Well, well -- what's this? We just got our hands on what looks like an internal
HP Slate presentation given to cool down some of the iPad hype amongst HP employees, and it just happens to have specs and pricing details on the elusive Windows 7 tablet. As we'd heard, the Slate will run $549 in its base configuration, which has a 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 capacitive multitouch display, a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor with UMA graphics and an accelerator for 1080p video playback (we're assuming it's a
Broadcom Crystal HD chip), 32GB of flash storage and 1GB of non-upgradeable RAM. There's also a $599 version with 64GB of storage, and both models will have a five-hour battery, an SDHC slot, two camera, a USB port, a SIM card slot for the optional 3G modem, and a dock connector for power, audio, and HDMI out. Of course, what this spec list doesn't cover is software, and we still haven't seen much of how HP plans to make Windows 7 on a full slate device with netbook-class internals perform as smoothly or as intuitively as its
demo videos. That's not a small challenge, especially since the iPad is out now and setting some pretty high expectations for how this new breed of tablets should work. We've got our fingers crossed -- show us something good, HP.
posted April 5th 2010 5:59PM
@d3sc3nd3ncy most touchscreen netbooks I've seen are pretty much in the same price class, or even way beyond (Viliv S10, for example).
And I mean, you get a whole lot more in terms of hardware compared to the $499 iPad.
@cherryboom Well thanks for being an ass!
Is it just me or am I not able to enlarge the image by clicking on it? can barely read the words on it. When I click it, it reopens the thread on Giz.
@Goaliegeek
Ha! You said Giz!
@Unfwithable yea, I realized that and can't edit. Sorry, used to giz with all of their iPad coverage I guess lol.
So, it about matches the iPad in specs. All we need to see is how responsive the screen is, and how the OS looks. I think I'm almost sold on this over the iPad already.
@webran61 matches the iPad specs? iPad can't play 1080p, has one non-standard input, no pen support, 1/4 the ram, and 2/3 the core speed... exactly how do these match the iPad?
@Playos
It doesn't. Just like Apple undercut the Microsoft announcement by announcing the Iphone OS 4.0 announcement 4 days before, HP is doing the same to the Ipad.
Eat ****, Apple.
@Jillsandwich i dont think you realize the amount of data 1080p video takes on a drive, its 32GB (64 with SD card), how many movies will you put in there?!
@Formul
Alot more than the iPad (since it doesn't do 1080).
@webran61 About matches? It destroys the iPad in terms of specs. But software is king, there's no point in having all that power if it isn't used properly. How good is the UI? How easy is it to use, is it an enjoyable experience? What kind of app support does it have? How thick is it and how much does it weigh? How long is the battery going to last? If its 5hrs, then it just proves that sometimes less is more.
@Playos 1080p cannot be displayed on either device and consumes too many resources to be worthwhile. Cpu/Ram can't be compared head to head on these with any real meaning. iPad brings 802.11n and twice the battery life, so the specs start to look a lot more comparable depending on your needs.
@Playos Well, there's always a trade-off with having super fast processors. This often relates to vastly reduced battery life and an extra-hot chasis. Traditionally it is often true that Windows based devices require lots of memory to run the OS, plus any third-Party overlays to smarten up the UI. If the iPad can manage to render images and general grapics without any lag, then why would you need a faster processor or more memory? Please educate me. I'm new here.
No, 1GB RAM won't cut it, even with the relatively light IMO Windows 7. I'll wait while you fix that, somehow.
@Unfwithable You can expand the memory with an SD card. It's called ReadyBoost in Windows 7.
@TN0 he's talking ram. not flash memory..
@KIrish18
he´s talking about 7 using flash memory as extra ram.
honestly does anybody commenting have a clue?
@hardluckstories
I guess... not? lol
@TN0 I forgot about that. Also USB sticks. Hopefully that feature isn't disabled or not supported. You never know.
Wait... Text says the $549 has 32gb of flash storage, while the $599 has... 32gb of storage?
@kgod0wnz
That's correct. The $599 model is aimed for Apple users who like to buy expensive things for no reason. :)
@kgod0wnz Yeah, I was also looking at that considering the cheaper iPad is only 16GB. HP owns on $/GB. Compensating for Apple much, Engadget?
2 cell battery??? No way your getting 5+ hours outta that sucker.
This is making my decision hard. I don't know what one to get.
@KIrish18 -- "This is making my decision hard. I don't know what one to get."
Do you want a Windows 7 netbook without a keyboard, that runs every Windows app, including Flash, CCleaner and an anti-virus?
Or do you want an iPad that has an OS that is purposely built for it, and it runs a lot of software well, even though it won't run everything under the sun?
Use the Force!
@Michael Scrip - anybody who reads Engadget is tech-savvy enough to not click links in spam mails or use IE. Hence, viruses are a complete non-issue. So stop blowing them out of proportion, will you?
@NewL -- "anybody who reads Engadget is tech-savvy enough to not click links in spam mails or use IE. Hence, viruses are a complete non-issue. So stop blowing them out of proportion, will you?"
True... So what you've just discovered is that Engadget readers want an HP Slate... while mom, dad, and grandma will be happy with an iPad.
The iPad and the HP Slate *can* co-exist after all!
@Michael Scrip
I always love the old stand-by knock on Windows about getting viruses.
If you stay off porn, warez sites, and dont download crack apps off of the torrents, you wont get a virus/trojan.
Heck not even the iPhone OS is bulletproof.
And I would rather be able to run millions of programs, rather than advanced widgets.
@LAY
Read my post above. The two devices are for two totally different types of people.
Also, I'm a Windows XP user... and I'm very good at keeping my shit optimized.
Everyone else... not so much. I know because I get paid to clean people's PCs.
Sorry did you just say "Stay off Porn"?
I have an HP laptop now and I am happy with it. However I do like the way the iPad looks and the games and such you can play with it. I'm pretty tech savvy, so I do know what i'm talking about and looking at.
Just with a tablet i think people are looking too much at replacing their computer they have now, but that's not the case.... at least not for a while until technology gets more advanced. For me a tablet would be a device I would use for fun and entertainment. Not something that was fully functional like a computer.
I think i'm going towards the iPad.
3D Modem on the Slate? YES. Ive always wanted one of those.
I guess those TV guys were right when they said 3D was going to be *everywhere*
Hmmm I was excited when I first saw the Slate but now not so much. The internals leave a bit to be desired. I was hoping to replace my laptop with this as the iPad comes close but not quite and I like this form factor better. 1GB of internal RAM??? C'mon, my phone was that much (HD2).
@kingfish Dumbass this has nearly twice as much RAM as the ipad HD2 or any other phone. So why are you complaining?
@Alexpeegs ooops typo...but my HD2 still has more than half the RAM the slate does. I just do not see 1080 running that slick on this on top of the bloatware. I want a Win7 tablet but do not think the Slate is gonna be it. Oh yeah, suck it you prick.
Which parts are better then the iPad? I'm technology ignorant when it comes to hardware.
@tsoul
The green and red parts are better in the HP Slate and iPad respectively.
@tsoul
LOL
The processor is faster.
iPad = ARM *1 Ghz* Processor
Slate = Intel Atom *1.6 Ghz* (2 Threaded)
The screen on the Slate supports pen input, which means a digitizer pen will come with the slate tablet which you can control the mouse on the screen to perform tasks like hovering over links/icons, which is not possible on the iPad.
The Slate Has a memory card slot, which means you can increase the total hard drive space on the slate by as much as 128gb. The iPad does not have this.
The slate also has USB ports, which are great for printers/usb hubs/ipods/zunes/flash drives/external hard drives. The iPad does not have a USB input.
The slate has an HDMI port, which can output HD video, like your HDTV, to your TV screen using the same connection that goes between your DishNetwork/DirectTV/Comcast.xfinity receiver and your HDTV. The iPad has no HDMI port.
The slate can give birth to unicorns, provided their eggs are incubated for a sufficient amount of time. The iPad does not incubate, thus gives no birth.
¿Entiendes?
Wish the Slate had a better atom, it's the same one it my netbook and it's sluggish with full screen video. Hopefully the Windows 7 driver will fix that graphics issue.
"There's also a $599 version with 32GB of storage"
I assume you mean 64GB?
PEN DIGITIZER SUPPORT!?!?
I am officially SOLD on this. OneNote, here I come baby!
@shishi
I agreeeeeeee!
@shishi
This is one bit of information I know a lot of people, especially TabletPC users and artists were looking for.
Anyone that has used Win7 with a TabletPC knows the handwriting technology is the un-told hero of this story, yes even on a netbook class computer.
(This is perfect for Artists and designers that want something light that they can truly sketch on in Corel Painter or Photoshop.)
@shishi
I don't think so, a tablet pc *IS NOT* equal to a touch net/notebook and Slate is a touch netbook.
5 hours is a bit of a disappointment, but given the increase in processor and the fact that it's actually running a real operating system, instead of a mobile phone's OS, I reckon it's par for the course.
If they could somehow squeeze another hour or two out of that, I might be interested. Still good to see a tablet/slate that is actually useful, instead of just the iPad.
You forgot to highlight one threat on the HP side.. It's running Windows !
HA.
I hope HP can get the W7 to run smoothly. Hardware wise I love it but it really boils down to the UI. Exciting times, cant wait...
ONLY 1 USB port ill pass
@OCEAN CLAK None is better?