HP has been widely expected to release a tablet product based on the newly acquired webOS operating system once the Palm deal closes in July. Now, Digitimes has confirmation from HP Taiwan that the HP Slate tablet will indeed run webOS.
Microsoft has clearly and very publicly gotten the boot from HP's upcoming tablet, which is why HP CEO Mark Hurd tried to reassure analysts on the most recent HP earnings call that the software maker is still an important HP partner. Still, no amount of damage control can obscure the simple fact that the company that gave us Surface—a pioneering and by all accounts magical multitouch interface—does not have a real multitouch OS. Sure, Microsoft has the multitouch-enabled Windows 7, but the company doesn't have a viable competitor for the iPhone OS or webOS in the tablet space. The reason for this gap in Microsoft's product line is an enduring mystery, and we would welcome clarification in the comments if anyone can provide it.
Digitimes also reports that the tablet will be out in October, which fits with earlier rumors that it would launch in late summer or early fall. There's no word yet on pricing, or on which processor (Atom or ARM) the tablet will use.
Source: ars technica
