14 DAY TRIAL // Tablet personal computers are one of the concepts that have existed on the IT market for years. There is no disputing the fact that ultraportable, touch-enabled slate systems devoid of any need for peripherals would be a formidable presence in the industry. Tablet rumors have been going around for ages, most notable being the infamous Apple tablet that still hasn't seen the light of day, though rumors (again) suggest that it will be out soon, specifically at Apple's “latest creation” even. However, there is one tablet that has not been a rumor since CES, namely the upcoming HP slate. Most recently, a demonstration video was released by the company.
When it was showcased at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, Steve Ballmer proved especially tight-lipped when it came down to the product specifications. Still, even though it was only a prototype, the slate was already capable of running videos and the Kindle software.
The recent video from HP has HP CTO Phil McKinney demonstrating the device. The focus of the video itself was on the different running modes and how quickly the tablet was able to switch from one to the other. The slate can operate and easily toggle between modes such as a video player or an e-book reader. However, this is not a hardware feature, but the inherent functionality of the Windows 7 operating system that the device is running.
In fact, it is the use of Windows 7 that has so far left the market uncertain about what expectations to have from this product. Even the so-called “modes” of operation are just applications accessible via the start menu. The demo seems to show the device running smoothly, but it is still unknown if such an approach won't impact upon the overall performance. In addition, using x86 processors will likely have an adverse effect on the battery life, which is also a key element in determining the appeal and overall usefulness of a mobile device.
Nevertheless, the HP TouchSmart team is already known to be working hard on optimizing and finishing the slate as quickly as possible. McKinney states that the product will be launched “in 2010” for a price that is “in the affordable range.” While this means that the tablet should cost a fair bit less than $1,500, the actual tag is still unspecified.