Everybody knew the tablet market would really take off once the iPad hit shelves, but this week has been frankly ridiculous, with new tablet news seemingly every day. Here’s an easily-digestible breakdown of the non-Apple related big hitters this week.
Hardware
Firstly early this week came the pretty disappointing news that HP would be launching their Slate with an Atom Menlow Z530 processor, and a 5-hour battery life. Honestly I don’t think many people thought HP would be the ones to best Apple in the Tablet market but this was a big blow for the Windows 7 camp nonetheless.
Secondly, and slightly more cheerfully, we had the very promising ICD Gemini, featuring basically every feature you could ever want from a tablet. Just one day after first being revealed by Engadget, the 11.2″ slate was vaguely dated and priced by Stuff.tv, who reported it will launch in the UK in August, and have a price around the same level as the basic iPad (although since the iPad doesn’t have a UK price yet, keep your buttocks clenched for the customary US-UK exchange rate shafting).
Next up, CTL (of Classmate PC fame) teased their new device -the 2Go PC Slate – on YouTube. This model is a Netbook without the keyboard essentially – it’s got a 10″ capacitive touchscreen, and an Atom N450 and 1GB RAM nestled under it. It should launch in June for $499. If those are the kind of specs that float your boat, you might also like to check out this TESO model from Shenzen, as apart from a different chassis it appears to be exactly the same as the 2Go PC Slate, but with that delicious copy-and-paste Shenzen taste.
And finally for the outdoorsman in your life, GottaBeMobile have found the perfect toy – the MobileDemand xTablet T7000. It appears to be running Windows 7, but other than that no specs are available, except for the fact that it’s tough as all hell. They left it sitting in the rain for half an hour and the T7000 didn’t even blink.
Rumours
Some juicy rumours this week – firstly that RIM are in talks to purchase 8.9″ displays for use in a Blackberry Tablet. The report comes from a research company who dish out reports based on supply chain information, and apparently Blackberry have tapped Hon Hai (makers of the iPhone and iPad, among other things) to fulfil their requirements.
HTC filed a patent this week that got the internet a-buzzing, a patent for a dual-screen, foldable, Microsoft Courier-esque tablet / netbook hybrid….thing. It can function as one solid workspace when the device is flat, but one screen will turn into a virtual keyboard if the device is set at an angle, laptop-style. Interesting stuff.
And lastly, Engadget uncovered a possibly very concerning con involving the Enso zenPad. More details over at their post, but if you ordered one now might be a good time to file a dispute with PayPal.
