14 DAY TRIAL // Now that the tablet hype has reached a high-enough level for a company like Lenovo to reconsider its smartbook plans, it is no longer a surprise to hear of the impending arrival of yet another slate. In fact, with all the hype surrounding the iPad and its soon-to-come competitors, it would almost be strange not to hear of future devices. This time around, the company that has broken cover is CTL, which released, on YouTube, a video of the 2go PC Slate.
Predictably, the video points out what the portable device will be able to do and the iPad cannot, while avoiding any mention of any capabilities that are unavailable or haven't been implemented yet. As such, end-users will be able to learn that that CTL's slate, which it has been working on “for some time,” has an Intel Atom N450 CPU at its heart (with a frequency of 1.66Ghz), 1GB or 2GB of memory and a 10-inch capacitive touchscreen. Also, the company makes a point of showing off the two USB ports, the mini VGA output and the Ethernet port, as well as the ability to play back Adobe Flash.
It was to be expected that Flash support would be one of the main elements that Computer Technology Link would use in its marketing strategy, considering that lack of Flash, along with meager I/O options, is the main source of Apple customers' discontent. On the other hand, the video itself doesn't mention whether or not the upcoming electronic has an HD accelerator, which raises some concerns regarding actual multimedia capabilities. In fact, Flash support may not be enough to offset the lack of HD video playback. Of course, there is no clear indication that HD video is unavailable either.
The actual time frame for the launch of the 2go PC Slate is not disclosed, but it is possible that the formal announcement will be made in summer, when most other tablets are supposed to debut. The price is currently set at $499.