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HP releases new video of the Windows 7 Slate PC

Tom Warren
26 January 2010 - 07:57
38 Comments
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HP has released a teaser video of the new Windows 7 slate PC, first demonstrated during the Microsoft CES 2010 keynote.

The video, spotted by Gear Diary, is an interview between Greta Schlender, a HP Spokesperson, and Phil McKinney, CTO of HP’s Personal Systems Group. McKinney explains the development and excitement around the Slate PC ahead of Apple's rumoured iPad device. McKinney claims 2010 is the year of the Slate form factor due to "convergence of low cost, low powered processors" and Windows 7 which is a touch aware operating system allowing for third party applications to thrive.

Neowin got a hands on with the Pegatron Slate PC at CES earlier this month. Although the Slate devices are an exciting and new form factor we firmly believe that Windows itself has a long way to go until it can be used as touch only. HP and other device manufacturers will likely build touch interfaces on top of Windows 7 to provide an even better touch friendly experience. Unfortunately, as is the case with Windows Mobile, building applications on top of an operating system to gloss over the misdoings of the system is a recipe for disaster. HTC has tried this approach with its Windows Mobile devices over the years but as soon as you need to step out of the vendors touch interface then the annoyances and issues of an operating system not designed for touch ensue. It remains to be seen whether HP can build their Slate to withstand these issues.

Unfortunately there's still no pricing information available or a firm release date. Ballmer demonstrated the device in Las Vegas last month at the Consumer Electronics Show but HP had no devices available for attendees to observe. A HP spokeperson would only confirm the device is "coming later this year".

Comments (38)

  1. Mike415 - 26 January 2010 - 08:06

    Strong crooked nose.

  2. shozilla - 26 January 2010 - 08:11

    Not bad. I may get one.

  3. dvb2000 - 26 January 2010 - 08:19

    indeed, agree with this statement

    "we firmly believe that Windows itself has a long way to go until it can be used as touch only"

    So once again a lot of hype, but its not and never will be the "tablet" PC that Bill Gates kept predicting for years on end would be the "killer hardware".

    Nothing more than a big iPod, that also reads books.

    Looks like it'll be all but dead within 18 months.

  4. GP007 - 26 January 2010 - 08:50

    dvb2000 said,
    indeed, agree with this statement

    "we firmly believe that Windows itself has a long way to go until it can be used as touch only"

    So once again a lot of hype, but its not and never will be the "tablet" PC that Bill Gates kept predicting for years on end would be the "killer hardware".

    Nothing more than a big iPod, that also reads books.

    Looks like it'll be all but dead within 18 months.

    18 months huh? I wonder what crystal ball you're using and where can I buy one myself?

    All a slate needs is a custom UI (which many are doing) to make it just that last bit more finger friendly and it'll sell just fine. They have a spot to be used in, a notebook can't be taken with you and used on most things where you're always on your feet and on the go. A slate fits into many of the same areas that tablets are being used in right now with good success.

    IN the end, just because you don't see it being used or don't think it'll do well doesn't mean it's true. This isn't just HP going for broke, everyone else pretty much has one in the works and ready to go as well.

    Hell, lenovo has a hybrid netbook/slate that's great.

  5. +Kirkburn - 26 January 2010 - 12:19

    dvb2000 said,
    Looks like it'll be all but dead within 18 months.
    /What/ will be all but dead? Tablet PCs which so far haven't died out for half a decade?

  6. excalpius - 26 January 2010 - 17:14

    It's too thick.

  7. dogmai - 26 January 2010 - 18:24

    excalpius said,
    It's too thick.

    And why did they go back to the silver backing? Blah! They should stick to what's working with their nice shiny piano black and a little more curvy.

  8. veegun - 26 January 2010 - 08:27

    i couldn't get over how hippy the chick look. :O also, the guy with the beard is playing slate keep away from the hippy chick. you can see it in her eyes, 'give me the slate old man!' :D

    Edit (veegun, 26 January 2010 - 08:31):

  9. +pasty2k2 - 26 January 2010 - 09:35

    veegun said,
    also, the guy with the beard is playing slate keep away from the hippy chick. you can see it in her eyes, 'give me the slate old man!' :D

    Yeah I noticed that too hehe

    Edit (pasty2k2, 26 January 2010 - 09:35):

  10. LAMj - 26 January 2010 - 08:30

    Just me, but I see no practical use for slate factor. Anything heavier than a tabloid magazine, people are gonna get tire holding to read them. And with no keyboard, it's practically useless to take notes. Whatever they're marketing slate pc for, it's gonna be a hard sell with no keyboard. Beside mobile entertainment, I see no productive uses for it. My HD2 does everything I want in a mobile device. Slate deices is a niche IMHO.

    Edit (LAMj, 26 January 2010 - 08:31):

  11. quintesse - 26 January 2010 - 09:09

    I regularly read books on the train/subway that are far heavier and far more unwieldy to hold in one hand than these slate devices will be so I think your fears are unfounded. I for one have been waiting for years to get a device like this. The first time I saw one of those notebook/tablet "convertibles" I was saying: can I get one of theose WITHOUT the keyboard and WITHOUT the CD-Rom and all the rest? I just want the screen, and I want it as thin and as light as possible. Seems I'm finally going to get what I want :)

    Edit (quintesse, 26 January 2010 - 09:10):

  12. +Shadrack - 26 January 2010 - 20:10

    LAMj said,
    Just me, but I see no practical use for slate factor. Anything heavier than a tabloid magazine, people are gonna get tire holding to read them. And with no keyboard, it's practically useless to take notes. Whatever they're marketing slate pc for, it's gonna be a hard sell with no keyboard. Beside mobile entertainment, I see no productive uses for it. My HD2 does everything I want in a mobile device. Slate deices is a niche IMHO.

    I agree! When I'm sitting in an easy chair I like that my laptop is balanced with its weight on my lap instead of in my hands. This would be annoying/awkward to use for any long duration use.

    It made to be used while you are on your feet. For people who need to take notes, and do casual computing while on their feet this will be good for. But then we are looking at the exact same market size of the Tablet PC.

  13. Kaidiir - 26 January 2010 - 08:39

    ...Pegatron? P is too far away from M for it to be a typo, so why choose such a silly name?

  14. +/- Razorfold - 26 January 2010 - 08:49

    Neowin got a hands on with the Pegatron Slate PC at CES earlier this month. Although the Slate devices are an exciting and new form factor we firmly believe that Windows itself has a long way to go until it can be used as touch only.

    Obviously someone has never used, or bothered researching, Windows 7 with touchscreens. If you did you would know windows doesn't react the same when a touchscreen is plugged in as opposed to when using a mouse and a keyboard.

    Hell you even linked an article about some device called Pegatron where you said the exact same thing and members pointed it out.

    Edit (/- Razorfold, 26 January 2010 - 08:50):

  15. Osiris - 26 January 2010 - 09:07

    "Although the Slate devices are an exciting and new form factor"

    Im sorry I seem to have stumbled into the twlight zone because where im from its sure as hell not a new form factor.

    Edit (Osiris, 26 January 2010 - 09:09):

  16. smithy_dll - 26 January 2010 - 11:45

    Obviously it's new because cell phones didn't exist until the iPhone was released.

  17. ferus - 26 January 2010 - 11:17

    This might be a stupid question but I'll ask nevertheless. Can such a slate be used as a tablet to connect to a regular desktop? For example to work with Photoshop and other apps?

  18. Osiris - 26 January 2010 - 12:04

    ferus said,
    This might be a stupid question but I'll ask nevertheless. Can such a slate be used as a tablet to connect to a regular desktop? For example to work with Photoshop and other apps?

    It has a full version of Windows on it, therefore Remote Desktop which connects to other full desktops. But upon re-reading your question, if you mean can it be joined to a computer and used as an additional touch enabled monitor for graphics work, perhaps if it has video out on it. If it doesnt a docking station likely would but by this stage there are alot better options to consider for what you want to achieve.

  19. +DonC - 26 January 2010 - 13:24

    If not, that sounds a worthy patch for http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/.

  20. ferus - 26 January 2010 - 18:25

    Osiris said,

    It has a full version of Windows on it, therefore Remote Desktop which connects to other full desktops. But upon re-reading your question, if you mean can it be joined to a computer and used as an additional touch enabled monitor for graphics work, perhaps if it has video out on it. If it doesnt a docking station likely would but by this stage there are alot better options to consider for what you want to achieve.

    Thanks for the reply. Well, if it had a video input/output would it be a good solution for the kind of work I mentioned? Or do the standard tablets still offer more advantages?
    I'm considering buying something to make my photo retouching and editing more effective, quicker and easier. But I have absolutely no experience in this area so far.

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