Alright folks, a lot of people seem to be bored this Thursday night and as such everyone in the tech field is starting to chatter about Microsoft's bizarre last-minute press event for Monday. We've already heard it will most likely be focused around Windows RT-powered tablets, but a new report from entertainment website The Wrap has fired up an interesting rumor: Microsoft could be making its own tablet.

The website cites "an individual with knowledge of the company", though to be honest it's a little odd to see coming from a website that talks more about the latest Kim Kardashian tweets. However, other sources have popped up to at least support the idea that this could be a possibility. AllThingsD, who originally revealed that Monday's event would be Windows RT-focused, has tapped into their sources to find underground chatter of this as well. Ina Fried has learned that Microsoft wants to design both the hardware and software for its own tablet, in order to "better compete against Apple’s strengths" as a singular-yet-powerful tablet maker.

But what if Microsoft's new tablet isn't new competition for the iPad, but really directed at Amazon's Kindle Fire? Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet has a hunch that maybe this new device will actually be the first product born from Microsoft's partnership with Barnes & Noble. For those who may not remember, this would be an interesting development because the partnership's filing documents made very specific mention of Windows Phone all over the place. However, Foley doesn't try to offer any evidence and simply refers to this as a "what if" scenario.

No matter what happens on Monday, one thing's (probably) certain: Microsoft is going to talk about something. Until then, take a chill pill.

Via: The Seattle Times, ZDNet
Source: The Wrap, AllThingsD