Whatever Apple delivers, you can expect a bunch of others trying to beat it, and the latest iPad is no exception.
HP is one of the first manufacturer off the block with the HP Slate. The Slate is powered by an Intel Atom Z530 1.6Ghz processor with 1GB of RAM non-expandable and a 8.9" 1024x600 pixel screen. Two models will be offered, a 32GB for US$549 price and a 64GB for US$599. It will run Windows 7.
If the specs are starting to look familiar, you're not wrong. The Slate is nothing more than a netbook without a keyboard. A Spanish blogger who had early access, describes the system as "meh", let down by the Windows 7 OS, making the device slow and clunky.
But there are some positives, the Slate has expansion slots which includes an expansion dock with HDMI and USB connections, built-in camera, and a decent (if smaller than iPad) screen.
Read the review at Conectica.ca
If you're curious how the Slate compares to the iPad, Engadget managed to get its hands on an internal HP presentation.
