Our friends at Engadget snagged an internal presentation seemingly designed to pump up employee enthusiasm for the Slate amidst all the hoopla surrounding the launch of the iPad.
The base version of the HP Slate will retail for $549, which includes 32 GB storage, 1 GB RAM, a 1.6 GHz Atom processor and an 8.9-inch multitouch screen at 1024 x 600 pixel resolution. A 64 GB configuration will be available for $599.This pricing scheme puts HP's tablet device at a higher starting point than the iPad's $499 base configuration, but you'd be shelling out that extra $50 for twice the storage (32 GB vs. 16) and arguably some other valuable features.
Both versions will also include an SDHC card slot, USB port, two cameras (one external 3-megapixel and one front-facing VGA for videoconferencing usage), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, support for 1080p video playback, a dock connector for power, audio and HDMI out to your TV, and a SIM card slot for optional 3G connectivity. Both devices will also run Windows 7 Home Premium with a custom HP touch-optimized user interface. Battery life is reportedly five hours -- a cause for concern given that the iPad's battery lasts 10 hours.
What we still don't know is when the Slate will be released, although rumors suggest a June launch date.
Now that we know the details of the iPad's front-running Windows 7 tablet competitor, how do you think the HP Slate shapes up?