Microsoft may introduce its Windows 8 tablet in June, if an inside source proves reliable.

Business Insider's source at Microsoft told writer Matt Rosoff that "the company hopes to show off its new Windows 8 design for tablets by the end of its fiscal year in June," and that "Microsoft is taking a more Apple-like approach to interface design this time around, and will also be using concepts from the 'Metro' interface developed for Windows Phone 7."

Hmmm, more "Apple-like"? Maybe they'll take some cues from the iPad 2, which is anticipated for introduction during tomorrow's Apple event.

The timing of the announcement, if it's made, would line up with Computex Taipei, the big trade show that runs from May 31 to June 4. It would also align with a similar schedule Microsoft followed when they debuted Win 7. ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley predicts that the coding stage should have begun yesterday, which would put a debut date more like September, with a Dell tablet ready for the market by January 2012.

A Microsoft spokesperson said that the company has no information to share at this time.

Apple's iPad debuted more than a year ago, in late January 2010, and late last year, we saw the Samsung Galaxy Tab arrive as the first big Android competitor. In Las Vegas January, CES spit out tablets like a dealer shoots out cards, with the Motorola Xoom leading the pack as the closest thing to an iPad contender. Suffice to say, Windows 8 needs to be something really special to stand out in this increasingly crowded shindig.

So, does the idea of a Windows 8 tab excite you at all?

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/01/6161561-will-we-see-windows-8-tablet-in-june