HP Slate Microsoft tablet PC runs Windows, demoed at CES 2010 by Ballmer

At the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, US, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled a new touchscreen, tablet-style computer from Hewlett-Packard, possibly named HP Slate. This latest tablet PC from HP is expected to be the first of a string of such new devices which are expected to make a launch this month.

Photo: HP Slate runs Win 7

Though Ballmer showed many new PCs at his customary speech at the show, the one that caught everyone by surprise was the tablet PC from HP. The main attractive feature of the HP Slate tablet PC is that it lacks a physical keyboard. That is not saying much, we know. But then that is what the HP Slate looks like so far. It runs plain Windows 7 without any UI enhancements, and Windows 7 is relatively touch-friendly anyway. But those who were looking for the Microsoft Courier, or any dramatic changes in UI to change the way we look at tablet PCs were disappointed.

The HP Tablet PC – currently it is rumoured that the name is HP Slate – will be available for sale later this year, Ballmer said. During the speech, Ballmer also showed two similar devices – one from Archos and one from Pegatron Corp.

Ballmer’s demo at CES 2010 had a video app, as well as Amazon’s Kindle App running on the HP Slate. Nothing much more could be gleaned as far as the actual price or specifications of the product goes, though it is believed that it would be priced at less than $ 500.

Tablet PCs which run Windows are not a new thing, but what is drawing unprecedented attention to this device is the expectation that Apple Inc, Microsoft’s numero uno rival in the arena, might launch a similar device this month. It is believed that there would be an Apple event on January 26, 2010 where Apple would show off its so-called Apple iSlate or Apple Slate. It is also believed that Apple has alliances tied up with many news and magazine publishers.

Apple, a company which is very secretive of its upcoming products, has not commented on the matter. But going by the awe it created with the launch of Apple iPhone and the storm of applications followed, it is expected that people look up to Apple to define how a slate or a tablet PC should look like.

Microsoft has inked a deal with HP which will see HP making the Bing search site and MSN content portal default on its computers which are sold in 42 countries.