Steve Jobs made no seceret of the fact that the iPad is competing directly with the netbook, DigiTimes is confirming this industry outlook but about the HP Slate. The iPad is meant to target different eco system then the HP Slate, the Slate however unlike the iPad is capable of Windows 7 and anything else that netbooks can do. It is essentially a different form factor netbook. Which is why Digitimes is taking the stand that HP Slate may impact netbooks more than iPad
The fact is the Slate specs, especially the Atom Z530 processor and the rumored 1GB of RAM (other more reliable sources are quoting 2GB in the final product) have disappointed. And this disappointment has lead a few people to trash the device before we even have a proper walk through. Digitimes source notes that the HP Slate’s hardware and software combination is not expected to provide an experience equivalent to that of the iPad. It is also mentioned that hardware wise it is a superior device to the iPad with its flash capabilities and its multiple connectors. But its true, unless the HP Media Management software can create a connected living room the the device will need to find a new home.
I think the success or the slate is going to depend on this media management system and how it can plug the device into the home ecosystem. It has Windows 7 so it can be apart of the home network potentially controlling media consumption in the living room. But if it doesn’t play well and intelligently with other devices in the living room then the device will fail for the same reason tablets haven’t taken off over the past 10 years they have been around – NO Ecosystem!
What do you think? How will people be using the HP Slate?
Source Digitimes
