14 DAY TRIAL // The idea of tablet computers is not exactly a new one but, several years ago, the advanced touch technologies and efficient backlighting used today did not exist. This is the main reason why PC makers decided against launching slates or saw their products fall into oblivion because their feature set could not justify their price.
Now that multi-touch and LED are practically common, slates are poised to quickly grow as a market, which is the main reason why companies like MSI and HP have decided to join the fray started by Apple. Samsung has also decided to jump on the bandwagon.
According to an interview with APC (via TabletPCReview), Philip Newton, the head of Samsung Australia's IT division, stated that the company's upcoming slate would try to bring what Apple's iPad failed. While there is nothing wrong, according to Samsung, with the overall design of the Apple tablet, the device will be hampered by its ARM processor and the lack of I/O ports.
“I do feel that that slate-type platform has legs but I think the legs need to be far more powerful, for example an Atom-based product which has far greater flexibility, not to mention inputs and outputs. This has more potential than an iPad," he revealed.
There is still practically no information on the specs of the upcoming slate, but there is the possibility of its being based on Intel's Atom platform, which may point towards a Windows 7 or a tablet-aimed Linux version. Of course, the maker will have to keep in mind that its product will have to contend not only with the iPad, but also with the HP Slate, similar products from MSI or ASUS and the various Tegra-based tablets that are set to come out.
The Samsung tablet should make its first appearance sometime during the second half of the ongoing year.