HP Kills off its Windows 7 Version of HP Slate
First the Courier, now the HP Slate.
This week, Microsoft disappointed gadget enthusiasts by scrapping plans for its dual-screen Courier tablet. Today, word on the street is that the Hewlett Packard's Windows 7 tablet, the HP Slate, has also been scrapped.
It was announced by Steve Ballmer on day zero of CES and it was one of the bigger announcements of the show. When the whole world was buzzing about Apple's upcoming tablet event, HP rolled in and stole the show with its own Windows 7 tablet. There was little information available about the Slate at CES but over time, teaser clips and videos explaining how the device came to be hit the Web.
Back in March, the HP Slate got spec'ed and priced at €400. Rumored to boast Intel's Atom processor, USB connectivity, a memory card reader, a rear-mounted integrated webcam, Windows 7 and a Flash support, the device was said to be hitting shelves in June. Now, it looks like HP is killing the project completely.
TechCrunch cites a source who has been briefed on the matter who says the company is scrapping the tablet because it's not happy with Windows 7 as an operating system. It's impossible to ignore that kind of rumor a couple of days after HP acquired a mobile OS of its own (Palm's WebOS). There are also rumors that HP will ditch the Atom CPU in favor of something a little less power-hungry.
The Windows 7 version of the HP Slate was not the only tablet HP had in the works. The company planned to release the same tablet but with Google's Android OS on it instead. So far, it looks like that device is still safe.

What next ffs?
From a support standpoint and reputation, a mobile OS just makes more sense for the average user and I'm sure Apple already knew this or they would have made a full blown OSX tablet.
That being said I wanted one anyway. I'm a geek, not a novice that infects and trashes my stuff. I was planning on using a slate or courier as a small portable car PC I could customize.
HP bought Palm...WebOS maybe and some different hardware. What I read today was that the Slate was to power hungry with it's hardware needed for W7. Hopefully they still come out sometime. I would love to have a tablet but will never use any Apple products again.
So basically citing an un-named source... Where Apple is doing everything possible to sell its iPad and bash any new and MUCH MORE CAPABLE tablets coming this June - IS THAT SUCH A GOOD IDEA??!
All great news for ARM. Heading to the end of an era for Intel & Microsoft. Microsoft achieved the level of a PC on every desk, but future volume will not be on a desk.
Those tablets you want will come eventually but the real money is in the consumer market.
For general users is absolutely true they don't want and need a full OS but a mobile one with beautiful graphics, full of readymade apps, and an app store. And in fact I want a consumer device with its advantages and limitations. I don't want another underpowered full PC no matter how light it is. Whenever the tablets get "powerful enough" then I may change my mind.
Bad news for me with HP, I had an eye on their tablet. With this Palm acquisition it may get more complicated, but they should know better. This will push their tablet a year away and maybe more but they better do it right and quite possibly a tablet option for power users and more corporate oriented.
Right now the iPad becomes my first option but I am not even convinced I need or want a tablet as they are right now. This is not a priority for me at all so I am going to wait at least to the end of the year and see how it goes.
I don't think it's embarrassing for HP at all. They decided to modify their designs rather than roll out a product with issues and later blame everyone else for any defects/lack of performance.
Well... those tablets have been here for years and they do work well w/ Full OS.... as long as you are willing to spend $1.5k-$4k to get one.
Regarding to HP's move. Smart! As long as the slate's CPU is still Atom or ARM, I will always prefer Android Slate way over Win7 slate. Even Win mobile 7 and WebOS will perform much better than full Win7.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/hewlett-packard-palm-pre-phone-webos,10325.html
Great minds think alike! Hey Tom's, can I get a job?