[quote]Remember the HP Slate, the upcoming Windows 7-powered tablet that we first saw during Microsoft's CES keynote back in January? Well, we just got more details on HP's would-be iPad killer, thanks to a new, official teaser video and Engadget's decidedly unofficial series of leaked specs.
The last time we saw the Slate was in the hands of Steve Ballmer during a rather tepid presentation in Las Vegas, with Ballmer showing off the Kindle reader and struggling a bit as he tried to tee up a video. But HP has clearly stepped up its game, starting with this snazzy 30-second teaser video that makes a point of showing off all the features on the Slate that are missing on the iPad, such as a built-in camera, a USB port (a real one, not an adapter), and an SD card slot.
*Video*
Just a few hours after the video was posted, Engadget managed to snag what appears to be an HP marketing sheet — titled, none too subtly, "HP Slate vs. iPad" — that specifically stacks up the Slate to the iPad, point for point. Now, before we dive into the details here, let's just point out that HP has yet to officially cough up detailed specs for the Slate, much less a price tag or a release date (other than "this year," that is). Still, if what we're looking at here is real, it's a pretty clear indication that HP is positioning the Slate as an iPad killer.
Looking at the (purported) spec sheet, the Slate appears to have a series of enticing features that are missing on the iPad. There's the camera, of course, and we're not just talking one but two: a 3MP lens in back and a front-facing VGA camera for video conferencing. We've also got a single USB 2.0 port, an SD card reader, a "conventional" SIM tray for 3G networking, and HDMI-out video capabilities (not to mention 1080p playback) via the Slate's dock connector. (Each of these key points are highlighted on the leaked marketing sheet as an "HP advantage," by the way.)
Pretty interesting, and here's a few more details to boot (again, not official): an 8.9-inch, 1024-by-600-pixel display (slightly smaller and lower-res than the iPad), a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor under the hood, and 32 or 64GB of built-in flash storage (expandable via the SD card slot). The spec sheet doesn't mention Flash support specifically, but HP has already made it pretty clear that yes, you will be able to view Flash videos on the Slate.
The leaked spec sheet describes the Slate as measuring 9.2 by 5.7 by 0.57 inches, making the Slate (potentially) a tad taller, narrower, and thicker than the iPad (9.56 by 7.47 by 0.5 inches), as well as a tiny bit lighter (1.49 pounds, vs. 1.5 pounds for the iPad).
The leaked marketing sheet also ticks off a few specs labeled as "HP threat" — in other words, areas in which the iPad would have a leg up over the Slate, at least for now. Among them: no support for 802.11n, the latest official Wi-Fi standard; just five hours of battery life, versus 10 hours for the iPad; and a slightly more expensive price tag for the 16GB model ($549, versus $499 for the 16GB iPad) — although, to be fair (and if the leaked specs are true), the $549 16GB Slate might come with a SIM tray, whereas the equivalent 3G-enabled iPad will set you back $629.
Of course, one of the biggest selling points for the Slate (and yes, this we know for certain) is Windows 7, a full-on, multitasking, desktop-caliber operating system. The iPad runs on a modified version of the iPhone OS, and among other things lacks third-party-app multitasking (although that may be changing soon). Then again, the iPad OS is specifically designed for touch and runs lightning-fast; Windows 7 is designed for a keyboard and mouse (HP is promising a "touch-optimized UI" to help with fingertip navigation). And it remains to be seen whether Slate's 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor will be up to the task of making Windows 7 run smoothly on a 1.5-pound tablet.
Let's just say one more time that the leaked marketing sheet obtained by Engadget isn't official; and even if it is real, the listed specs are certainly subject to change; and again, we still don't have an official price tag.
Still, if the Slate proves anything, it's that the tablet wars won't end with the iPad; indeed, they're only beginning. If the iPad turns out to be a hit (and the jury's still out), it'll spur more competition in the tablet "space" ("Courier," anyone?), and that's a good thing.
— Ben Patterson is a technology writer for Yahoo! News.[/quote]
Everything the iPad should have been.
[url]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ytech_gadg/20100406/tc_ytech_gadg/ytech_gadg_tc1480[/url]
Slated to take over the iPad?
A win7 powered tablet would be freakin' sweet.
but ipad is sooo much better because its from Apple and it canmt get virus also its much better and is a lot cheaper for what you get!
Looks a lot better than the iPad, and costs only a bit more.
[QUOTE=acds;21213092]but ipad is sooo much better because its from Apple and it canmt get virus also its much better and is a lot cheaper for what you get![/QUOTE]
htis
u guis get it in ur heads apple is bettar
No seriously, HP better show them who's boss.
[QUOTE=Fourm Shark;21213007]....was the ipad ever a competitor?[/QUOTE]
Of course. People will buy almost anything if it's shiny and made by apple.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA[/media]
The trailer for it is so sexy.
:jerkbag:
So it's what the iPad should've been, a table PC with an OS on it and with USB support.
[QUOTE=Batmoutarde;21213189]So it's what the iPad should've been, a table PC with an OS on it and with USB support.[/QUOTE]
Yet people will ignore it and think it is an iPad ripoff.
I, for one, might buy one.
I'm not quite convinced that it would be an iPad-killer, because the problem lies within the software. Sure, the HP slate is a lot better hardware-wise, but the iPad is a lot more user-friendly (Albeit it is quite restricted). Sure, a lot of those who care about hardware, and likes the fact of it being able to run Windows 7, it is quite nice, but for an average consumer, they have less trouble using an iPad. I'd love to have the HP slate, because of its Windows 7, but i'd also love to have the iPad, because of it's smoothness and easy-to-use-ness.
[QUOTE=magravn;21213281]I'm not quite convinced that it would be an iPad-killer, because the problem lies within the software. Sure, the HP slate is a lot better hardware-wise, but the iPad is a lot more user-friendly (Albeit it is quite restricted). Sure, a lot of those who care about hardware, and likes the fact of it being able to run Windows 7, it is quite nice, but for an average consumer, they have less trouble using an iPad. I'd love to have the HP slate, because of its Windows 7, but i'd also love to have the iPad, because of it's smoothness and easy-to-use-ness.[/QUOTE]
None of us has used it so we cannot really judge which one is more user friendly and "smooth".
Props to HP. I just bought an HP laptop but this sounds interesting. :D
Probably going to buy a 2nd edition slate, you know, make sure the faults are removed/improved.
[QUOTE=acds;21213092]but ipad is sooo much better because its from Apple and it canmt get virus also its much better and is a lot cheaper for what you get!
Looks a lot better than the iPad, and costs only a bit more.[/QUOTE]
Can you even get viruses on your phone?
The HP Slate and the Lenovo IdeaPad are both tablets that kick the iPad's ass. Love'm both.
As much as I hate to say it, I can't see myself picking this over an iPad. I dislike Apple to the nth degree, but I don't see the iPad as a mobile tablet PC, I see it as a super iPod...to market it as anything else is stupid, but to purchase it for such a reason is not, an I already have an Ubuntu/Windows 7 Netbook, so a tablet like this is kinda redundant. It's nice to see something that can kick an iPad's ass, but I don't see the two as competitors, as much as Apple would have it.
Count me in for one!!
The Notion Ink Adam will win the whole tablet contest going on.
Hahahah, I love how HP thinks their software is great.
I mean, comeon. They can't even put a smooth scroll/album flow together.
Have any of you tried the HP TouchSmart computer?
[img]http://www.ottawasilentauction.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/HP_TouchSmart_1.jpg[/img]
It sucks hard, and this will suck even harder.
"The last time we saw the Slate was in the hands of Steve Ballmer during a rather tepid presentation in Las Vegas, with Ballmer showing off the Kindle reader and struggling a bit as he tried to tee up a video. "
These feature videos are fabricated malarky. I would want to wait for the real deal before I make any decisions
Also, while it will be a full OS, it'll be covered in some kind of HP-ized touch facade.. I'm personally not a fan of PC makers making any software/UI related stuff for their PC's, because it usually ends up being wank and annoying
Even if this thing is magnificent, they still won't beat Apple's fan[del]boy[/del] base.
It better have Flash.
This article has alot of (these things) in it (really).
Have fun trying to play a flash game on a tablet like this as most of these games need a keyboard
I am so buying this, just so I can play all my favorite Tower Defense games with my fingers. :buddy:
I hope you can play all the keyboard-only games with that onscreen keyboard. If you can, then this thing is just like a netbook, without the need for a physical keyboard.
[QUOTE=m0nkey98;21213899]
I hope you can play all the keyboard-only games with that onscreen keyboard. If you can, then this thing is just like a netbook, without the need for a physical keyboard.[/QUOTE]
So you guys BASH the iPad keyboard, but once it's on a shitty HP thing, it's JUST like a netbook?
[QUOTE=DChapsfield;21213674]It better have Flash.[/QUOTE]
Windows has had Flash since Flash existed.
[QUOTE=DChapsfield;21213674]It better have Flash.[/QUOTE]
It's got flash.
[QUOTE=redonkulous;21214009]It's got flash.[/QUOTE]
It is got flash. Yeehaw.
Software is what will make or break these tablets. Windows 7 on its own isn't the most friendly touchscreen OS.
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