A Taiwanese processor supplier has some exciting news for people who think they'd like the iPad, but would prefer not to shell out $500 to $830.  A Via Technologies executive indicated late yesterday that Android tablets starting at $100 should be released in the U.S. later this year.

Richard Brown, Via's vice president of marketing, "expects $100 tablet devices containing its chips to reach the U.S. in the second half of 2010," according to Ari Levy and Ian King.

What's more, even though the $100 Android tablets may not be the fanciest things in the world, a number of alternatives will launch around the same time at around the same price.  Levy and King reported that "[a]bout five different models, ranging in price from $100 to $150, will be available."

This is almost sure to put Android in front of a lot of new people.  Granted, it's possible the Android devices won't be able to beat the iPad in terms of popularity - consider that iPod substitutes never really caught on - but bargain hunters will probably find the savings irresistible.

Unfortunately, no further details (technical specs, more specific release windows, even codenames) are available at this time.