The HP Slate is HP's first foray into the tablet computer craze, and rumors have this device pegged at around $540 when it will be released in June — Really now? Because that would ultimately price this thing higher than the Apple iPad, and I don't think that is a smart idea.
DigitalTrends reported on the rumor that the HP Slate could be priced around $540. So here is a question: if someone was willing to buy the HP Slate, why wouldn't that customer simply purchase an Apple iPad instead?
Why would they, indeed.
What does the HP Slate offer that is so special? After all, it is a touch screen device running Windows 7 — and while Windows 7 is, admittedly, a great operating system, is it really the best solution for a dedicated touch interface? I'm not entirely sure. Furthermore, the HP Slate doesn't particularly strike me as stylish, trend-setting, or luxurious. So why would this thing cost more than the iPad?
You can't go up against what will be declared the benchmark in tablet computing without bringing something unique to the table.
There would have been a few ways to differentiate the HP Slate from the iPad: the price, interface, and/or size being the most obvious. But where does the HP Slate offer a better value or experience in any of those categories? Well, unfortunately, it doesn't.
I believe that HP's pricing strategy — if true — would be a huge mistake and result in little more than a flop. At that price, I will be laughing at those who purchase the HP Slate and opting for a Kindle instead, while purchasing two- to three-dozen e-books with the money I saved.
