HP may not have cancelled Windows tablet

An uncommon opposing rumor today insisted that the HP slate was still in development. An unnamed but presumably HP-connected source rejected the idea that HP had canceled the tablet and said the notion itself was odd. Dropping it would be "improbable if not even an impossible" idea, the NetbookNews tipster said.

The cancellation would be somewhat uncharacteristic for HP, as the touchscreen hardware could be ready to ship as soon as June. HP's buyout of Palm was nonetheless unexpected on its own and was completed with tablets partly in mind, indicating that HP is willing to break away from Microsoft for future tablets.

The Windows tablet's success has been cast into doubt as it could cost $549 but have as much usable storage as a $499 iPad while mustering half the battery life. Assuming specifications haven't changed beyond a leaked presentation, it would be using a more than year-old Atom procesor and would have only a specialized Broadcom chip to accelerate HD. It would count on the presence of a webcam and a full desktop OS as its main selling points.

HP still hasn't commented in either direction regarding the rumors.

By Electronista Staff