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Topic: Hardware

HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

Summary: Like Dell, HP is hoping that is can compete better with the iPad in a corporate setting, rather than on consumer store shelves. It's just announced an updated version of its Slate business tablet that runs Windows 7 and features a slew of improvements.

Sean Portnoy

By for Laptops & Desktops |

Like Dell, HP is hoping that is can compete better with the iPad in a corporate setting, rather than on consumer store shelves. It's just announced an updated version of its Slate business tablet that runs Windows 7 and features a slew of improvements.

Dubbed the Slate 2, it comes with an Intel Atom Z670 processor and promises an improved six hours of battery life. It now includes Swype's finger-swiping software to input text on the 8.9-inch touch screen. (You can also use the optional Slate Digital Pen for stylus input.) The Slate 2 also has a front-facing Webcam, rear-facing 3-megapixel camera, a pair of USB ports, an HDMI output, and an SD memory card slot.

Enterprise-friendly features include an embedded security chip with HP ProtectTools to manage its settings, Computrace Pro support to remotely erase data in case of theft, and optional accessories like the Point of Sale Case, which includes a barcode reader and magnetic stripe reader.

At $699, the Slate 2 is priced lower than Dell's similar $859 Latitude ST, though the Latitude comes with a bigger 10.1-inch screen. Of course, these are both pricier than the cheapest iPad 2 (even a 3G model), but Dell and HP are clearly betting that corporations (and their IT departments) will feel more comfortable using Windows slates than Apple tablets.

Topics: Hardware, Hewlett-Packard, Laptops, Mobility, Tablets

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40 comments
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  • Atom?

    PASS on that FAIL!
    Joe_Raby
    Reply Vote

    • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

      One thing is very clear, neither Dell, HP or Microsoft have a clear vision or real strategy to compete with Apple and the iPad. You can say what you want about Apple but they have a vision/strategy and the ability to execute.
      Masari.Jones
      Reply Vote

      • The have a strategy, but it's flawed.

        @Masari.Jones <i>"Dell and HP are clearly betting that corporations (and their IT departments) will feel more comfortable using Windows slates than Apple tablets."</i><br><br>There are 2 problems with that idea. First, "Bring Your Own" is become more pervasive in the Enterprise. Second, even fairly hard-core Windows Corporate IT people have warmed to iPads (or more importantly, their Director and C-level execs who actually determine policy have).<br><br>The Slate 2 will sell, but not well.
        matthew_maurice
        Reply Vote

    • HP is once again going the wrong way

      @Joe_Raby It's too pricey for what you're getting - my Acer W500 Windows tablet works great and is under $500 - tabs like that killed HP's first Slate and will kill their second ill conceived attempt
      archangel9999
      Reply Vote

      • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

        @archangel9999 Yes, I also like the W500. But, it is no where near as fast or as powerful... From stylus input to spreadsheet documents to the virtual keyboard. It also isn't engineered for VPN or direct corporate network environments or for integration with enterprise software and accessories such as the point of sale. That $150 price difference for the Slate seems to be at least a fair shake.
        Calbeach01
        Reply Vote

    • Doesn't need to be a iPad killer.....

      @Joe_Raby
      ....just something that works smoothly in today's corporate infrastructure. That it will work with existing software in a big plus!
      kd5auq
      Reply Vote

  • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

    <i>"Of course, these are both pricier than the cheapest iPad 2 (even a 3G model)"</i>

    And yet cheaper than the most expensive iPad 2. It seems like it's competitively priced.

    Unfortunately, it's running Windows 7 which just doesn't work for me in tablet form. Hopefully they will work out the kinks and have a great offering when Windows 8 is launched.
    Rich Miles
    Reply Vote

    • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

      @Rich Miles

      There lies the problem. IF MSFT charges $100 for licensing the OS for tablet and it costs $300 to build a basic tablet, that is $400 right there. It would be almost impossible to sell this for $500 to match the lowest iPad price. I still think that these will sell to certain consumers and businesses, but it won't be an iPad killer.
      mstrsfty
      Reply Vote

      • They don't charge 100 dollars a license.

        @mstrsfty
        so you're math will never work.
        I think it's around $30-$35 dollars a license, so the tablets would be $335, so selling it at $500 would get HP $165-$170 while still matching the lowest iPad price, though in all honesty, this is totally different then an iPad.

        One is a tablet, the other a tablet [b]PC[/b]
        William Farrell
        Reply Vote

      • iOS is free?

        @mstrsfty
        I didn't realize that all of Apple's developers worked for free.
        toddybottom
        Reply Vote

      • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

        @mstrsfty
        Seriously, $300.00 to build????
        Remember, they buy in bulk much cheaper than we can.
        I figure $150.00 including the OS.
        Of course there is the cost of having events so the writers can write and provide advertising.......
        coachgeorge
        Reply Vote

      • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

        @mstrsfty
        Haven't we had about enough of the "ipad killer" idiom? Does one something have to kill another something in order to be competitive? This really getting old!
        eargasm
        Reply Vote

      • And yet

        @mstrsfty the Acer W500 Windows tablet (which is excellent) sells for $494 on Amazon
        archangel9999
        Reply Vote

      • Under $500

        @mstrsfty And yet the Acer W500 Windows tablet (which I have and it's excellent) sells for $494 on Amazon
        archangel9999
        Reply Vote

      • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

        @mstrsfty there is a great opportunity for MS to start a litigation against Apple. What you described is a fair competition - MS sells its OS to the OEMs. Apple subsidizes (unfair competition) its iPad by selling itself iOS for zero $$$.
        pupkin_z
        Reply Vote

  • bad bet

    only Linux or Android are good on tablets.
    The Linux Geek
    Reply Vote

    • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

      @The Linux Geek Good to be thrown away? IPad is the best. Next comes windows. Anything that runs on android is pretty much unstable.
      krishnansriram
      Reply Vote

    • RE: HP doubles down on business tablets with $699 Windows-powered Slate 2

      @The Linux Geek Isn't there a third OS that is pretty much dominating the tablet market right now?
      Bates_
      Reply Vote

  • Battery life?

    If you can get 8 solid hours on this it may sell. If not, forget it.

    Also the stylus is a nice throw-in, but you can get a stylus for any capacitive touch screen (e.g. all iProducts and Androids) for around $12.
    Michael Kelly
    Reply Vote

    • Not the same thing at all

      @Michael Kelly <br>"you can get a stylus for any capacitive touch screen ... for around $12"<br><br>Those aren't even the same technology. I have a "stylus" for my iPad and while it works relatively well, it isn't ideal for note taking because the end is big and mushy and not accurate at all.<br><br>While I've made my dislike for Windows 7 slates very clear, the digitizers on them are far superior to what I have on the iPad. By equating the mushy, inaccurate $12 iPad pen you can buy to the digitizer on these slates you've basically told us that you believe a $100 resistive screen tablet is the same as an iPad because they both have touch screens. Yes, both are pens just like both resistive and capacitive screens are touch screens but both are built completely differently and you certainly get what you pay for. The iPad is a capable note taking device but it is not a good note taking device. The Windows 7 tablets I've tried are fantastic note taking devices, they just happen to be terrible at pretty much everything else.
      toddybottom
      Reply Vote
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