HP Slate, the tablet computer from the company that was supposed to be the primary rival to the Apple iPad before that spot was taken away by the Samsung Galaxy Tab, appears to be well on course to be launched during the holiday shopping season. The company has announced that the initial launch of the new HP Slate 500 will happen in the United States and further expansion elsewhere will happen after the success of the device is measured.
Like we had already noted in the HP Slate Vs. Apple iPad article back in April this year, the device will come with an 8.9″ WVGA hybrid capacitive multitouch display, an Intel Atom 1.86GHz Z540 processor, a 2GB RAM, 64GB SSD, a 3-Megapixel rear camera along with a VGA front camera besides other specifications. The device will run on Windows 7.
Clearly, the device is not aimed at the media consuming population alone. The tablet computer will also come with a HP Slate digital pen, HP Slate Dock and HP Slate Portfolio that all seem to suggest that the company is targeting the media creators as well. With Windows 7 running, this is pretty much a productivity tool.
That utility is also clear in the pricing. HP Slate 500 is tagged at a price of $799 that includes the tablet and all the aforementioned accessories. No word on whether this device will come subsidized on carrier contracts. Also, wait for some more time before the official launch date is announced.
Meanwhile, this announcement also quashes one another rumor – that the HP Slate is going to be called PalmPad.