HP's Slate to undercut iPad, and with other competitors emerging soon, is Apple panicking?‏

Rumors suggest that Apple is preparing to make improvements to the iPad and is planning to reduce its price prior to the tablet PC's impending release

HP's mysterious 'Slate'

The iPad

Microsoft's intriguing Courier

HP announced its new tablet PC, dubbed 'Slate', at this year's CES, prior to Apple's unveiling of the iPad; although it kept details about the Slate to a minimum. There is a rumor circulating that HP deliberately withheld information about its Slate, until Apple had fully announced the iPad. Apparently, since the iPad's unveiling, HP has started meeting with its partners to discuss the pricing and features of the Slate. With the specifications and price of Apple's progeny out in the open, HP is alleged to have timed such meetings to capitalise on the iPad's weaknesses.

Whilst HP's Slate excites consumers with a release date set for sometime this year, Microsoft is also quietly leaking information about its new tablet PC, called the 'Courier'. Although there is no official word on a release date for this device, it is another serious competitor for Apple to worry about. With HP and Microsoft watching the iPad's first steps into the world, is Apple actually worried? Apparently so: an Apple employee has been quoted saying that the company is panicking, and is adopting an emergency strategy to reduce the iPad's price prior to launch. Apple may also be planning to bolster the iPad with improved specifications and capabilities. If this rumor is true, what improvements could Apple be planning?

We recently listed ten of the iPad's most significant weaknesses; of the ten, perhaps the most fundamental one is the machine's inability to multitask, which severely cripples the device. Couple this major flaw with the iPad's lack of Flash support, and the device suddenly becomes a niche product in Apple's already very narrow market. It also lacks an integrated card reader, a USB port, a HDMI port, a webcam and a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Apple seems suitably provoked by all the negative media attention it's new product has received. For example, in an apparent capitulation against the criticism regarding the iPad's failure to support Flash, Steve Jobs has decided to defend the device by criticising Flash video players as unnecessary drains on processor power. Steve has also remarked that the apparently outdated technology has holes in its security and is not worth investing in. These remarks were made in light of the allegation that Flash is to blame for most of the browser crashes occurring on Macs.

Steve also attempted to illustrate the inefficiency of Flash, by stating that using such technology on an iPad would reduce its battery life of 10 hours to just 1.5 hours. However, Steve's alleged diatribe against Adobe's software revealed only dramatic irony to his listeners: the illustration served to highlight one of the iPad's several weaknesses - several mobile devices are more than capable of processing Flash without immediately reducing their battery life by 85 per cent.

Should Apple be worried about HP's Slate?

With HP's secretive stance, it's hard to discern its greatest features, but HP has at least revealed the concept behind the new tablet PC. Phil McKinney, HP's PSG vice president and chief technology officer, outlined the Slate's intended role in the marketplace and its basic features. The Slate was created to fit an apparent gap in the portable computing market between smartphones and netbooks. It's an all-in-one device, which can be used to browse the internet, enjoy HD content on websites, watch movies, listen to music and read magazines, newspapers and books. Phil also stated that the device was built and ready for production almost two years ago, but HP decided not to release it due to its likely price tag of almost $1500 and its probable cool reception by consumers.

Phil said that 2010 was the right year for the Slate, mainly due to the advent of low cost and low power processors, Windows 7 with touchscreen support, and lower cost multi-touch hardware. HP will apparently set the Slate's price just below Apple's 3G iPad, although the company hasn't mentioned when the Slate will be ready exactly. If HP waits too long, Apple may be able to mitigate HP's undercutting strategy by doing some undercutting of its own, although Apple would serve its coffers better by focusing on improving its device. For now, Apple's pricing remains as follows: the Wi-Fi version of the iPad will cost $499 and will ship at the end of March, whilst the 3G version will cost $629 and will ship during April.