32 GB version to sell at $549, 64 GB at $599, release date for iPad competitor still uncertain
Based on a leaked internal presentation, we finally have some more details on the HP Slate, a multi-touch Windows 7 computer set to launch later this year.
The device will start at $549 for the 32 GB version, which comes with 1 GB RAM, a 1.6 GHz Atom processor, and an 8.9-inch multitouch screen at 1024 x 600 pixel resolution. The 64 GB version will sell at $599.
Both devices come equipped with enough ports to please just about anybody: an SDHC card slot, USB port, a dock connector for power, audio, and HDMI out to your TV, and a SIM card slot for optional 3G connectivity. Additionally, both support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS right out of the box, along with support for 1080p video playback.
The HP Slate will be competing directly with the Apple iPad, which launched this weekend to ungodly amounts of hype and news coverage.
For comparison, the Wi-Fi version of the iPad starts at $499 with 16 GB of storage, 256 MB DDR-S DRAM built into the 1GHz Apple A4 processor, and a 9.7-inch multitouch screen at 1024×768 pixel resolution. The 32 GB and 64 GB versions sell at $599 and $699, respectively.
The iPad has been living up to Apple's claim that it can last up to ten hours, a huge advantage over the Slate's reported five hour battery life. The Slate on the other hand has definitely got the iPad beat with its two cameras: the first is a regular 3-megapixel camera and the second is front-facing VGA intended to be used for video chat.
We still don't know for sure when the HP Slate will launch, though some have rumored the date could be as early as June.
Steven Loeb
