HP's new Slate videos laud Flash and slap iPad

by Stevie Smith - Mar 9 2010, 04:45

Given Apple’s formidable brand power, the upcoming iPad is likely to be the year’s most memorable entrant into the emerging tablet computer market. That being said, Microsoft is hoping its Courier “digital journal” can steal a fair chunk of the tablet pie – as does HP, which has this week highlighted the worth of its aptly named Slate while firing a broadside across Apple’s bows.

More pointedly, following on from the 30-second ‘look what it can do’ iPad commercial aired by Apple during Sunday night’s Academy Awards ceremony, computer manufacturing titan Hewlett-Packard (HP) has released a similarly all-encompassing slice of online video to showcase its Slate.

Although exact specifications are not yet know, the video reveals that the Slate will come equipped with the Windows 7 operating system, a generous touch-screen, a gesture and swipe user interface, Internet page zooming, screen orientation, the ability to play back all manner of visual media, and – here’s the broadside – full support for Adobe’s Flash video player.

“With this slate product, you’re getting a full web browsing experience in the palm of your hand,” enthused Phil McKinney, HP’s vice president and chief technology officer for Personal Systems on the official company blog. “No watered-down internet, no sacrifices.”

While clearly proud enough of the Slate to take a swipe at the iPad’s much publicised lack of Flash support, McKinney was not prepared to divulge either the retail arrival of HP’s rival device or its accompanying price point. HP has only said the device will launch before the close of 2010.

 

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