Microsoft upstages Apple’s iSlate by unveiling HP’s tablet PC

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer yesterday introduced a prototype of the touch-screen tablet computer from Hewlett-Packard at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Hilton Centre describing it as ''a beautiful little product."

The brief three minute presentation of the still unnamed tablet computer from HP running on Microsoft's Windows 7 is expected to be the answer to Apple's tablet computer the iSlate, scheduled to be launched three weeks from now.

"We're talking about something that's almost as portable as a phone and that's as powerful as a PC running Windows 7," Ballmer said of the HP tablet computer and in a subtle dig at Cupertino-based rival, he displayed the HP tablet, whose screen had a book cover photograph of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" depicting a pair of hands cradling an apple.

"Slate PCs that will be rolling into the marketplace this year... are perfect for reading, for surfing the Web and for taking entertainment on the go," he said.

"This emerging category of PCs really should take advantage of the touch and mobility and capabilities of Windows 7, and are perfect for reading, for surfing the web and for taking entertainment on the go. Our OEM partners are doing some great work with Slate PCs that will be rolling into the marketplace this year."

Although little is known of HP's tablet, industry experts say that it runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, has a multi-touch screen, instant-on capability, has 24 hour battery life, relies on flash memory and appears to be about 1.4 cm thick.