Official HP Slate thread
 

As there's an "Official iPad thread", I feel that there should be a thread (for the much more desirable) HP Slate (IMO of course) :)

Here's a recent video from HP:


News on specs, as of April 9th, look pretty good http://www.xoutpost.com/images/smilies/wow.gif The bolding is mine as those are features that differentiate it for me...

The base version of the HP Slate will retail for $549, which includes 32 GB storage, 1 GB RAM, a 1.6 GHz Atom processor, and an 8.9-inch multitouch screen at 1024 x 600 pixel resolution. A 64 GB configuration will be available for $599.

Features:

SDHC card slot
USB port
two cameras (one external 3-megapixel and one front-facing VGA for videoconferencing usage)
Wifi
Bluetooth
BPS
1080p video playback
a dock connector for power
HDMI out to your TV
SIM card slot for optional 3G connectivity
Running Windows 7 Home Premium with custom HP touch-optimized user interface.
5 hours battery life

I'm not saying that I will definitely buy this but I am holding off on buying a laptop/netbook for personal use until this device has been released.

Another reason that I'm not looking at the iPad is that I will upgrading my iPhone 3G to the iPhone 4G (or whatever it will be called) when that new phone is released and I don't need a larger iPhone/iTouch.

Please note that I'm saying anything negative about Apple. Comparisons to the iPad are valid.

I like HP products, I have/had three recent HP desktops, and many other HP products. What I don't understand is what this is product is for. It is small and light, but with a severly compromised I/O and memory. Maybe I just don't like touch screens.

I recently bought an Lenovo X200 on a 50% off sale over the web, with something like 160 gB storage (I don't know exactly how much, but it is lots); 3 gB RAM, 2.53 gH processor, 12" screen with 1280 x 800 resolution, 5+ hours battery life, multi reader card slot (no optical drive), multiple USB ports, camera, fast Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Windows 7 professional 64 bit, full size Lenovo Thinkpad keyboard with touchpoint, and so on. It weighs more than the Slate, about 3 lbs, but given that I weight 75 times that I can't get too excited about that. It would be easier for me to lose a pound or two than it would be to put up with the shortcomings of no keyboard.

Yes, my X200 cost double what the Slate is supposed to cost, about $1000 including shipping with all the options. If that mattered at all we would probably be discussing this on a Yugo site instead of a BMW site.

So what is this product trying to do? Why is it relevant?

JCL,

Good questions :) People are asking those same questions about the iPad but obviously a lot of people feel that they needed that tablet.

I have a new Dell laptop for work with very good specs. Unfortunately, it's very locked down and the USB ports cannot be used so it's not much use for family needs.

The Slate would be a very transportable device and something that the wife and kids could use when 2 PC's is not enough for them. I see it as a family device where kids could watch movies on it on car trips. While traveling, we could use it for browsing the web, checking email, browsing house listings, making decisions on restaurants, looking at photos and video (on SD cards), etc. Most of my family is 8,000 miles away and it would be great to have a really portable device to bring them all up to date. They are not all as connected as some of us...

Note that I said that I was undecided about the Slate. By the time that it's released, there will be better net books and laptops that will give it competition.

I understand those uses, I just don't see how they are improved by not having a keyboard (except the movie watching, and then I wonder how to load the movies on given the lack of storage)

The X200 is small enough that it fits in my camera bag, and it has worked everywhere we travel (we are in Italy right now). I guess I just don't get the concept of a tablet format, unless it is for use as a clipboard with limited menu selection choices using special applications.

To me it isn't an Apple vs Slate debate, it is a debate about what a tablet is supposed to be good for.

i can definitely envision touch tablets being in use in healthcare: portable charts, radiology imaging, treatment plans, pharmacy lookup, online order entry, etc. today, the closest thing they have to it is roaming rdp/citrix sessions but they are still tied to a physical workstation and they ultimately print things out and of course it's all over the hospital and the confidential shredding bins are always full...

obviously apple needs to do alot to offer the proper security and management that regulation would call for.android would need to be tweaked as well. playing music and reading magazines doesn't quite cut it yet for most people to put it on their "i need it list".

this hp tablet running win7 can be managed with the enterprise management suite and offers security that passes regulators right out the box.