The line begins with the Eee Pad MeMO (shown above), the aforementioned 7.1-incher that runs on Android 3.0. It looks pretty much like a rather huge smartphone than a tablet, but comes with a stylus in case you don’t want to smudge the screen with your fingers. Touch input is totally fine if you want to go that route though, since the screen features capacitive touch tech. It’s pretty slim and compact, but also comes with a micro HDMI port that can output full 1080p video. The MeMO is due out in June for $399.

Next up the line is the Eee Pad Transformer. The MeMO’s big brother also runs on Android 3.0, but features a more spacious 10.1-inch screen powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 chipset for better graphics. The ‘Transformer’ part of the name comes from an optional keyboard dock that you can slot the tablet onto for a more notebook-like feel and a longer battery life (the keyboard dock adds and extra battery that’s listed to extend runtimes to 16 hours). Like the MeMO, the Transformer also comes with a mini HDMI port and 1080p output capabilities, but adds two cameras (5MP at the back, 1.2MP up front) for video chatting and general photo-snapping if don’t mind holding up a 10.1-inch screen in front of you to snap a shot. The Transformer is due out in April for $499.

The Eee Pad Slider is identical to the Transformer, coming with the same OS, screen size and features, but this one comes with a built-in keyboard instead of the optional detachable kit on the first. The keyboard on this one can be accessed by sliding (get it?) the screen up to get the notebook feel. The Slider is set for a May release for $499.

The last and most expensive model is the 12.1-inch Eee Slate EP121, which is a full-on tablet PC that runs on Windows 7 Home Premium instead of Android, and comes with a spec that’ll put the average mainstream notebook to shame. The EP121 packs an Intel Core i5 processor and up to 4GBs of DDR3 RAM. The spec’s rounded out by Wi-fi n and Bluetooth connectivity, a 2MP front-side cam, two USB ports, mini HDMI output, and 32 or 64GB SSD storage and an SDHC/SDXC card slot. For input, the EP121 packs its own detached keyboard and a stylus for accurate tapping. This model will be the first to ship, set to arrive this month starting at $999.

The “year of the tablet” is almost over, and almost every known electronics manufacturer has announced plans to put out a tablet. Except for Sony. It doesn’t look like it’s going to go that way for long though. Plans for a tablet PC has just turned up at the FCC, and it’s going to come with Sony’s VAIO brand. The plans have been tagged with a PCG-31xxL model number, but that’s about it as far as known details go. The filing doesn’t come with a product photo or even a clear sketch, but since it’s a VAIO, it’s likely to run Windows 7. Other details are being held confidential until January 20, which could mean that Sony’s planning to unveil the tablet (or tablets) during their CES presentation on January 5. [via Engadget]

It’s tiny, it’s a convertible tablet with multi-touch support, and it’s now available. Fujitsu just started shipping the Lifebook T580, which is an ultracompact, netbook-sized 10-inch Windows PC that conventionally folds in or out for use as a tablet or as a notebook. It’s no low-cost, light-duty netbook though. While the spec isn’t as high-end as you’d expect from a laptop with a four-figure price tag, it’s not bad at all. The T580 packs a low-voltage Intel Core i3 processor, 2GBs of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a six-cell battery that should give it a fairly long burn away from a socket.

The screen is what sets this tablet PC apart (and it also explains the relatively high price tag): the 1366 x 768-resolution LED-backlit screen supports four-finger multi-touch input for controlling the interface using gestures. It also supports stylus input, in case you’d rather use a pen for scribbling, sketching, and tapping more accurately.

The rest of the spec is pretty standard, rounded out by Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, an ambient light sensor to keep power usage down, a fingerprint sensor, and an optional GPS module. Other upgrades include a faster 1.33GHz Core i5, 4GBs of RAM, a 128GB SSD or up to a 500GB, 7200rpm hard drive. The base bundle starts at $1,149, bundled with Windows 7 Professional and Microsoft’s Touch Pack that includes touch-friendly games and apps. [via Electronista]

The teaser video Dell released earlier this month was definitely eye-catching: it showed off a touchscreen tablet that flips into a notebook thanks to an unorthodox hinge that twists the screen in its frame. Of course, it could all well be just a gimmick, since convertible tablet/notebooks have been around for ages, but at least it’s what makes the Dell Inspiron Duo interesting enough to set it apart from hundreds of netbooks and the growing number of tablets popping up.

The Inspiron Duo is essentially a convertible netbook (a really attractive one, if you’re into good, slim designs) that features a 10.1 inch multitouch screen, and a 1.5GHz dual core Atom processor, 2GBs of RAM, and a standard 250GB hard drive. It’s also capable of 1080p HD video playback thanks to a Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator, and can be equipped with an optional JBL speaker dock to turn it into a nice 10-inch touchscreen media player.

Hands free: The optional JBL dock turns the Duo into a 10-inch touch-based multimedia player.

To make it touch-friendly, the Inspiron Duo also comes with a custom interface on top of Windows 7 that gives you quick access to media, the web, and an e-reader in case you want to flip it into tablet form and just lay back.

Set for an early December release, the Inspiron Duo is a little bit more expensive compared to a standard netbook at $549, but if you’re in the market for a compact Windows-based tablet and a new netbook for getting some work done, it’s an interesting option. Buying it along with the JBL dock raises the price to $649.

New developments on the Lenovo U1 Hybrid/LePad tablet we first saw way back in January: first, they also pushed back the China launch from December to early 2011. Now they’re saying that it’s also going to arrive in the US sometime next year, and that they’re putting a lot of money (to the tune of $15.1M) to get developers working on a separate app store for the LePad.

The final specs weren’t mentioned, but unless they suddenly change it, this hybrid tablet/laptop comes in two parts. The LePad tablet is a detachable screen that comes with its own Snapdragon processor, 512MBs of RAM, 16GBs of Flash storage and Android OS, but turns into a full Windows 7 notebook when you dock it onto the keyboard half. When docked, the system runs on an Intel processor, 4GBs of memory and integrated Intel graphics that’s packed into the lower half.

Awesome concept for sure, although by next year, it could run into a brick wall made up of a heap of other tablets that includes the BlackBerry PlayBook, the next-gen iPad, as well as expected tablets from LG (the Optimus Pad), Motorola (Stingray) and whatever HTC may or may not be working on.

As a notebook/ tablet PC hybrid, the form factor is pretty typical: the Booktop features an 11.6-inch touchscreen panel that twists and folds on a central hinge to turn it into either. When connected to the docking station, you can turn off the system and just use it as an 11.6-inch display.

The specs look pretty good if you’re looking for a decent notebook system. The T1125 runs on Intel’s Core i3 or i5 processors, and features Nvidia’s Optimus technology for switching between integrated and dedicated GPUs. The system also features USB 3.0 ports, four speakers, and an HDMI output port, while the docking station adds an optical drive.

The Booktop is expected to ship on November 20 with prices that start from $1,299.

Dell just posted a teaser video of their upcoming Inspiron Duo, which is basically a Windows 7-based tablet that converts into a netbook. The screen features a unique hinge for transforming from tablet into its netbook though. Unlike the classic twisting joints typically used by tablet PCs, the Inspiron Duo’s screen rotates (or ‘flips’) vertically from the frame. It certainly looks like a pretty cool way to go about it (check out the video), but behind all the flash, you still get your typical Windows tablet/netbook’s spec and performance. Probably not a bad thing if that’s what you’re looking for, but it could come at a significantly higher price compared to your typical ultraportable.

Specs haven’t been released, although it’s expected to sport a 10-inch screen and will likely come bundled with the cradle shown on the teaser. The screen and interface should be more touch-friendly with multi-touch support. Price is still unknown, but it’s expected to be launched before the end of the year.

The ViewPad 10’s spec is rounded out by a Wi-Fi connection, a microSD slot for expansion, and a 1.3MP webcam and microphone above the screen. It’s expected to launch within the first quarter of 2011 for $630.

The 7-inch ViewPad 7 is built to be more mobile-friendly, and not because of the more compact size. It’ll come with 3.5G mobile data support so you’re not just tied to a hotspot, and will come with Google’s Mobile Services preinstalled on the Android 2.2 OS for getting more apps and games aside from giving it Gmail and YouTube access.

Think of it as a particularly big touchscreen smartphone. One that packs a 7-inch, 800 x 480 screen, two cameras (3MP and 0.3MP), and a microSD card slot powered by Android 2.2. The ViewPad 7 should arrive earlier, with a “late Q4 2010” launch and an expected price of $480.

Finally, we’ve got the official word from HP about the Windows7-powered Slate 500 tablet that’s been in the news since the CES show back in January. Much of the details have already been revealed through almost a year’s worth of leaks, but here are the official details anyway: Basically, it’s an 8.9-inch tablet powered by a 1.86GHz Intel Atom Z540 processor, GMA 500 graphics running on Windows 7. Basically, it’s a touchscreen netbook without a keyboard that weighs as much as the iPad at 1.5 pounds.

It packs a little more than the iPad though. The Slate 500 will be equipped with dual cameras (a 3MP main cam’s at the back), and can be bought along with an optional keyboard and mouse if you want to use it like a regular notebook.

The Slate 500 will be marketed as a business tool to set it apart from the iPad and the other Android tablets lined up. Makes sense, in a way, since the Windows platform should easily integrate into most office environments.

It should be out by the weekend, but will only be sold online through HP’s business and enterprise online stores for $799.

The line also puts Nokia’s odds at +150, followed by LG, Motorola, Sanyo and Sharp at +300. No one’s sure how they came up with the numbers or why Nokia’s odds were pegged so high, and why RIM and HP wasn’t mentioned (probably because it’s too much of a sure thing), but if you ever come across someone who’s willing to take you up on that bet, now you know who’s the money pick.

Via CrunchGear, Techi