Rumor: HP to release 'Hurricane' tablet with WebOS in Q3

One week after computer maker HP agreed to purchase the struggling smartphone maker Palm for $1.2 billion in cash, we reported that the company was removing Windows 7 from its much-hyped Slate tablet, instead choosing to use a WebOS variant.

This weekend, "industry insiders" have noted that a WebOS-based tablet dubbed the HP Hurricane is set for release in the Q3 2010.

Says one analyst of the Slate, Paul Mueller, via The Examiner: "It is a really interesting device, but runs as slow as a turtle. I think they could have had something with a faster processor, but that would have led to less battery life than the Slate already had."

Mueller can't wait to see how the Hurricane will work though: "If rumors of this tablet are true, this can be a killer device--webOS is an outstanding operating system for a tablet."

The Slate, in its original state, would have run on Windows 7, would have been $549 at its cheapest, and had an 8.9-inch 1024x600 multi-touch screen. Additionally, the tablet had a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor, 1GB RAM, SDHC slot (with support up to 128GB), two cameras, a USB port, a SIM card slot, and five-hour battery life.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 9 May 2010 21:18

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10 comments

biglo30

Good move Hp.

9.5.2010 22:40 #1

shaffaaf

this is a buy form me.

9.5.2010 22:49 #2

diabolic

I was looking forward to doing some digital sketching with this device. As a graphic designer / artist I would love to have a portable tablet, I already own a cintiq.

It's unfortunate that windows 7 isn't a good option for a tablet, I would have lined up to get one so that I could install a light (older version) corel painter.

9.5.2010 23:14 #3

aftercheck (unverified)

HP Hurricane running webOS?! That can certainly blow the iPad away...it's the #1 mobile operating system today which includes true multitasking; not even the iPad can compete with. Everyone complained that the battery life on the HP Slate is really poor while Windows 7 is not designed for multi-touch screen, and finally takes too long to startup; but with webOS on it, there's no more excuses. webOS consumes less power, designed for multi-touch screen, and starts up very fast even for a mobile smartphone - Palm Pre/Pixi.

HP Hurricane should have the ability to PRINT your photos and documents, use USB accessories, and even play Flash! Additional features not even the iPad can do today!

9.5.2010 23:54 #4

shaffaaf

no the palm pre take a couple minutes to start up. my PC loads up faster than my palm pre. but ia 100% agree with everything else

10.5.2010 00:05 #5

KillerBug

It should have the ability to run Android...then it might have a chance...then again, they are using the intel Atom...it never had a chance to start with...it is not powerful enough to justify the power it uses.

10.5.2010 00:31 #6

shaffaaf

Originally posted by KillerBug: It should have the ability to run Android...then it might have a chance...then again, they are using the intel Atom...it never had a chance to start with...it is not powerful enough to justify the power it uses. how do you know they are going to use the atom for the hurricane?

10.5.2010 00:40 #7

KillerBug

From the article: "The Slate, in its original state, would have run on Windows 7, would have been $549 at its cheapest, and had an 8.9-inch 1024x600 multi-touch screen. Additionally, the tablet had a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor, 1GB RAM, SDHC slot (with support up to 128GB), two cameras, a USB port, a SIM card slot, and five-hour battery life."

Ok, so it isn't the original state anymore...but I doubt that the lazy bastards at HP would start over with a nice mobile processor for WebOS...after all, if they were going to go through that much trouble, they would also replace webos with Android. Oh, and they would stop installing both Norton and McAfee on their new computers...I wonder why the slate's battery died so quick!

10.5.2010 02:08 #8

shaffaaf

its says had, not will have. and why would they replace webOS with a lesser OS?

10.5.2010 03:04 #9

robertmro

Rushing a tablet to market is a bad idea.

13.5.2010 07:27 #10

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