The world’s largest PC manufacturer, HP has released more information about the Slate – its answer to Apple’s iPad. The latest information confirms some of the hardware specifications of the Slate, along with some of the peripherals that will be available for it.

We now know that the HP Slate:

• Runs Windows 7.
• Has at least one USB port.
• Has an SD card slot for memory expansion (up to 128GB extra) or getting media from cameras and other devices.
• Has two cameras, one on the back of the device and one on the front.
• Runs Skype, with video.
• Has a docking station that can be connected to a television or other additional monitor that it can push out high definition (up to 1080p) video to.
• Will be available in 32GB and 64GB versions with optional 3G connection.
• Will sell for between $549 and $599 in the USA.
• Rocks the Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor and 1GB of RAM.
• Has a GPS.
• Has a 9″ screen.
• Will provide about 5 hours of battery life.

How does this compare to the iPad? I think we’re really dealing with two different categories of device here.

There is little you will not be able to do with the HP Slate, which is really a tablet netbook, especially when it comes to content creation. The iPad is more of a media and information consumption device. It’s a computing appliance, while the Slate is a computer.

The iPad doesn’t multitask, doesn’t have cameras or USB ports and a SD card slot, all of which the HP Slate does have. But the iPad offers 10 to 12 hours of battery life as a result, and is also highly stable by all accounts, with less chance of operating system hangs and crashes.

The iPad is the device you go to when it’s time to play games, watch a movie or read books and your favourite websites. Sure, you could use it for content creation, but it is limited in this regard. The Slate, on the other hand, could allow for some serious work or collaboration, depending on what kind of keyboard solutions we see for (or on) it.

The iPad touchscreen and multitouch interface will undoubtedly beat the Slate, although I do take a risk in saying that, because we haven’t seen the Slate yet – but so far no one has come close to Apple in touch interface technology.

The Slate is likely to crash more often and will probably be less responsive than the iPad. I can’t imagine it being better for reading books or watching movies and the reduced battery life will be a big factor for some users – especially where price isn’t an issue.

But for most people the Slate will be irresistible. It costs as much as the iPad does, but you simply get a lot more bang for buck, barring battery life. And while I don’t see the two devices as being in the same category, I suspect most people would disagree with me.