Canadian software developer and slate maker ExoPC has revealed that its forthcoming EXODesk computer will be built by Viewsonic. The 32-inch device features a 10-point table top display. It will incorporate ExoPC's proprietary EXO UI running on top of Windows 7.
SKYTEX Technology on Friday announced a partnership with EXOPC that would bring the latter's touch user interface to the former's Skytab S-series Windows 7 tablet PC. The tablet uses a dual-core, 1.5GHz Atom N550 CPU and sports a 9.7-inch, 1024x768 capacitive multitouch display that has as many as four points of touch recognition. Also on board is 2GB of RAM.
ExoPC is reportedly set to expand its product line beyond tablets and into the realm of all-in-one PCs. The company is said to be readying 18.5- and 23-inch AIOs, each powered by Windows 7 with a custom overlay, according to Engadget. The smaller variant will integrate dual-core Atom components, while the 23-inch variant will be based on a separate chipset that has yet to be publicly detailed
A behind the scenes sighting on Sunday of last-minute Mobile World Congress prep at the Fira de Barcelona confirmed that Intel plans to show a Atom-based MeeGo smartphone at the event on Monday. The unnamed device was seen in a building-sized promo image side-by-side with an unnamed tablet running a larger version of MeeGo. Neither was given a name by Meet MeeGo, but the phone may be Aava Core hinted at earlier.
Tablets are on a fast growth track that could delay many PC sales and is comparable more to TVs and other major electronics, UBS analyst Maynard Um said in a detailed study. The iPad, Galaxy Tab and other tablets wouldn't directly steal share from notebooks but, by late 2011, could persuade many users to stall computer upgrades if a tablet costs the same. Users will still need computers for writing, and iPad users are still tied to a computer to sync and get updates.
(Update: sales figures) HP's Slate 500 has seen an unexpected level of interest that has pushed new orders back into the new year, early buyers have noted this week. Existing customers at HardOCP and elsewhere have had orders pushed back anywhere from two weeks to "indefinitely." Those visiting the order page are now being told that the "extraordinary demand" has pushed the system back six weeks, or enough for them to reach into 2011.
Delivery of the ExoPC Slate has been delayed again, according to a lengthy update on the company's forum by ExoPC's CTO and Chairman Jean-Baptiste Martinoli. ExoPC received a number of units last week and discovered damage to the touchscreen caused by a flaw in the manufacturing process. Although the assembly process has been tweaked to correct the problem, delivery of the first production run of the ExoPC Slate has been pushed back to the first week of November. A small number of the 32GB models will be shipped the week of October 18.
ExoPC this weekend acted on its promises and started taking pre-orders for the ExoPC Slate. The Windows tablet will first ship with a "fast" 64GB SanDisk SSD but without the initially hoped for GPS, since the current chip isn't working properly. In exchange, the price is dropping to $750 Canadian ($724 US), regardless of whether or not GPS is added back.
ExoPC confirmed today that it will begin taking pre-orders for its anticipated ExoPC Slate in early September, with shipments later the same month. First announced in February and initially expected in March, the delayed iPad challenger will feature a heavily customized version of Windows 7 Home Premium running on a typical 1.6Ghz Atom CPU.
An update about the ExoPC tablet from BlogueDeGeek reveals that the 8.9-inch device will sport a Broadcom Crystal HD graphics chipset that would give it the capability to play back 1080p HD videos. Previously, the graphics were handled by an integrated Intel GMA950 chipset. According to the report, the device will also be released in France on September 7th, which could also be the same release date for North America.
The ExoPC Slate tablet PC is slated to go head-to-head with Apple's recently announced 9.7-inch iPad. The 8.9-inch device has Flash support and runs on Windows 7, however, for a more complete web browsing capability. There is a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU along with 2GB of RAM, while storage comes from a 32GB solid state drive and SD memory cards.
