First unveiled at CES in January, HP's Windows 7 tablet has had a bumpy year of delays and rumored cancellations, but the device is finally racing toward reality. The "Slate 500" has shifted away from the consumer market and is designed specifically for business users that demand the mobility of a tablet with the familiarity and functionality of Windows 7 – as opposed to say, iOS or Android.
The device carries an 8.9-inch 1024x600 multitouch display with a pen digitizer, a 1.86GHz Intel Atom Z540, 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD, Intel GMA 500 graphics with a Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator, front and back-mounted cameras, a two-cell battery (no runtime estimates), and Windows 7 Professional. Connectivity includes one USB 2.0 port, 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, and an SD card reader.
Altogether, the Slate 500 measures 5.91 x 9.21 x 0.58 inches and weighs 1.5lbs (0.68kg). We haven't seen an exact release date, but it seems to be pretty dang close. It's supposed to ship in the US first, and depending on its success, HP might offer it in other regions. Pricing is set at $800, which includes the HP Slate Digital Pen, Dock, and Portfolio. If interested, you can sign up for updates here.