HP Slate 2: New Windows 7 Tablet To Sell For $699

Can't find one of those much coveted, discontinued Touchpads? Well, HP's got a new tablet coming out -- but it's going to cost you a little more than $99.

HP has announced the Slate 2, a followup to the Slate 500 and the company's tablet offering for business users. The Slate 2 will run Windows 7 mobile OS (the much-anticipated, touch-friendly Windows 8 comes out in 2012) and packs an 8.9-inch display with the zigzagging Swype keyboard and a special capability for stylus input. The Slate 2 weighs 1.5 pounds, features an Intel Atom Z670 processor and, at $699, costs $100 less than its predecessor.

HP says the Slate 2 will be available in late November.

Hewlett-Packard will try to turn around its luck in the tablet market with the Slate 2 (and, more likely, with a slate of slates to be released next year in conjunction with the more touchable Windows 8). The company ended production on its consumer-facing TouchPad tablet in mid-August, which led to incredibly high demand when the tablet's price was dramatically slashed to $99. Otherwise, demand for HP slates (and Slates) has been low.

First unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show of 2010 by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the HP Slate has not been an iPad rival as of yet, either in the consumer market or the enterprise, though Hewlett-Packard is hoping otherwise with its cheaper, safer second-generation Slate.

For photos and pre-orders of the Slate 2, head over to the HP website, where the newest HP tablet already has its own page.

Comments

[becky bradshaw]

10:32 AM on 11/04/2011

Any news from Hewlett-Packard that does not include layoffs or CEO scandal, is a good thing. HP needs to continue working on products and innovation, instead of mergers and outsourcing.

News of an HP tablet would be twice as exciting if HP actually made the product instead of relabeling a device made overseas.

[normansan1]

11:13 PM on 11/03/2011

They really think that this new rebound table will sell for $700 ... HP CEO's just need to be Fired !

[Larry C Sessions]

10:34 PM on 11/03/2011

At this point I wouldn't buy one if they paid me. I am sorely annoyed at the cynical playing of so many people about the leftover Touchpads. HP lied and I will not buy from them.

[ILoveGreatDanes]

08:22 PM on 11/03/2011

Hmmm-tablets. Just like laptops, only without a keyboard and less versatile.

[PalletJack]

08:04 PM on 11/03/2011

Y'gotta admire the never-say-die attitude.

Unless you're a shareholder...

[helioszephyr]

04:27 PM on 11/03/2011

here we go again... HP never learns... always behind the curve.

[mr e vader]

01:49 PM on 11/03/2011

They mean it will sit on the shelves for $699. It MIGHT sell for $399.

[NHBill]

03:32 PM on 11/03/2011

right?

[StinkyPete0279]

01:23 PM on 11/03/2011

It's good to see most of the commenters on this story are clueless enough to think this is like, or even aimed at the same market, as an iPad or an Android tablet.

[Pectin]

01:30 PM on 11/03/2011

Oh, then by all means, share your incredible insight with the rest of us, that we may be enlightened.

[J0E1]

02:01 PM on 11/03/2011

This is geared towards business professionals, not parents to keep their kids busy. Oh and it doesn't take any incredible insight to read the SECOND PARAGRAPH. "HP has announced the Slate 2, a followup to the Slate 500 and the company's tablet offering for business users"

[six seven]

02:04 PM on 11/03/2011

No need for the dripping scarcasm. 'Incredible insight' is not required. Let's see. I clicked the link in the article and read the product overview:

"The HP Slate 2: The Right Business Touch. The HP Slate 2 Tablet PC is ideal for people with jobs that frequently take them away from a traditional desk, yet need to remain productive in a familiar Windows® environment. Optimized for Windows 7 Professional, the HP Slate 2 is also intended for those who use custom applications that must operate in a Windows® environment."

Seems like this product is geared toward the enterprise and not the consumer. I think you owe StinkyPete an apology.

[Carbon Forteetoo]

01:01 PM on 11/03/2011

Sounds interesti....oh, it runs Windows?....um...pass/

[emeraldcite]

01:01 PM on 11/03/2011

They need to be smarter about pricing. For that cash, most will gun for the more reliable Ipad

[StinkyPete0279]

01:21 PM on 11/03/2011

Apples and oranges.

[Pectin]

01:28 PM on 11/03/2011

Tablets and tablets, actually.

[J0E1]

02:02 PM on 11/03/2011

This will be aimed at people who want a full operating system instead of a large cell phone when windows 8 is released.

[emeraldcite]

07:47 AM on 11/04/2011

The problem is that it's aiming for a small niche and that's where ipad wins. I'm no big fan of apple, but I see the value of marketing. The bulk of your users aren't caring much about the above. That is what has made the iphone and ipad so popular despite the highly restrictive nature of the user experience. Apple's dumbed it down. I just don't see Slate 2 doing any better than Slate 1. Too narrow a market and priced out. If they really want it to catch, they need to sell it lower to get a nice foundation of users.

[jabreal00]

12:18 PM on 11/04/2011

What is the point of this, when said people can do more on an ultra notebook running Windows (think MacBook Air for Windows) for the same price or even cheaper?

[Darcman]

12:44 PM on 11/03/2011

Their kidding right?

[jaacko]

12:23 PM on 11/03/2011

$699 = DOA

[matt spedale]

12:14 PM on 11/03/2011

Am I missing something here? They had to practically give away the HP slate 1. The reason it's so called coveted is that it was ridiculously cheap. If I could have gotten my hand on one for a hundred bucks I would have but they lost money and burned their name and brand on that product. So now they want to charge how much for the new one? HP should instead get into the super cheap tablet market and stay away from the high end products. I would also stay away from Microsoft like the plague. It doesn't matter if the hardware it better, look at Zune.

[StinkyPete0279]

01:22 PM on 11/03/2011

Bzzzt. The TouchPad is the one that was "ridiculously cheap", ran WebOS, and was more comparable to the iPad than a full-fledged tablet.

[dpcemker]

11:51 AM on 11/03/2011

Whatever HP.. Your time has pass.

[Carbon Forteetoo]

01:03 PM on 11/03/2011

It's almost like Smith Corona coming out with a tablet.

[Pectin]

11:45 AM on 11/03/2011

Good luck with that.