No, it’s not a baby. It’s another gadget. More later.

Two of the main differences between the two slates relates to form factor. The EP121 has the larger screen size, 12.1” vs. 11.6”, and a correspondingly higher weight, 2.6 lbs. vs. 2.06 lbs. One-half a pound less weight seems a nice trade-off for one-half inch screen size.

But the other and perhaps most important difference is inside. Both have Core i5 processors. But the EP121 is first generation, the Series 7 second (Sandy Bridge). The difference is battery life, say 3 hours vs. 6 hours.

The Series 7 is supposed to be available for online ordering on October 2. Looks interesting. However, I already have the EP 121. Also, Windows 8 is around the corner (mid-2012?). Samsung has indicated the Series 7 is upgradeable to Windows 8. But I’ve heard such promises before (e.g., Xoom to LTE).

I am thinking of upgrading one of my tablets to Windows 8 Developer Preview. Perhaps I could justify a purchase of the Series 7 that way? Must resist …

Update: My friend Steve “Chippy” Paine of Ultrabook News, an expert on this device type (and on giving me justifications to buy them), offered me some additional reasons (e.g. besides better battery life and processor) to part with my $$:

Rapid start 
Wi-Di (at first I thought this was a typo for Wi-Fi)
Quick Sync Video 

There’s also Smart Connect. As this list keeps expanding, my chances of holding on to my $$ decrease.

Speculation is that Microsoft will demo at the D9 Conference next week the tablet UI for Windows 8, which (supposedly) is based more on the touch Windows Phone 7 than the keyboard/mouse Windows 7.

The redoubtable Rob Bushway posted his expectations (hopes) of what Microsoft will demonstrate. In short (as I read it), the base of the new OS is Windows Phone 7, not Windows 7  and inking as well as touch is well integrated.

I hope so. We’ll see soon.

I told you last month about a recent addition to my gadget harem, the Eee Slate EP121, a Windows 7 Tablet PC slate with a Core i5 processor and a 12.1” screen. I’ve now written a detailed review from the perspective of a business user. You won’t find the review here though. I wrote it for UMPC Portal. So take a look at it there. Feel free to post comments here or there. Hope you find the review useful.

Asus Slate EP 121 slate Tablet PC just arrived! Windows 7 (Home premium, 64 bit) OS so I can run Windows applications. Large screen – 12.1” – for easier display and input of Windows applications. Speaking of input – dual capacitive screen + active (Wacom) digitizer. Powerhouse: Core i5 (U470) processor + 4 GB DDR3 RAM + 64 GB SSD. Relatively light for a 12.1” screen;  2.6 lbs. Also relatively light on the pocketbook – $1,046.  Just setting up now before I have to go teach tonight so battery life unknown. Will be writing more!

You may ask why I need another tablet? Well, technically I don’t need anything except for oxygen, water, sex and food. Actually, the issue is not my needs, but the college’s. Let me explain.

The college only will permit computers on its MAC address list to connect to its wired network. This makes sense from a security standpoint. A college issued laptop of course is on the approved MAC address list.

I teach computer science, so I clearly need a computer. For a variety of reasons, I sometimes need to connect to the wired network to use a laptop in instruction.

These are tough financial times for community colleges. I offered to use my own tablet – which would save the college $$ of getting me a laptop — if the college would put my tablet on the approved list so I could connect it to the wired network. However, I ran into that dreaded word in academia: “Policy.” The college would let me hook up my tablet to the wired network only if I would donate my tablet to the college. WTF? Don’t get me wrong. I often use my personal resources to supplement what the college provides for instruction. But donating a several thousand dollar tablet so I can save them the cost of buying me a laptop was a non-starter. Thanks but no thanks.

Maybe it’s all for the best. I can segregate my college work from my other work, each to its own Tablet PC.

The 2740p is a nice Tablet PC, on par with my workhorse Lenovo x201t Tablet PC. Both are no longer cutting edge. Indeed the x201t has just been refreshed by the Lenovo x220t Tablet PC, which has the new (and battery-saving) Sandy Bridge processor. I anticipate a refresh of the 2740p is not far behind. Still, the 2740p is very nice, even if no longer cutting edge. I’m lucky to have it.

I will be writing soon on how I use the 2740p in the classroom.

The x201t has been one of the kings of convertible Tablet PC mountain for a while. But no reign lasts forever, especially in gadget land. Lenovo has announced the x201t’s successor, the x220t, together with its non-touch sibling, the x220.

The refresh seems more incremental than generational. Still, one difference is very important: Much longer battery life, like 15 hours! Short battery life (e.g. 3 hours) has been an Achilles’ heel of tablets. The x220t uses Intel’s new Sandy Bridge processors, whose claim to fame is longer battery life.

There are other differences. 12.5” display vs 12.1”, better trackpad, Gorilla glass. But longer battery life seems the main one.

This refresh is coming next month, the x220t starting at $1,199. Impressive, but not enough to make me think of trading in my x201t. Especially with 2 new tablets coming, the … well, that’s for other posts soon

Mr. Google led me to forums. Forums let me to posts. Posts led me to TNET Services’ listing of Slate 500 accessories. That page provides parts number for the stylus, docking station, etc. These accessories may not be listed on the device’s Slate 500 accessories page. But they can be purchased as parts from the HP Parts Store. I hadn’t though of that. I also learned from the same page that a Fujitsu stylus is basically identical to the one shipped with the Slate 500, but is about half the price of the one available through the HP Parts Store.

I thought I’d share this information with others who, like me, are having a hard time locating accessories for the Slate 500.

I won’t take a mobile device with me when I start my long day if it will run out of power half way through the day. Otherwise, I’m just carrying a brick with me much of my day.

Ideally, I want the device’s battery to last all day. I don’t care if I need to plug in the device when I get home at night. However, I don’t have chargers at each of the several places I’m at during the day.

My Galaxy Tab shines in the battery life department. I’m sure it helps that it can go in and out of standby almost instantly. The same applied to my iPad before my wife nationalized it.

By contrast, the HP Slate 500 battery will not last all day with normal (for me) use.  I don’t have precise metrics, and battery life does depend on variables such as screen brightness, which radios are on or off, etc. However, I’m getting only a few hours. This is not unexpected. Windows 7 tablets just don’t have great battery life.

I could include in my mobile bag an adapter and cable (for the proprietary connection). However, that assumes one was available. Surprisingly (to me anyway), available accessories for the Slate 500 have been few and far between. So far just two, the adapter/cable, and an Ethernet adapter. And the adapter/cable has been on back order.

Per FedEx, I should receive the adapter/cable mid next week. I then should be able to put the Slate 500 through its paces and give you my thoughts on one of very few Windows OS slates in what’s mostly an Android sea.

The box (duh) with my lunch for size perspective. It’s a big box. It’s not much of lunch. But I got to cut corners someplace to afford all of these gadgets.

Large box contains 3 smaller boxes. Sort of like a geek version of a matryoshka doll.

Contents of first box. Folio case, which for now holds the Get Started guide + other stuff.

Inside of folio case. Has a leather-like outside, soft inside and elastic holders. Note: Middle one will hold the digitizer. Quality OK, it does protect the device, but there should be better choices soon.

The other stuff in box #1. Get Started guide, warranty mumbo jumbo, Windows 7 Pro OS restore DVD, Application and Driver Recovery DVD, cleaning cloth. On to Box #2, which contains ….

… the grand prize. Sorry for the reflection on the screen. I told you I’m not a good photographer.

Back view. Very grippable. Important for one-handed use, given the size and weight of the device.

Contents of box #3. Power cord and adapter, digitizer, and dock. Digitizer includes a battery and a lanyard. No slot though in Slate 500 to store the digitizer. However, the middle elastic strip in the folio case (see a few pictures above) will hold the digitizer. The dock folds up; good for mobility. The two silver-colored brackets allow you to support and tilt the device.

Another view of the dock. The connector on the bottom of the device fits into the connector towards the bottom of the dock.

Rear of dock: 2 USB ports, power port, HDMI, audio.

End result. HP Slate 500 in its dock.

Well, that’s it for now. As I said, soon I will be posting impressions on this Tablet PC.