HP has announced plans to launch the Slate 7 tablet this April in the US. The specifications of the Android device were released on HP’s The Next Bench blog.
Specifications
- ARM Dual Core Cortex-A9 1.6 GHz Processor
- 8GB On-Board Storage
- 1GB RAM
- Micro SD Card Slot
- 1024 x 600 Pixels Resolution, 7” Screen (Overall Dimensions: 10.7mm x 197mm x 116mm)
- High-aperture-ratio Field Fringe Switching (HFFS) Panel Display
- Weight: 13 Ounces (370 grams)
- BEATS Audio Technology
- 3.0 Megapixel Camera in the back, VGA Camera in the front
- 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1
- Stainless Steel Body
- Colors: Silver and Red
HFFS display provides wide angled viewing even in outdoor light conditions. The battery, supposedly, gives 5 hours continuous video playback. And the soft touch finish on the back is comfortable for the fingers.
As to the future of HP and Google working more closely in the future, Alberto Torres, senior vice president of HP Mobility said, “Android opened new avenues in the tablet segment. Towards the end of last year, we saw incredible growth with Android, to the point that it’s now exceeding iOS. So, of course, we’re excited to be working with Google.”
The Slate easily compares with the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire. But there are two main features that sets the HP device apart. The print app, HP ePrint allows you to pull up anything from any application and print it easily over Wi-Fi, while at home or on the go. And the Slate 7 is the industry’s first tablet to offer embedded Beats Audio to give that extra bass, while software settings are also available on the device.
Google Nexus 7 has twice the memory at 16 GB, but only one camera and no microSD slot. But the quad-core Tegra 3 processor powered device boasts GPS, NFC, and more motion sensors, is a touch thinner, lighter and costlier by $30.
“To address the growing interest in tablets among consumers and businesses alike, HP will offer a range of form factors and leverage an array of operating systems,” said Alberto Torres, senior vice president, Mobility Global Business Unit, HP. “Our new HP Slate on Android represents a compelling entry point for consumer tablets, while our ground-breaking, business-ready HP ElitePad on Windows 8 is ideal for enterprises and governments. Both deliver the service and support people expect from HP.”
The HP Slate 7 will be available in the United States in April via HPDirect.com.
It has only been three years since Apple launched iPad and the tablet market has since become one of the fastest growing and most competitive segments. While priced at a reasonable $169, the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean powered device won’t be causing any massive disruptions in the tablet space, but it seeks to put HP back in the game after failures with Touchpad and other mobile devices.
