HP Slate with Windows 7: Dead or Alive?

The HP Slate has not been released yet, and it does not have a firm release date either. Some believe it could hit store shelves this fall, particularly around September. Such a release date would coincide with the time that many students, whether in college, high school, middle school, or perhaps even younger, would be heading back to class. Seeing as how the Slate is an answer to the already released iPad and is expected to have various functions, such as web browsing, e-reading, and more, it could become an attractive luxury for many students.

So, where is the Windows 7 controversy coming from, and why does it matter? Well, the rumors have come from an unknown source and have been posted on blogs that the Slate, whenever it is released, will not be based on the Windows 7 platform. If it does not come with Windows 7, that means there is a distinct possibility that it will not have Adobe Flash support. Adobe's Flash is ubiquitous on the Internet, particularly when it comes to animations, some games, and multimedia. If the Slate lacks such support, it could not be as attractive to many potential buyers of the product.

There are a couple of underlying factors on which these Windows 7-less Slate rumors are based. First, some believe that recent news concerning a possible buyout of Palm by HP could be due to HP's desire to acquire Palm's WebOS operating system. The $1.2 billion suggested price tag for such a buyout shows that HP means serious business, and would perform such a move to acquire Palm's technology and platforms for its own devices. Of course, at this time Palm's WebOS also lacks Flash support, so one could dismiss this theory as evidence. However, Adobe does claim that its Flash will work with WebOS later this year, so such an update could come in time for the Slate's possible fall launch. Second, many feel that by not using Windows 7 as its platform, the Slate would conserve battery life, which is a major factor that many consumers consider when it comes to portable devices.

Despite these rumors, there is evidence to the contrary that suggests that the Slate will come equipped with Windows 7 and its Flash support. Verbal evidence comes via a spokesperson from HP, who earlier this week claimed that the rumors were just that, rumors. Visual and more factual evidence comes from HP's website, which features videos demonstrating the power of the Slate. One of the videos shows how the Slate works with Flash for viewing streaming video from MTV.com, and even allows users to read the New York Times via the publisher's website. If HP intended to remove Windows 7 from the Slate, why would they still have these videos on their site promoting the product? Could it just be an oversight from the company? That is highly doubtful.

As it stands, despite all the rumors and speculation, the evidence that exists leans towards the HP Slate coming with Windows 7 and Flash support.

For more on this topic, visit: http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224700442&subSection=All+Stories