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Microsoft’s dual-screen Courier and HP Windows 7 Slate canned

April 30, 2010 at 2:32 pm


Microsoft CourierTwo of the most talked-about portable gadgets of recent months have been shelved according to sources. Microsoft’s rumoured dual-screen Courier project will not see the light of day according to Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s VP of corporate communications.

“The “Courier” project is an example of this type of effort and its technologies will be evaluated for use in future Microsoft offerings, but we have no plans to build such a device at this time,” said Shaw.

In less surprising news, Hewlett-Packard is believed to have canned the Windows 7 HP Slate. This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise to us, especially considering reports of sluggish Windows 7 performance from its Atom processor. The company’s recent acquisition of Palm most likely indicates a webOS tablet will turn up to replace it in the future.

Via Engadget and TechCrunch.

Comments

2,246 Responses to “Microsoft’s dual-screen Courier and HP Windows 7 Slate canned”

  1. Charles said:
    April 30th, 2010 4:31 PM

    The good news is, Notion Ink’s Adam sounds like it’s still coming and that has some great hardware specs and will have Android throughly tweak for usability on a tablet. Also, now WebOS might actually get a life with HP and do something. Finally, these tablets really need a much more efficient screen like Pixel Qi that also allows ebook reading as well as LCD quality HD video playback.

    While companies are trying to play catchup with the iPad I think it’s wise to hold off till they really get the hardware & software combo right to make these devices truly multi-functional with long battery life.

  2. Steve said:
    May 2nd, 2010 1:35 AM

    Unfortunately, Microsoft and HP didn’t collaborate closely enough on whether Windows7 User Interface can be used in a slate format with predominately finger input. They are equally to blame but for HP to have not figured this out until the 11th hour and then dump it might be even more embarrassing to MS then it is to HP. Very Unfortunate.

  3. Hp Slate said:
    May 6th, 2010 8:22 PM

    Hp Slate will probably be doing a last minute change of the OS. It is rumor that HP will be dropping Microsoft 7 OS from their Slate device. WebOS (most likely) will be their operating system of choice. Last heard is that HP was NOT happy with the performance of Microsoft 7 as a touch screen device. With HP purchasing Palm recently and with it came WebOS, it seems only likely that HP will be using WebOS as their OS for the Slate.
    HP may also be dropping the Intel processor for something “LESS POWER HUNGARY”. If they go to the new OS they won’t need the Intel processor and thus will gain a few more hours of battery life. Something that they were hammered on in hands on testing.

  4. hp slate 32gb said:
    May 11th, 2010 4:47 PM

    Back in January, HP VP Phil McKinney says the Slate running Windows 7 is a “real product. It’s not a prototype or concept. We’re committed to delivering it in 2010.” And this relatively long testimonial from Adobe in March says the Windows 7 HP Slate “will be available in the market later this year.”
    Of course, HP can change its mind. And the acquisition of Palm and the WebOS may give HP pause. But one argument being made is that HP may bring out tablets based on Windows 7 and Palm’s WebOS. HP is not averse to bringing out several different models in one product segment, as this San Jose Mercury News article points out. Ezra Gottheil, an analyst at Technology Business Research, said he believes that HP will bring out both a Windows 7 Slate and a product based on Palm’s WebOS. “Vendors will experiment to see which ones are a hit,” he said, in a phone interview.
    “I don’t think the Slate has been canceled. This is a delay, if anything,” said Ben Bajarin with Creative Strategies. “The question is, will they bring out different products at different price points.” HP may opt for a Windows 7 Slate for some segments, while a hypothetical WebOS-based tablet will address others, Bajarin said.
    Source from http://www.news.cnet.com

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