Consumer cloud services like Apple's iCloud may also be a theme this year. Acer at last year's Computex, and other vendors seem likely to follow suit.

But all eyes will be on Microsoft to see how the version of Windows for ARM devices, known as , is progressing. A few ARM-based Windows tablets were shown at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, but for the most part they were .

Windows 8 faces an uphill battle in tablets, according to Bryan Ma, an analyst with research firm IDC.

Microsoft may enjoy some pull-through from business people who want a tablet that runs Windows, he said. But Windows 8 tablets are expected to be priced higher than the competition. "We estimate that Windows 8 tablets will be around US$600," Ma said. In comparison, Apple's newest iPad starts at $499, while Amazon's Kindle Fire Android tablet goes for $199.

A bigger problem is that Apple is so well-established in the tablet market. Microsoft has yet to announce an official release date for Windows 8, but Ma expects it to launch near the end of the year.