on tablets on the average as yet. Guess we just haven’t hit the point where tablets are regarded as commodities yet.

But what do you guys think about this? Like the sound of Lenovo and Acer’s offerings? Think you’ll stick with the iPad line? Or do  you just stay out of the tablet field altogether? No matter what your opinion about this one, we welcome that same opinion down in the comments section below!