The HP Slate
By Nilay Patel 
posted January 6th 2010 10:23PM
posted January 6th 2010 10:23PM
posted January 6th 2010 10:23PM
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HP vs. Apple, fight!
@IBrian You know, I'm just not even surprised.
@IBrian
"PMG! It has pinch to zoom!!! It's copying apple!!!!"
(Despite that feature being available on the first DoD touch screens and multi-input displays way before any iPhone/iPod Touch ever existed. . .)
@IBrian
What an UGLY Device...
Jahhh...
@IBrian
Sadly, I dont think it will be much of a fight.
I used to think that Ballmer looked like Uncle Fester but I think he's turning into the father from Everyone Loves Raymond.
@IBrian
it's not even a fight anymore. dammit microsoft, why do you keep doing this to me? first the origami project, now this? it's almost enough to make me switch to apple...
oh wait, then i'd still need a real computer.
@fontendet
Would slapping a half-eaten.chomed-out Apple logo on it change your perception?
Somehow I do believe it would... OyVey!
@IBrian microsoft fail! ... i love how they have to call them "slate pcs" just because there are rumors that apple will call their tablet iSlate
anything involving slate is the stupidest tablet name ever. apple probably leaked bad info to M$FT that they were going with slate just to get these guys to use that terrible name, then the bait and switch...
Tablet Mac!
@IBrian
honestly don't see how Apple's could be any better than this, I guess aside from app store support. Even then, so many of the games on that store are free Flash games that'll probably work on this, and there are zillions of programs to handle stuff that I have productivity apps for. I really can't see what they could do better than this. I bet this will end up better actually, since it's running a full Windows.
@IBrian
HP: "How do you like them Apples!?"
@IBrian
HP basically rebooted the UMPC, Apple is making an ARM based slate, think big iphone, not the same thing
@PalmIsGarbage Why do you use the $ when talking about Microsoft? Isn't it Apple who charges their users incredibly high prices and has a huge markup on everything it sells?
@DaHarder
This is exactly like the Tablet that MS touted like 10 years ago. No specialized OS. Meh.
Show em how its done, Apple.
(PS. The Industrial Design is pure iPhone 1.0... so what has HP really done here. What did they contribute?)
@IBrian
It would be a fight if Windows was more touch-friendly. I don't imagine using W7 on a screen that small with your fingers will be very pleasant indeed.
I want Microsoft to do what Apple did - take the desktop OS and replace the UI layer with something touch-friendly for small devices. It could power this thing and replace WinMo (which isn't really full windows underneath, it's WinCE).
@d3sc3nd3ncy So if it has pinch to zoom why is Google so afraid to implement it on their phones....I mean come on guys...
@IBrian
HP doesn't build a good enough computer to compete IMO.
I'm waiting for the Lenovo tablet.
@IBrian this HP is certainly the first tablet to potentially take on Apple's rumors. but I have a feeling it will be an easy win by Apple. in part due to content (which apple has in spades already) and in part due to timing. when is the HP coming out. I haven't seen a clue and can't find one on the blogs other than 'this year', which could be much later in the year.
Apple's tactic is to hold back announcing until you know when sales should start. At least the month of. and the rumors are all ranging between March and June. so it is possible that the Apple Tablet will be out before any of these and just being able to put hands on the device will cause buzz. maybe enough to suck up some of the folks being wow'd by these Windows based devices.
@IBrian
It's a losing move for HP. Windows people don't buy slates or tablets. They only buy netbooks. Really cheap netbooks at that. A computer without a physical keyboard? Are you kidding? All mobile users must have physical keyboards. "Aww, man. No slide-out keyboard. I can't use a device without a physical keyboard and virtual keyboards suck." Yeah I can just see how many of these HP tablets are going to sell to Windows users who just hate virtual keyboards.
Besides, everyone already knows that Microsoft has failed miserably at selling tablets, so why bother now. Oh, that's right, they want to show that they can do anything Apple can do and for a lot cheaper. HP had better be able to price that tablet below $350 because that seems to be the Windows user upper limit on spending for mobile devices. We shall see how many Windows users are going to run out and buy HP's gem tablet since it doesn't have a physical keyboard.
@tdogdfw For the same people who use Micro$oft, they could start using Appl€?
@DaHarder
No, but putting a built from the ground up UI based on touch, could get me interested reguardless who makes it! But I'm gonna go put on a limb and say it won't be Microsoft!
Why is it that people say all Windows user won't buy anything expensive? Just because there are cheap Windows computers on the market doesn't mean every Windows users buys them. There are hell of expensive Windows computers on the market, there are just low-end inexpensive ones too. Some of you are just ridiculous.
And isn't Windows 7 supposed to be more finger friendly? Like the capabilities are built in to the OS as opposed to the touch packs that came out for XP and Vista.
I also don't think it's Microsoft job to push devices. They are announcing the tablet because it runs Windows but ultimately it's HP and other manufactures job to market the devices because they make it.
@Wesscoast
Actually...
The 'industrial design' of the iPhone is pure scaled-down Hp/Compaq TX1xxx circa 2001
http://img.tomshardware.com/us/2003/06/02/the_digital_writing_pad/compaq.jpg
See What I Did There?
(Except mine point is based in FACT, not fan(aticism))
@tdogdfw Incredibly high? Really? I think Engadget did a cost comparison (or linked to one) showing the Mac tax was a measly 10%. Stop perpetuating myths. Not everyone eats mac & cheese everyday, accessing the internet on a dial up connection on a 286 Win 3.11 POS.
And I'm writing this on my Windows 7 Ultimate, 8gb RAM Rampage Extreme PC before you 1 percenters get your panties in a bunch.
@tdogdfw Because Micro$oft is in it for the money not being innovative and thoughtful.
@IBrian
what? a webcam-less slate
meh..
@tdogdfw: What's the markup on a Windows 7 Ultimate disc, pray tell?
(Hint: it's huge.)
Maybe you should check the operating margins of Microsoft before talking about Apple overcharging.
@sinai I don't get why everyone is so disappointed with this announcement. Let's see... when it comes to Microsoft platforms, consumers must choose between a Zune platform, an XBox platform, a Windows Mobile platform, and the Windows Operating System. Were we really expecting Microsoft to unveil ANOTHER platform?
The Courier clearly was not running any of the platforms mentioned above and it makes no sense for Microsoft to introduce yet another platform when they can't yet make the ones they have play nice together.
If Microsoft ever comes out with another hardware product, it will likely be something based on an upgrade to XBox's platform or to Zune's platform. For example, a Zune 1080 slate that actually plays HD video on its screen or a portable Xbox slate that relies on touch commands to play (like the games in the current Zune HD). Better yet, a device that runs a platform finally merging XBox and Zune...
@IBrian
this is really funny... if it wasnt for the rumors of an apple tablet (which noone ever saw or heard of in an official way) nobody would have given a fuck about this, but now this dull announcement gets 300+ comments on engadget.
@d3sc3nd3ncy
Why were you down-ranked? people can't read.
@(Unverified)
maybe because apple has a share of the $1,000+ pc market at or above 85%???
just a thought.
@Why should I have all the fun
Great, now all I can see is Steve Ballmer doing a song and dance number next to Gene Wilder.
@IBrian
If Apple succeeds with its tablet, it is because the brand is Apple, not because the device is superior, technically, or aesthetically, then any other tablet.
If it is Apple, the Apple zealots will buy it, plain and simple. Apple knows this, and it is why they were so bold to raise I-Tune songs to $1.29 or whatever it is now...they knew they wouldn't lose their zealot consumer base.
@Wesscoast
I don't have high hope from Apple. Their slate will probably be tied down to some itunes store with locked in apps, no real browser with Flash capability, and no Hulu access. A glorified ipod touch is what I am guessing. I have an ipod touch and love it, but for a slate pc I want the full deal, full OSX with the ability to install Firefox, all its add-ons, streaming Netflix, Hulu, Lastfm, Lala, etc etc.
@tdogdfw Although I understand that this argument has been long standing, I believe that it has displayed decreased validity as of late.
http://bit.ly/8pSdC5
@IBrian Something tells me this is a big fail.
@JeremyBenthem
With all due respect, Steve would rather call them "tablets". "Slate" is not fluffy, agile, nor high performance. And a "multi-colored slate" sounds ridiculous.
Better yet, MacBook sounds better, oops, already used. The Apple version will be all about reading the NYTs, and making the experience like reading a newspaper--which is what Apple customers care about in the end: cool, but retro.
@JeremyBenthem
I just ranked you up 'cause of your name
@KarlW The Jobsians (not saying you are one) might have a hard time getting their heads around this, but Windows lets you resize most of the GUI elements. The window borders and titlebars can be made ridiculously large (min/max/close resizes to fit), for example. And the taskbar has nice big buttons now, too. I'm sure a lot of the shortcomings of a default install could be mitigated.
@IBrian
Does anyone see the irony that Ballmer is holding a slate/tablet with an apple on it in the 6th image?
@recharged95
When was the last time Apple released a device that did just one thing?
it will not just read a newspaper, it will show related youtube videos, play related music, make related sandwiches, and give related back massages.
Or at least related in my mind.
@IBrian Microsoft has always been striving to innovate and trying to regain their loss glamour during the past few years.
Seeing them releasing a Tablet, obviously to compete with Apple's super tablet is just exciting. And wow, Steve Ballmer seems to be shy on revealing the specs too early. Just what you expect with a CEO of his astute. More leaked details of HP slate: http://bit.ly/hp-slate-tablet-details
@IBrian
That's going to be one boring fight.
HP: Here's our tablet, it's multitouch, runs Windows 7, and is available soon enough.
Apple: Check out what the blogs are saying about our patent application!
@IBrian
We don't even know if Apple is even going to have one....
@ajp19 Yah and then make it incompatible with windows software library. There is a reason they are using a STANDARD OS instead of something highly customized like the iPhone that might I add doesn't run ANY of OS X's native apps.
@(Unverified) I have a friend with an older Slate running Win7 and its great. Especially with One Note. Its very finger friend and very fast. With the added tech available on a newer unit, like a g sensor for orientation, the Win 7 Slates will be great.
By the way, HP was doing industrial laptops a long time ago. When apple was still barely alive in their business line.
@IBrian winner HP for having, USB ports, flash support, and doing something.
@IBrian
I think HP will win this fight if you are looking for an "open" design product. You will not be able to attach cameras, etc. to the iPad (which funny enough reminds me of the Ferrari FXX which you can own but can't take home ).
@HotFuzz : and how often does Apple come up with Service packs, I mean, new versions of OSX? Do you get those for free?
(Hint: It is way more frequent than MS and they charge for Service Packs.)
Maybe you should open your eyes and see that Apple is as crafty or more than MS when it comes to bleed you out of money. They are businesses! Occasionally they will come out with an excellent product but most of the time it is good marketing that wins the day... hence the iPad hype.
@IBrian They need to make a non-Wifi version and sell them to schools. That's what Apple is planning.
It's not the Courier, but it's still a nice looking device.