HP Planning to Beat Apple in Tablet Pricing War
Talk about strategic marketing.
The HP Slate was announced right before the iPad. Clever HP took advantage of all the tablet hype and announced its product right at the beginning of CES. Other companies soon followed; and eventually Apple did announce the iPad later in January. Everyone was shocked that it would start at just $500, as opposed to the rumored $1,000.
Now we learn that HP's Slate PC will be even cheaper. Details about the device are pretty scant; HP is keeping pretty quiet about it. However, we do know that it will run Windows, because Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was actually the person who revealed the product during his keynote speech. The fact that the HP Slate will run a full featured OS is definitely an advantage over the iPad.
Now, a Wall Street Journal report cites sources who say the device will have another advantage; it's going to be cheaper than Apple's iPad. HP nipped things in the bud and announced the Slate before Apple's tablet was revealed. But apparently the computer maker was waiting for the iPad before making some changes to the device, including the price. HP hopes to price the device at under $630; somewhere in the middle of the iPad's price range.
Still no word on a release date the Slate, other than "2010." HP is also said to be making a second version of the Slate that will run Android as opposed to Windows. It's likely that the Android version will be even cheaper. Will you consider buying a Slate? Let us know in the comments below!

Just my 2 cents.
http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/02/17/reporter-roughed-up-by-apple-supplier/
I have a acer aspire 5738PG that has a fixed screen with touch input, and it works great when I'm in bed and just use it to browse the internet or to annotate notes in class, but I will not use the virtual keyboard when the real full sized one is just under it.
And IMO multi-tasking will kill ipad, If I can't listen to music, download a new app, read and annotate a pdf, while the device is doing background tasks like updates, I don't the the touch gimmick will work that much.
That's what I was going to say. You beat me to it.
to undercut the app and manitenanve value position, and offset the lack of convenience and gratification of the iPad, the HP tablet would have to be faster at the same tasks (not a faster CPU, but MUCH faster, as windows is a resource hog), and is going to have to have all the GPU performance as well. It would have to be under $300 to be areal value to me, without contract or subsidy, and still offer $29 contract-free pre-paid unlimited network access...
...and Apple has already made public that their price is easily flexible.
Keep this quote from Abraham Lincoln in mind next time you feel like commenting in any public forum:
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
only if you provide the greenbacks
My motto is
"Better have it and not need it, than need it and not have it"
I am watching a few episodes of my fav TV show and friend asks my to drop it onto a USB drive, or even burn it onto a USB DVD.
Maybe someone emails me an Excel spreadsheet and wants me to amend a few figures, perhaps proof and edit a Word file as well before sending it back.
I will need fully functional USB ports as well as a copy of MS Office, Nero (or other DVD writer program).
For this I will need a real OS, not a kids toy.
If I can get this cheaper than the Apple product, all the better.
In the retail world, more for less ALWAYS wins.