Tag Archives: gap

Jan 14

TrendForce: Surface’s Pricing Not Aggressive ...

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TAIPEI, Taiwan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Microsoft officially announced the price of Surface featuring the Windows RT operating system and a 10.6” display. The price meets the estimation calculated based on costs and profits, which is not particularly appealing in the market where the competition is fierce. It has limited support to lift Windows RT’s status among the tablets. TrendForce tends to be conservative toward Surface RT shipment with an estimation of 2.5 million unit shipment in 2012.

Although a price tag of $499 is located in the mainstream price range between 9.7” and 10.1” tablets but it shows no particular amazement, indicated by Eric Chiou, the research director of TrendForce. Compared to Apple’s iPad family, Surface’s price is the same as New iPad, but New iPad carries the resolution of QXGA(2048×1536), one whole grade higher than Surface RT’s WXGA(1366×768). When comparing their resolution density (PPI), Surface RT’s 148PPI lags far behind New iPad’s 264 PPI.

Compared to iPad2 , which is at the same resolution grade and priced at $399, Surface RT seems expensive with a $100 price gap. In view of the storage, Surface’s entry-level model carries 32G, double the 16G equipped in iPad entry-level model, but this could be the strategy in response to larger APP file size under Windows RT. It remains to see if consumers can benefit from the bigger storage.

Surface’s pricing strategy seems to show the compromise resulted from cooperation between Microsoft and several brands. The price gap between Surface and various tablets launched by PC brands is basically within $100. Although PC brands focus on smaller 10.1W WXGA tablets, PC brands still have chances to fight under the condition of similar prices and resolution, the room for survival is not completely squeezed by Microsoft’s in-house Surface tablet, Eric Chiou added.

According to TrendForce, three versions of Surface RT priced between $499 and $699 can be interpreted as Microsoft adopting a soft and modest attitude toward the penetration strategy in the tablet market. However the price basis not only has very limited replacement effect to Netbook averagely at $299, but also overlaps some Notebooks’ price range. Under the condition of featuring similar functions, it cannot avoid the situation that Microsoft operating system families fight against each other, leading to squeezed sales.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20121017005831/en/TrendForce-Surface’s-Pricing-Aggressive-Leaving-Room-Win8

Jul 23

Asus Transformer Pad TF300 Review

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Targeting the iPad 2, Asus’ Eee Pad Transformer launched with much fanfare last year as it bridged the gap between tablets and netbooks by serving as both form factors via its TF101 docking station. The Eee Pad tablet sported a 10.1-inch (1280×800) IPS multitouch screen with a 1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC. Additionally, the device was loaded with 1GB of RAM and 16GB to 32GB of flash storage.

By itself, the Eee Pad Transformer was a competitive Android tablet, but much of its appeal stemmed from the aforementioned docking station which enabled additional usage scenarios, especially those requiring a hardware keyboard or other peripherals. The TF101 supplied a keyboard and touchpad, increased the device’s battery life by 6.5 hours and offered greater connectivity via two USB 2.0 ports and a card reader.

At the time, we thought the Eee Pad Transformer was a great bargain. The 16GB version (with a docking station) cost only $505. this value was slightly diminished later in 2011 when Asus unveiled its $620 Eee Pad Transformer Prime with the new 1.3GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3, 32GB to 64GB of storage and although it shipped with Android 3.2 Honeycomb, it has since received an update to 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Although the Transformer Prime’s price increase was technically justifiable, it pushed the upper budgets of some shoppers. Addressing that issue, Asus has released a more affordable version called the Transformer Pad TF300T, featuring the same Tegra 3 SoC yet costing only $520 with a docking station ($385 without). You’re probably wondering whether the savings are worthwhile, and that’s precisely what we hope to discover…

Inside the Transformer Pad TF300

Unlike the Tegra 2, which has numerous different models, the Tegra 3 (codenamed “Kal-El”) has only one — at least for now anyway. As with its predecessor, the Tegra 3 uses the 40nm design process and is based on the ARMv7 CPU instruction set. However, whereas the fastest Tegra 2 model had two cores clocked at 1.2GHz, the Tegra 3 has four running at 1.4GHz and can be overclocked to 1.5GHz when using a single core.

The Transformer Pad TF300 comes with either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage and a microSD slot for optional storage expansion, as well as a 2-in-1 audio jack (Headphone/Mic-in) and Micro HDMI port. Asus includes two cameras, 1.2MP in front and 8MP in back. The rear camera’s photo quality is great for a tablet and we found it to be worlds better than the original Eee Pad Transformer. Video is also much improved.

The TF300 has a 10.1-inch LED Backlight WXGA (1280×800) ISP screen with scratch-resistant glass, a 178

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Jul 23

Lenovo set to take top PC maker crown, but at what ...

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There’s a new world order in the PC making business, and China is about to take the lead. 

Everyone knows that HP makes computers, as do Dell. But the word on the street of Lenovo still comes back with a muted pause. It’s the silent market killer and it sneaked up on the other PC makers like a stealthy ninja. 

In a matter of weeks, the China-based PC builder will likely overtake HP as the world’s biggest PC manufacturer, making the company the first Chinese company to take the lead over all others in the technology space, despite many taking podium positions in other spaces.

Breaking down the numbers: IDC data released last week pegged Lenovo in second place at 14.9 percent market share behind HP’s 15.5 percent. HP continues to decline by double-digits each quarter, while Lenovo is rocketing ahead. Dell remains at third place after Lenovo leapfrogged the PC giant some quarters back; it’s falling at similar numbers to HP. comScore narrowed the gap, suggesting the market share difference could be as little as 0.2 percent.

Either way you look at it, this quarter’s end should yield some interesting results.

But while Lenovo sprints to lead the race, its profit margin could hold it back in the long run. Beyond all else, its retail price to profit ratio helped the PC maker jump as far ahead as it has. 

According to Reuters, latest Thomson Reuters data puts HP’s profit margin at 7.4 percent, Dell’s at 6.2 percent, while Lenovo’s is way behind at around 1.4 percent — down from 1.8 percent last quarter.

The post-PC (or “PC+” — we’re splitting hairs here) industry is changing in the face of sales, rather than profit. plus, as ZDNet’s Larry Dignan explains, because it’s already on the same turf as others in the outsourcing space, it can in-house develop and manufacture products without having to turn to a third-party like Foxconn.

While China still accounts for a majority of Lenovo’s revenue, U.S. and European markets still take up a significant portion. 

Despite its lacking ability and expertise in the tablet market, and a stagnant string of quarters in the PC building industry, it’s an almost impossible feat to reach breakneck speeds while soaring through custard, treacle, or something equally thick and gooey. 

The big question remains over whether or not the company can maintain it. just as HP and Dell’s profits are up but sales are down, Lenovo is switching paths with its entirely different reverse approach. 

Image credit: Lenovo.

Lenovo set to take top PC maker crown, but at what cost?

Jul 16

Russia Tablet PC Market Forecast and ...

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NEW YORK, July 12, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Russia Tablet PC Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2016

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0931967/Russia-Tablet-PC-Market-Forecast-and-Opportunities-2016.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Personal_Computer_and_Server

Russia has emerged as one of the most promising Tablet PC market in 2011 due to its increasing consumer disposable income along with flourishing desire to own a Tablet PC among Russians. It is forecasted that the Tablet PC’s market revenues in Russia will witness the compounded annual growth rate of 16% for next five years. The Tablet PC’s among Russians are considered as a perfect device to fill the gap between a notebook computer and a smart phone. The lower market penetration with increasing consumer acceptance is driving the market growth exponentially.

According to “Russia Tablet PC’s Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2016″ Russia will witness phenomenal growth in near future. The outlook for the Tablet PC’s market in Russia seems very promising as the overall consumer spending and acceptance is increasing in the country. Ease of use, long battery life, mobility, ability to multi-task, instant on/off and substantial breadth of applications available have caused rapid growth and change in demand patterns. However, the enterprise adoption of Tablet PC’s in Russia is still very low as most of the corporate consider it a threat for their data security. “Russia Tablet PC Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2016″ discusses the following aspects related to Tablet PC’s in Russia:

• Tablet PC’s Market Outlook

• Tablet PC’s Application Market

• Tablet PC’s Processors Market

• Tablet PC’s Operating Systems Market

• Market Trends & Opportunities

• Competitive Landscape of Key Players

Why you should buy this report

• To gain an in-depth understanding of Tablet PC’s market dynamics in Russia

• To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the coming years

• To help industry consultants, Tablet PC vendors and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies

• To obtain research based business decision and add weight to presentations and marketing materials

• To gain competitive knowledge of leading players

• To avail 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get the research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer’s specific needs

Report Methodology

The information contained in this report is based upon both primary and secondary sources. Primary research included interviews with Tablet PC vendors, channel partners, developers, and consumers. Secondary research included an exhaustive search of relevant publications like newspapers, websites, annual reports and proprietary databases.

Table of Contents

2. Global Tablet PC Market Outlook

a. Market Size & Forecast

i. by Company

ii. by Region

3. Russia Table PC Market

a. Market Size & Forecast

i. by Company

ii. by Region

4. Russia Tablet PC – Cost Analysis

5. Russia Tablet PC – Applications Market

6. Russia Tablet PC – Operating Systems Market

7. Russia Tablet PC – Processors Market

8. Market Trends & Developments

a. Increasing Shipments

b. Internet Usage Pattern

c. The Russian Manufacturers in the Tablet PC Market

d. Will iPad maintain its Lead till 2016?

e. The Russian Govt. to Ban iPad and Adopt PlayBook or Android Based Tablet PC’s Instead

f. Import Duty and Taxes in Russia

9. Competitive Landscape

a. Apple inc.

Figure 1: Global Tablet PC Market Size Forecast, by Value, 2010-16F (US$ Billions)

Figure 2: Global Tablet PC Shipments, by Volume, 2010-2016F (Million Units)

Figure 3: Global Tablet PC Market Share, by Company, by Shipments, 2011

Figure 4: Global Tablet PC Market Share Forecast, by Company, by Shipments, 2016

Figure 5: Global Tablet PC Market Share, by Region, by Volume, 2011

Figure 6: Global Tablet PC Market Share, by Region, by Volume, 2016

Figure 7: Global Pricing Analysis, 2010-2016 (US$)

Figure 8: Russia Tablet PC Market Size Forecast, by Value, 2010-16F (US$ Billion)

Figure 9: Tablet PC Shipments Global vs. Russia, by volume, 2010-16F (Million Units)

Figure 10: Russia Tablet PC Market Share, by Company, by Volume, 2011

Figure 11: Russia Tablet PC Market Share Forecast, by Company, by Volume, 2016

Figure 12: Russia Tablet PC Market Share, by Region, by Volume, 2011

Figure 13: Russia Tablet PC Market Share Forecast, by Region, by Volume, 2016

Figure 14: Tablet PC Average Selling Price Global vs. Russia, 2010-16F, US$

Figure 15: Tablet PC Applications Market Size, 2011(US$ Million)

Figure 16: Russia Tablet PC Market Share, by Operating System, 2011

Figure 17: Russia Tablet PC Market Share Forecast, by Operating System, 2016

Figure 18: Russia Tablet PC Market Share, by Processors, 2011

Figure 19: Russia Tablet PC Market Share Forecast, by Processors, 2016

Figure 20: Snapdragon Processors Comparison

Figure 21: Internet Users in Russia in 2011

Figure 22: Apple inc. `s Net Income Before Extra ordinaries, 2007-2011, (US$ Billions)

Figure 23 : Apple Inc`s Revenue, by Product, (US$ Millions)

Figure 24: Global iPad`s Sales, April`10 to June`2011 (US$ Millions)

Figure 25: RIM Sales, 2007-2011, (US$ Billions)

Table 1: List of Manufacturers in the Tablet PC Market in Russia

Table 2: HP TouchPad Costing Analysis

Table 3: Apple iPad Costing Analysis

Table 4: Total Applications in Apple App Store and Downloads Worldwide, 2011

Table 5: Total Applications in Android Market and Downloads 2011

Table 6: Apple App Store Category Analysis

Table 7: Android Market Application Category Analysis

Table 8: Samsung App Store Category Analysis

Table 9: Free Application on different Application Store Analysis

Table 10: Percentage of Internet Users in Russia

Table 11: Internet Users in Russia, by Age, July-August 2011

Companies Mentioned

1. Apple inc.

To order this report:

Personal Computer and Server Industry: Russia Tablet PC Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2016

More  Market Research Report

Check our  Industry Analysis and Insights

Contact Nicolas: nicolasbombourg@reportlinker.com US: (805)-652-2626 Intl: +1 805-652-2626

Russia Tablet PC Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2016

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May 13

About Dell Streak Review

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Short VersionIf Charlie the Unicorn has taught us anything it’s that the road to success is fraught with setbacks and, if you’re not careful, your best friends will cut out your kidneys. it is with these life-lessons in mind that we examine the Dell Streak, a 5-inch Android 1.6 tablet that shows much promise Dell inspiron 1520 battery but is hobbled by Android OS fracturing.

Features:

  • 5-inch 800×480 pixel screen
  • 3G WLAN support
  • Wi-Fi
  • Android Tablet
  • MSRP: $299 with contract, $549 without

Pros:

  • Speedy processor
  • Upgradeable storage
  • 3G support

Cons:

  • Slow Android updates
  • A little too big
  • Weak battery cover

Read more Dell news:Dell latitude d630 batteryDell latitude d820 battery

ReviewThe Dell Streak is an odd duck. While I don’t doubt that it is the future, I still have some doubts that this wee tablet with its 5-inch screen and Android kernel is exactly what the world is looking for, devices like this will soon fill the gap between smartphones and laptops Dell inspiron 1525 battery and, most important, offer powerful competition to the iPad. in short, the Streak is a good idea.

The device, when off, is a featureless black slab. When you turn it on, however, three buttons light up on the right edge and the screen really shines. The 800×480 resolution is quite good Dell latitude d620 battery and there is plenty of room for almost every Android UI element.

The device has Wi-Fi and a 3G modem as well as a 5 megapixel camera and replaceable microSD memory. The Streak is a little bit heavy and the Dell inspiron 1720 battery is hidden behind a large removable panel that, if you’re not careful, can pop off accidentally.

The Streak doesn’t know what it wants to be. if you install the Kindle app, it’s an ereader. if you turn on Google Maps it’s a GPS unit. if you play a video that you’ve copied over via side-loading, it’s a media machine. Finally, if you tap the phone button, you’ve basically got a comically large cellphone. These multiple personalities are, in reality, quite a bit of fun and it’s exciting to see the Jack of All Trades come back into the technology space.

The GoodThe Streak is running a 1GHz Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, making it one of the fastest tablets I’ve seen. You can get quite a bit done on this hunk of computing Dell inspiron 6400 battery power including some minor text editing. however, unlike the iPad, it’s a bit too small for real word processing or spreadsheet editing.

About Dell Streak Review

May 09

Kindle Fire vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)

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By Paul Biba

An interesting comparison of two similar devices in GottaBeMobile.  The reviewer likes the Tab 2 a lot:

With the introduction of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Samsung has entered the low-cost tablet space with an excellent entrant. Priced at $249, it’s only $50 more than the $199 Kindle fire from Amazon.

The price alone is enough to tempt many users, but $50 is a significant gap when budgets are tight. Is the Galaxy Tab 2 worth the $50 premium?

For many consumers the answer is yes, but price isn’t the only aspect you should consider. There’s also ease of use, access to content, available apps, and how you want to use the device. Comparing the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and the Kindle fire round by round reveals key differences that will help you decide which is better for your needs.

Both the Galaxy Tab 2 and the Kindle fire run on Android, though with the latter you wouldn’t know it by looking. each represents a different experience that can be a big factor in your decision of which to buy.

The Tab 2 runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a interface/skin over it called TouchWiz. TouchWiz changes the look of Android a little and makes it a bit easier to use by tweaking features and functions. However, the experience you get is pretty much the same as with most Android devices.

You’ll also get the benefits of the newest Android operating system — one that’s made specifically to work on large displays. Samsung doesn’t place any extra limitations on the apps you can download or sideload.

The Kindle fire runs Android 2.3 with a heavily modified, simpler user interface. this makes it much friendlier to consumers who aren’t tech-savvy and aren’t familiar with Android.

It also means the tablet is restricted in many ways. Amazon’s own apps and media are privileged, of course, and the only official source of apps is the Amazon App Store. Users can’t easily access all of the settings available in Android and sideloading your content isn’t always easy.

There are ways to get around some of these restrictions, some of which don’t involve rooting the device, but the bottom line is that these are hacks and Amazon can cut them off at any time if they wanted with a software update. Plus, it’s a lot of hassle to do something that’s inherent on the Galaxy Tab 2.

Read the rest in the review.

(Via GottaBeMobile.com.)

 

Kindle Fire vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)

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Jan 29

With iPad 3 launch, will Apple drop lowest iPad 2 ...

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The iPad 3 rumor mill is churning furiously now, but what will be the fate of the iPad 2 when Apple’s latest tablet inevitably drops?

The first-generation iPad got a $100 price cut until units ran out when the iPad 2 was released, but that was when there was basically no competition for the Apple tablets. now at least the Kindle fire with its $199 price tag is selling in the millions, and Amazon promises a new version soon.

Apple could make a couple of moves to blunt the Kindle Fire’s growth. According to DigiTimes, there may be two different flavors of iPad 3 — a higher-end model with “retina display” and a lower-tier one with a similar display to the iPad 2. It’s certainly possible that the version with the higher-resolution screen will be priced at $499, with the other model starting at $399. But the price difference between $199 and $399 is still steep, so Apple could then drop the iPad 2 price to $299 to fill in that gap. at this point, there are plenty of people who won’t need the iPad 3’s new bells and whistles and could gladly scoop up a iPad 2 for $299.

But would Apple get even more aggressive? after all, the iPad 2 supply could be limited, and once they’re gone, then its cheapest slate would only be $399, which more Android tablet makers can match (like the Sony Tablet S). Could the company drop the iPad 2 price all the way to $199 to match the Kindle fire and then charge $299 for the new entry-level iPad 3?

As smartphone competition heated up, Apple was aggressive in slashing prices for its iPhones. do you think it will be equally aggressive with its iPad pricing in 2012? let us know your thoughts in the Talkback section.

With iPad 3 launch, will Apple drop lowest iPad 2 price to $299 — or lower?

Dec 19

Bullish Cross Research predicts Apple blowout for ...

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While some analysts are predicating a fall for Apple with increased competition for iPhone and iPad in the current quarter, Bullish Cross Research said Friday that Apple will deliver “mother of all earnings blowouts.”

In Apple’s year, we are in the first quarter of FY2011. According to the Bullish Cross analysts, Apple will outperform expectations (again) in iPhone sales, which will send the company’s stock price higher.

We expect this blowout to be largely driven by Wall Street underestimating the power of the IPhone side of the force. that will be the story this quarter. we expect Apple to conservatively report that it shipped 32-40 million iPhones far ahead of the 25 million iPhones that Wall Street expects out of the company. that will be the largest gap between Wall Street expectations and actual results since the iPhone was first introduced in 2007.

According to the report, Apple in the past has topped consensus expectations for iPhone sales by as much as 20 percent. This Q1 prediction is more than twice that number.

I observe that even in this terrible retail climate, the Apple Stores I visit here in the San Francisco Bay Area and in New York are always crowded. in my nearby mall, there’s still a rope line parked outside the Apple Store for the queue of iPhone buyers. interesting.

(Please note that from the time that I began to write about the Apple market (1986) up to and including today, I have never owned Apple stock. okay, even before then.)

Bullish Cross Research predicts Apple blowout for quarter

Dec 04

Handsome Articles » Acer Iconia Tab W500 ...

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Tablet or notebook? It’s a question not only for the new Acer Iconia Tab W500, but for anyone looking to buy a new portable PC at the moment.

Tablets are clearly all the rage; you only need to look at the excitement surrounding the launch of the Apple iPad 2. many perceive these tablets as holding the key to moving mobile computing forward.

The problem is, tablets aren’t particularly productive devices. They’re about watching movies or listening to music. They’re about surfing the web on your sofa, or reading a book in a hammock. Tablets are about entertainment. They’re rarely about actually creating the content that they are consuming.

Anyone looking to do work or create content on the move is generally limited to using a standard computer.

There is a place for showing reports using a tablet, or for extreme working conditions where a keyboard isn’t practical, but in the most part, we’re limited to netbooks and notebooks.

This is something Acer is looking to challenge with the release of the Iconia Tab W500. here is a machine that bridges the gap between the aesthetics of a tablet and functionality of a netbook.

This 10.1-inch tablet not only ships with a keyboard dock (which costs ￡80 extra – ￡529 with keyboard, ￡449 without it) to afford it more sensible working credentials, but it also comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, which means you can use all the applications that you use on a normal desktop on the Iconia Tab W500 without any more fuss.

There’s no need here to learn how to fight your away around an unwieldy app store full of unknown names. this machine will handle the applications, utilities and tools that you know and love – the likes of Microsoft Word and Excel, Paint.net as well as media players such as VLC, and security programs like McAfee AntiVirus plus.

There are no worries about whether it supports Flash or Java either, as they just work. it has no problems running with system specific plug-ins either, as the likes of Unity simply install and run flawlessly too.

And while Apple may be crowing about the capabilities of the new PowerVR graphics engine in the iPad 2, there are still slim pickings when it comes to actual games that fully exploit the machine.

The PC however is awash with great games, including some of the finest titles ever created on any platform – half Life 2, Diablo and Civilization to name but a few. And all these games will run on the Iconia Tab W500.

This makes the decision to side with Microsoft for the operating system compelling, although this isn’t the only option out there. Apple’s iOS isn’t about to appear on a third party machine, but the imminent release of Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) for tablets must surely have tempted Acer as well. while it lacks the straight compatibility that Microsoft Windows OS offers, it does potentially make for a more suited OS for day-to-day tasks.

Handsome Articles » Acer Iconia Tab W500 review

Nov 14

HP Steps Up Tablet PC Game With Windows 7-Powered ...

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The future of webOS is still up in the air, but Hewlett-Packard is bringing a new horse to the tablet race with Slate 2, the follow-up to the Slate 500 tablet HP launched last year.

Like its predecessor, the Slate 2 isn’t a tablet in the iPad mold, but a Windows 7 tablet PC that HP is pitching to the education, health-care, government and retail sectors. And until Microsoft launches Windows 8, the Slate 2 will likely be the only tabletlike device in the HP portfolio.

Slated for availability later this month, HP’s Slate 2 includes a number of incremental performance and usability upgrades and comes with an Intel Atom Z670 processor, an 8.9-inch diagonal capacitive multitouch display and battery life of up to six hours. For security-crazed enterprise customers, the Slate 2 comes with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip and BIOS support for Computrace Pro for remote wiping of data on the device. at $699, it’s $100 cheaper than the Slate 500.

Perhaps the most noticeable upgrade is the Slate 2′s new Swype keyboard, which replaces the somewhat clunky keyboard of the Slate 500 and allows for much less infuriating data entry using a finger or stylus.

Samsung and Dell recently released Windows 7 tablets, joining early movers including Asus, Acer and Fujitsu, notes Gurpreet Kaur, a tablet analyst for Gap Intelligence, a San Diego-based research firm. but despite the growth in this segment, Kaur isn’t convinced that Windows 7 is an appropriate OS for this form factor.

“Even though Android 2.3 or earlier versions were not meant for tablets, vendors still shipped products with dated Android OS versions,” Kaur said. “Users may not have the best experience while using Windows 7 on a tablet.”

HP channel partners, meanwhile, are still giddy over the company’s decision not to sell or spin off its PC- and tablet-making Personal Systems Group. And they’re encouraged that HP is getting back to focusing on hardware and its Microsoft partnership.

Daniel Duffy, CEO of Valley Network Solutions, a Fresno, Calif.-based solution provider, hasn’t seen much demand for Windows 7 tablets but is optimistic that Microsoft will get it right. “I’m hopeful that Microsoft will find the right niche for Windows 8,” Duffy said. “But they’ll also have to match the hype and marketing demand that Apple has been so effective at creating.”

Travis Fisher, executive vice president at Inacom Information Systems, a Salisbury, Md.-based solution provider, believes Windows 7 tablets will be popular because of the giant application ecosystem that exists around the OS, which includes custom-built apps.

While it remains to be seen how Windows 8 will integrate into business environments, Fisher is already exploring potential sales strategies for Windows 8 tablets. “We can always throw Software Assurance on the tablet to give customers an immediate Windows 8 upgrade option if that’s what they are looking for,” he said.

The Slate 500 had a rocky debut, with HP reportedly producing a limited number at launch and then failing to ramp up production until after it had begun touting the applicability of webOS and the TouchPad in business environments. now that the TouchPad is history, HP can offer a single product to enterprise verticals and minimize confusion in its tablet-hungry customer base.

HP Steps Up Tablet PC Game With Windows 7-Powered Slate 2