HP's WebOS and Windows 7 Slate

At the start of the year it appeared clear that HP would be producing the Windows 7 Slate as Microsoft's  answer to Apple's iPad. Then things changed and HP purchased Palm's WebOS operating system. It appeared Windows 7 Slate from HP was effectively dead. Nothing was confirmed or denied and the silence on Windows 7 Slate has been deafening.

For a while we could only guess HP would be focusing on its own WebOS based tablet device. To me that was a strategy that could be an issue. I sell HP products, but in the end it is because they run the Windows operating system, not because of HP alone. So going it alone is in my mind a very big gamble for HP.

Based on an interview at DEMO10 with HP's Phil McKinney it does appear there will be a Windows 7 Slate device coming out later this year and a WebOS device coming out early next year. (Click here to read the article.)

I think that is a good approach by HP. Incremental change is often more successful. A good Windows 7 Slate device which enables me to have to mobility of Apple's iPad device and access to my Microsoft based applications is what I need for my business. I just hope the device delivers and does so at a competitive price to the iPad. If the price isn't right, Apple's iPad will continue to become entrenched in the marketplace at Microsoft's loss of market share.

For those thinking about buying an Apple iPad or a netbook, now is probably a time where you should wait if there is no urgency to make a decision. Between now and early next year the indications are there will be a good range of devices to choose from. Of course the devices won't have a track record and Apple has the advantage of providing a known entity that you can plan around. Many of the devices will come and go very quickly and you don't want to be left with equipment that will be orphaned in just a few months. Desktops, notebooks and netbooks are currently safe choices. The Apple iPad is a relatively safe choice for specific users' need, but it will soon be feeling pressure on a number fronts, by a number of companies with deep pockets. The next safe choices may not become apparent until the middle of 2011.

Now is a good time to be a little prudent if you have the luxury of time on your side. The good thing is this will be an interesting time in the area of technology.

Kelvin Eldridge