At CES, HP has unveiled it’s new ‘Slate’ product.
Or more accurately, Steve Ballmer of Microsoft presented this Window 7-running mini tablet PC with no reference to specifications. Engadget has some coverage but for the real skinny, head on over to Gizmodo for some real photos including this clever bit of cross-marketing.
Take note, it’s not Courier, the two screen slate Microsoft distracted us with ages ago (which was aimed entirely at interior designers) but it will apparently be a shipping product at some point this year.
There are some other contenders for iSlate also-rans.
Camangi Webstation
There’s the Camangi Webstation which ends up being a slow internet tablet device described as “sluggish” and “confined”. It also has an unboxing an initial review over at GearDiary
Paradigm Shift 10″ Android tablet.
Engadget also have details of the Paradigm Shift tablet.
Set to be available in your choice of black or white, this one packs an 800MHz Marvel PX166 processor (slightly faster than the Camangi’s), along with a 1,024 x 600 touchscreen (no word if it’s capacitive or resistive), 2GB of flash storage standard (upgradable to 16GB), built-in WiFi, VGA out, an SD card slot for further expansion, and even the option of built-in 3G. Look for this one to hit the US sometime this March with an MSRP of $369.95.
and last but not least, we have the JooJoo / CrunchPad. This 12.1″ tablet has been a media darling from when it was called the CrunchPad right up until they ditched the name (and TechCrunch) and decided to go it alone with the JooJoo.
Of these, only the HP/Microsoft effort seems to indicate anything much more than being a web tablet and even then, they’ve showed us a demo which could have been built in Silverlight for all we know. We do know it runs Windows 7 so it’s likely an Atom processor in there and the presence of the Taskbar means there’s not going to be any innovation present.
OK – lots of people are expecting the Apple tablet to finally appear but wouldn’t it be typical if it doesn’t?
Apple have never admitted to working on something called an iSlate, which will be a large touchscreen. Has there been enough traction in the Tablet industry for Apple to step in and ‘do it right’ the way they did with MP3 players and mobile phones in the 2000s?
I think there have been enough attempts at tablet devices for Apple to have the data to do it right. Plus the iPhone/iPod touch have introduced millions to touch interfaces. Something that built on that foundation would be good.
I wonder, if Apple deliver a successful, usable table like device will that great advocate of tablet PC’s (Bill Gates) buy and use one…
I’m still wondering what they’re for? What hole do they fill? Why should I want one?
To be honest, I don’t really get the appeal of a slate computer… I mean unless it brings some sort of new interaction that can’t be done on the iPhone, then is it really any more than a more powerful, larger iPhone?
It’s not like it’s going to fit in your pocket so you’re going to have to carry it in some sort of bag anyway, so why not just carry a laptop around with you…?
I would agree that if Apple release a tablet it will be beautifully designed and have great interaction as most of their products do, but unless it comes on some sort of foldable material or something like that, I can’t see it taking off all that well… unless it’s really cheap of course…
Having owned and used a tablet PC, I found there to be very little advantage of being able to interact directly on the screen, bar note-taking and some photoshop work. The pen has remained in the side of the thing for over a year now… and a finger can’t be used for note taking or drawing in any detail…
I am waiting with an open mind though…
“I’m still wondering what they’re for? What hole do they fill? Why should I want one?”
I can think of several applications for a larger screen with an iPhone like interface. Magazine replacement, technical eBook reader are 2 I want now. I’ve an app in mind that I hope to develop and put on the store as well. They would be great 1 to 1 devices for students and K12 pupils. Be a great video media device to.
If The apple one needs a pen I don’t want it.