HP Introduces a Slate for Businesses

[#1]

HP’s slate has been a hot topic since it was demoed at CES 2010. I’m happy to announce it as the newest device in our business portfolio. And I’d like to spend a bit of time and text reviewing the winding road leading to today.

The first videos of the slate showed a consumer product with functions like e-reading, video calling and media creation. And we talked about how it fit snuggly into a new category between cell phones and netbooks. We were bullish about the direction we were taking at the time, but an unanticipated development gave us an opportunity to refine our plans.

When HP acquired Palm this year, we saw huge potential in webOS as the foundation for a whole ecosystem of connected consumer devices. We quickly realized that we had to include the slate in that equation. Imagine the slate connecting to the cloud and working in concert across all your devices. We adjusted our approach, shared our new vision and confirmed that a webOS slate will reach the market in 2011.

So we decided to target the business market for the Windows product. And we collaborated with beta customers to better understand their needs. The new HP Slate 500 Tablet PC runs Windows 7 which supports a wide variety of business solutions, from retail point-of-sale to hospitality, banking healthcare or any custom business application.

It features an 8.9-inch diagonal LED screen, weighs 1.5 pounds and accepts both digital pen and finger input. It features multitouch gestures and includes integrated front and rear webcams. It also has USB ports and an SD slot which allows you to quickly upload photos from your camera SD card or show a PowerPoint from a SD/USB stick. Oh, and of course, it supports Adobe Flash and Air. You can probably imagine a thousand applications of the device in business scenarios. Wouldn’t it be great if after a car accident, your insurance agent could take your statement, photograph and video the scene, and send all the information to the claims office on the spot? That’s the direction we’re heading for our business customers. Check out the video below to see it in action. Or peruse pictures of it here.

For more information about the HP Slate 500 Tablet PC read posts on CTOEdge, Engadget, TabletPCReview.com, GottaBeMobile, or Ubergizmo. Or  visit www.hp.com/go/slate/. And stay tuned to The Next Bench and @HP_PC for more news.

The HP Slate 500 Tablet PC is available for purchase starting today at the HP.com SMB Store, HP.com Large Enterprise Store and the HP.com Public Sector Store.

[#2]

I was about to order the Tega V2 when this crossed the wire. You had me at active digitizer. But the SMB store has no search results that match slate. Please post a direct link as soon as it's available so I can order it now - sight and reviews unseen. It's not as compact or light as my now dead OQO2 but it's beyond anything else that's out there.

[#3]

...so call me a business user, 'cause this device is looking better than ever!!!

[#4]

fantastic... where can I order one?  Right format for real work and USB so my existing peripherals work!

[#5]

Wow, I am a little shocked by the cost. At, just under $800 I think I would just go with a TouchSmart and have a heavier, but fully functional device. I hope the WebOS version has a much more attractive price tag.

[#6]

you could never rival Apple's iPad.  Never in a million years!

[#7]

I would like to have seen some upgrade options.

I would rather have the 64 bit OS and at least 4 GB of RAM (if not the option for more).  Support for the new USB 3.0 standard would have been really nice.  Built in GPS would have also been nice.  A large hard Drive capcity would have been really nice 128 GB or 256GB SSD.

With 64 bit OS, 6 GB or RAM, USB 3.0 port,  Built in GPS, 128 GB SSD  for under $1000 and I would buy in a heart beat.

Maybe the next generation will get there and I will expect more for less.

[#8]

Uhhuu, what a great news. Finally i can kick this trash that i've boght 3 months ago known as iPad, a big useless iPod Tocuch, that makes me cry everytime i see how much precious money i've spent with this - again - useless toy.

[#9]

Sounds like Ivan is one of two things:

1) A guy who doesn't really have an iPad and trolls web sites to bad mouth what he knows nothing about.

2) An idiot who didn't return his iPad for a full refund within 30 days even though he hates the product.

Total loser.

[#10]

Cant wait to get an iPad! Thanks for reminding me HP!

[#11]

I could shell out US$350 less for the Advent Vega, which runs faster, has better battery life and all the same connectivities.

It can be hacked to run MIUI and overclock for insane performance, and there are ways to hack the Android Market and Google Apps on to it.

If Advent Vega trully has a 1366x768 screen and can be hackable, that device will eat the iPad and the HP Slate for breakfast!

(I'm really looking forward to the tablet warfare)

[#12]

This is 5 times better than the giant ipod tou .. i mean ipad. The slate is  a full computer , not a toy. I guarantee that apple will attempt to top this by making an iPad Nano or somting, and they will fail miserably  

[#13]

whole bunch of Apple **bleep**s to make negative comment here, go back Jobs' place and wipe his.  i like HP products.

[#14]

Comparing this to the iPad (or any ARM based machine) misses the point. The iPad and Android tablets excel at content consupmption. The HP Slate allows content creation. Its competitor are the likes of the Thinkpad X201 Tablet or the Motion Computing line of tablets if the key for you is the active digitizer. If size is the key, it would be theSony Vaio P, Fujitsu U/G90N or some of Viliv's offerings.

There is no i in Slate. (and I hereby transfer all rights to that advertising slogan to HP in perpetuity).

[#15]

Another iPad copycat

[#16]

Help me out, the Slate was annouced THREE WEEKS BEFORE the iPad and the Slate is the copy cat? And did you know that devices like the HP Slate have been around for over a decade?

Yep, Apple's customers are truly thoughtful folks.

[#17]

BYE BYE USELESS IPAD. For all those who bought the IPAD LOL what a waste of money and you all got SUCKED on Sour Apples. HP SLATE shows it blows away IPAD. Cant wait to get one soon!

[#18]

LOL you saying IPAD copycat are just bunch of Morons.  LOL HP Slate is not a copy cat. You all are jealous because you know Slate has all important features which Ipad has nothing. You all mad because you all wasted your money getting a Useless Ipad  LOL... Also do you research sour Apples idiots. Ipad is the one who copy cat the Slate they had this design and looks before useless Ipad came out.

LOL can't wait to get my HP Slate. Once I get it I will look for a Ipad moron and try to compare it and yes Slate will blow it away.... LOL  Slate wins

[#19]

Dear Apple cultists, please pay attention: YOU FAILED!

Notice especially the past tense: you failED, it's too late, HP Slate is now for sale, all your howling and wailing on all the stupid tech blogs couldn't stop it. If anything, it may have transformed the Slate from the originally introduced plain touch iFad toy wannabe into a truly useful tool with a digitizer.

You failed MISERABLY and now you could really stop trying: it only looks more pathetic and pathological the longer you drag it on. Please leave productive people alone to use their tools; go and play with your Apple toys now, nobody's trying to take them away from you.

[#20]

Ipad = toy.

This slate can do the job when you can't do it with the big ipod.

[#21]

I have to admit, I got sucked into the IPAD thingy. It only took me a week to see what a gimmick, and useless pos it was. I returned it promptly. As soon as I can, the slate will be in my home. Sure it cost a little more , it also has a whole lot more! I just don't get these apple people.