Asustek Sells Fewer Netbooks, Blames iPad

Asustek Computer CEO Jerry Shen told investors Friday that his company sold fewer netbooks than expected during the company’s second quarter, and he blamed the success of the iPad for that shortfall. The comments came during a conference with investors in Taipei, according to a report fromTaiwain-based newspaper DigiTimes.

Several U.S. analysts have said they expect the iPad to eat into sales of netbooks, but this marks the first time we’ve seen a PC manufacturer show falling sales and specifically cite Apple’s device as the reason.

Asustek makes a variety of computers and netbooks under the Eee PC model name, and is planning on releasing Eee Pad tablets starting in October of this year.