Samsung announces new Windows 7 Slate PC

By Tom Warren, on 31st Aug 11 1:49 pm with 72 Comments

Samsung announced on Wednesday a new Windows 7 powered Slate PC.

The Samsung Slate PC Series 7 is an 11.6-inch tablet device that features a dock to use the device as a full Windows 7 PC. The dock connects a bluetooth mouse and keyboard to the slate to make it feel like a desktop machine. Pocket-Lint reports that the Slate features an Intel Core i3 or i5 chip, 4GB RAM, 32 or 64GB of SSD storage space and Wi-Fi, WiMAX and HSPA+ support. Samsung has also included a microSD slot, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI connector and dual cameras. The front camera is 2MP and the rear is 3MP. Samsung claims the device battery life is 7 hours and weights in at 0.86kg. The display on the device is 16:9 HD and made out of gorilla glass, making it perfect to watch movies on.

Samsung previously released a hybrid Windows 7 Slate PC earlier this year. The Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series features a keyboard and display that works as a touch screen and slides to create a laptop or tablet hybrid. Samsung has not confirmed when it plans to release its latest Windows 7 Slate or any pricing information.

Windows 7 powered Slates haven’t made an impact on the market yet due to Microsoft’s lack of a full touch screen user experience. Microsoft has promised a “re-imagined” Windows 8 designed with touch based devices in mind. The software giant has promised to support ARM based CPUs to enable device manufacturers to create thinner and smaller Windows 8 devices. Microsoft will unveil its full Windows 8 offerings at the company’s BUILD conference next month. Windows 8 powered tablets are expected to go on sale during 2012.

Samsung Slate PC Series 7

Image Credit: Pocket-Lint

  • Dan

    Looks nice! I’d personally wait until the Windows 8 supported tablets are out though.

    • Aaron

      MS has already said Windows 8 will run on anything that can run Windows 7.  So who is to say this won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 8?

    • Aaron

      MS has already said Windows 8 will run on anything that can run Windows 7.  So who is to say this won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 8?

  • http://twitter.com/iAmNowDiamonds Carl

    Nice looking device but why? If I were them I’d save the money and focus on Windows 8.

    • Jinge

      And wait 1 year? Why? If they can sell some now, and maybe keep the hardware for lower priced W8 tablets why should they wait?
      The specs look nice, and only 860g!
      Only problem, nothing about the price…

  • http://twitter.com/JohnnyVonRotten John Von Rader

    I’m sure it’s pretty, but it’s really sort of a waste for them to release a line of PC slates before Windows 8 releases.  Even if this is Windows 8 ready.

    • Anonymous

      Windows slates have been on the market long before this one.

      9 non-capacitive from 2004-2009.
      6 capacitive touch models since 2010.

      None has sold well. Now a new model shows. How will it do? Will Windows 8 make that much difference? Only time will tell.

    • Guest

      Sold well is relative. They outsold everything else available at the time and in total accounted for about as many unit sales per year as Apple sold Macs.

    • Anonymous

      Do you have any reference for those tablet sales figures?

    • Anonymous

      Do you have any reference for those tablet sales figures?

    • Anonymous

      Do you have any reference for those tablet sales figures?

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1618268197 Timothy Neinheart

      Well, here is a FACT:

      NO WINDOWS IS FULLY OPTIMISED FOR A (conductive touch) TABLET. Even for a tablet version of windows.

      Windows 8, on the other hand, yes. That’s a big difference.
      Well, it’s just a dispute whether the diiference in technical will make the difference on the market. I hope it do, I have faith in Microsoft this time.

    • Anonymous

      Microsoft has had 20 years of Windows for tablets. They have also had more than 10 years of multi-touch research and development.

      WHAT’S TAKING THEM SO LONG??!?!?!?!

      Or is it really that they just now want an answer to Apple’s iPad market. It seems that MS really doesn’t have an answer other than creating something that looks different, but covers up the same slow bulky crap that seemingly nobody has wanted for the last 20 years.

      Was Windows 8 mentioned before the iPad? Nope.
      Was Windows Phone 7 mentioned before the iPhone? Nope.

      No innovation. Just smoke and mirrors, and more “me too” nonsense.

      When Windows 8 is released, MS will tout it as the OS that give users the greatest touch experience, and tout the sales of Windows 8 as proof that they have done the right thing, even though Windows 7 will no longer be available for retail sales.. Just like they said Vista sold well because of new PC sales with it pre-installed. And now with Windows 7 pre-installed.

      Windows 7 still hasn’t overtaken Windows XP as the leader in desktop OSes. New sales haven’t overtaken the installed base, and evidently most Windows users don’t see the need to upgrade.

      Will people just simply ignore the touch interface “features” and use it as they do Windows 7 today? Will they upgrade? Will they just install Windows 7 or XP over Windows 8?

      I don’t see much to have faith in there.

    • Anonymous

      Microsoft has had 20 years of Windows for tablets. They have also had more than 10 years of multi-touch research and development.

      WHAT’S TAKING THEM SO LONG??!?!?!?!

      Or is it really that they just now want an answer to Apple’s iPad market. It seems that MS really doesn’t have an answer other than creating something that looks different, but covers up the same slow bulky crap that seemingly nobody has wanted for the last 20 years.

      Was Windows 8 mentioned before the iPad? Nope.
      Was Windows Phone 7 mentioned before the iPhone? Nope.

      No innovation. Just smoke and mirrors, and more “me too” nonsense.

      When Windows 8 is released, MS will tout it as the OS that give users the greatest touch experience, and tout the sales of Windows 8 as proof that they have done the right thing, even though Windows 7 will no longer be available for retail sales.. Just like they said Vista sold well because of new PC sales with it pre-installed. And now with Windows 7 pre-installed.

      Windows 7 still hasn’t overtaken Windows XP as the leader in desktop OSes. New sales haven’t overtaken the installed base, and evidently most Windows users don’t see the need to upgrade.

      Will people just simply ignore the touch interface “features” and use it as they do Windows 7 today? Will they upgrade? Will they just install Windows 7 or XP over Windows 8?

      I don’t see much to have faith in there.

  • http://twitter.com/OmegaRa Shaun Sommer

    Well I am sure this can be upgraded to Win8, so it might be ok…

  • Sergio Iacobucci

    Well…..it will be a case of using it as a desktop sort of device and then waiting for win 8 and loading it on…..that with win 8 = JIZZ

  • Grannyville7989

    Get back to me when you’ve got a Windows 8 slate to show, Samsung :P

    • GP007

      You could always just upgrade to Win8 when the time comes.

    • Aaron

      That is exactly why this article caught my attention.  Is there any reason to think this device WONT be upgradable to Win 8 if it can already run Win 7?  The only thing I need from this slate is movie watching (check) and a touch usable browser (not sure) to hold me over until Win 8.  Question is, should I wait for cheaper, lighter, and more optimized tablets that will come out with Win 8 pre-installed?

    • http://twitter.com/efjay01 Ef Jay

      It may be upgradable but its going to have the typical poor battery life since its not running on the low powered x86 chips that will be targeting W8. Besides why buy this now when much more exciting devices will be launching with W8?

    • Aaron

      Battery life is supposedly 7 hours with Win 7.  Thats pretty good in my book.  May be even better with Win 8.  I would buy this now because I’m pathetically impatient and have tablet fever from missing out on that damn Touchpad fire-sale.  But I can probably distract myself with desktop upgrades for BF3 while I wait for actual Win 8 tablets.

    • Prakash Heda

      it depends on ur need, i bought W500 and W7 is working just fine for me, will upgrade to W8 ASAP available…good part is i dont carry big bulky laptop….unless i have to do  some heavy typing…

    • Anonymous

      @Ef Jay @facebook-100000194503830:disqus 
      I think the whole point of including an i5 onboard is that it will absolutely blow holes in a low-powered x86 platform. I don’t want another semi-useful device lying around at home. Low power is fine, but even then you only get 10 hours of battery life. 7 hours is plenty and I don’t want to compromise performance. So while you are watching a film on your next long trip using your ARM *cough* powered tablet, I’ll also like wise be watching one – while encoding another :)

    • Aaron

      That is exactly why this article caught my attention.  Is there any reason to think this device WONT be upgradable to Win 8 if it can already run Win 7?  The only thing I need from this slate is movie watching (check) and a touch usable browser (not sure) to hold me over until Win 8.  Question is, should I wait for cheaper, lighter, and more optimized tablets that will come out with Win 8 pre-installed?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Viki-Maverick/100002523433166 Viki Maverick

      No cause he is a Granny and old school. Upgrade is a new word to him.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1618268197 Timothy Neinheart

      Doubting about that, if that confirms, I want to grab one now, waiting until Windows 8 release it quite long.
      Hope Microsoft is not like Apple, they seemingly to ditch their old devices, which refresh annually. Well, talk about leading the Market.

    • Anonymous

      Think of it as an ultrabook sans the keyboard. Not a shabby device.

  • http://twitter.com/adamUCF Adam

    I don’t think the Sliding PC 7 Series was ever actually “released”. It basically disappeared after the show circuit.

    • Aaron

      Yeah, whatever happened to that thing.  I really liked the form factor.  I think if that form factor had been introduced back in 2003, the tablet industry may be a lot different today.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Roque/100000194503830 Pedro Roque

    I might be tempted to buy one of these things, if it weren’t for the small HD. I have a 64Gb on my eepc (I know, i’m crazy), and that’s enough for windows and office, but little else. A 120GB slate, with a decent processor would be ideal for my IT work, and a neat companion for my ASUS G73j

    • Aaron

      Honestly though, how much software would you plan on installing on a slate?  It’s not like you will be installing real games or productivity software.  The only thing that I may find a negative with the size of the hard drive would be the amount of movies you can store on it.

    • Anonymous

      I think you misunderstand the purpose of these devices. Tablets like the iPad suddenly look like toy computers next to the likes of this (and they are). I would happily pay the little extra for a computer that converts to a slate, but equally does EVERYTHING I need. Who need another useless plaything lying around their house, when they can fire up Crysis and have some real fun?

    • Guest

      Agree, but then the slate’s price goes up dramatically since you’re talking SS storage.

    • Guest

      Agree, but then the slate’s price goes up dramatically since you’re talking SS storage.

  • http://twitter.com/richfrombechtle Rich Gibbons

    I had a play with one of these a month or so ago and it was very nice. Much better than the competition!

    I know everyone’s waiting for Windows 8 but that is a great bit of kit and the requirements for 8 won’t be any different, so it will be easily able to upgrade. If they sell them at a killer price now (Touchpad Stylee) then there will be a great user base already in place when Windows 8 drops…

    • Aaron

      Argghh, you mentioned the Touchpad fire-sale.  That damn fiasco got me all hyped up about getting a tablet, then OnSale canceled my order.  Now I have to wait patiently for Windows 8 because there is no way in hell I’m paying more than 100 dollars for a toy tablet (WebOS, Android, iOS, ect…).

      As for the killer price, if you were thinking 100 dollars, dream on.  The parts alone in this thing must run up to 600 or 700.  Yet I still find myself tempted…

    • Guest

      Supposedly HP is making more and there’ll be some additional inventory in the channel in the new few weeks. So you might get another chance at buying one for $100.

    • Guest

      Supposedly HP is making more and there’ll be some additional inventory in the channel in the new few weeks. So you might get another chance at buying one for $100.

    • Anonymous

      I purchased one from onsale and HP. Onsale cancelled my order and to add to my luck, someone called HP to cancel an order and they accidentally cancelled mines instead. FU Onsale and HP for not fixing their mistake.

  • http://cid-280a1538334a1cb9.profile.live.com/ Seika

    Just… don’t suddenly turns out that this will become the Win8 laced party favour at Build :D

  • http://www.rwalrond.com RWalrond

    Active digitizer? If you’re going to give me a Windows tablet with this much power, please include a Wacom Digitizer.

  • http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle

    Looks like it has the exact same hardware Windows button as my Omnia 7.

  • Paulnr2

    This is where Samsung, or a third party company, should be stepping up to create a 3D touch based UI for Windows 7. Hell, I already tried one the other day and it was pretty nice, albeit a work in progress. I used it on a traditional desktop layout, but if it had touch capabilities, the interface would have been perfect for slates.

  • Paulnr2

    This is where Samsung, or a third party company, should be stepping up to create a 3D touch based UI for Windows 7. Hell, I already tried one the other day and it was pretty nice, albeit a work in progress. I used it on a traditional desktop layout, but if it had touch capabilities, the interface would have been perfect for slates.

  • http://www.timsmithmma.com Tim Smith

    If this runs at the resolution windows 8 requires I’d be more than willing to buy this when it comes out to test betas with.

  • http://www.timsmithmma.com Tim Smith

    If this runs at the resolution windows 8 requires I’d be more than willing to buy this when it comes out to test betas with.

  • J A

    This is the perfect hardware for Windows 8 with 16:9 screen resolution. Can’t wait.

  • Anonymous

    if it runs windows 8, I’m interested. otherwise I see no need to buy a netbook with a missing keyboard which is what this thing is.

  • Scott 2010

    This is an example of a form factor of future PC’s (ie. a tablet than can be docked to use with a keyboard and mouse) that acts as either a tablet or a PC.  This will eliminate the need to buy a 3rd device (ie. like an iPad) for a lot of people.

  • Frylockns86

    Quick it looks like an iPad! SUE! SUE! SUE!

    • Aaron

      Fortunately, MS is willing to defend their partners, unlike Google, and Apple knows that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=670105580 Phil Chan

    Why isn’t Microsoft doing a “Works with Windows 7; Windows 8 Capable” program similar to the XP/Vista transition?

    • Aaron

      The “Vista Ready” label was kind of a disaster for MS because they included any machine capable of installing Vista.  Thus people bought crappy hardware from the OEM’s that they thought could run Vista well.  Being able to install Vista is very different from being able to run it well.

      I’m actually not disagreeing with you though.  They ought to bring the label back since customers shouldn’t have the same performance issues considering Win 8 will use as little or less resources as Win 7.

    • http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle

      Because Win8 is at least a year away.

    • http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle

      Because Win8 is at least a year away.

  • BigChiefSmokem

    I’m not buying *any* tablet until Windows 8 is released.

    This was a dumb move by Samsung unless they have some other user base in mind (because a Windows 7 slate is far from mainstream without a proper UI).

    • Anonymous

      Microsoft should be promising a Windows 8 upgrade with these devices. Unless they do, people who are holding out to see Windows 8, will just continue holding out. It really is a tempting bit of kit though, even with Windows 7…..

  • BigChiefSmokem

    I’m not buying *any* tablet until Windows 8 is released.

    This was a dumb move by Samsung unless they have some other user base in mind (because a Windows 7 slate is far from mainstream without a proper UI).

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Viki-Maverick/100002523433166 Viki Maverick

    Lol. I am just waiting for the beta so that I can use it free for 8-9 months. :P

  • Anonymous

    Who said the PC is dead? It has just become more portable. Sweet!

  • Anonymous

    This actually interests me more than the HP Slate 500.  This has an i5, but the Slate 500 has an Atom.  The HP dock is really useful though.
    Interesting.

  • Anonymous

    This actually interests me more than the HP Slate 500.  This has an i5, but the Slate 500 has an Atom.  The HP dock is really useful though.
    Interesting.

  • Anonymous

    This actually interests me more than the HP Slate 500.  This has an i5, but the Slate 500 has an Atom.  The HP dock is really useful though.
    Interesting.

  • Anonymous

    This actually interests me more than the HP Slate 500.  This has an i5, but the Slate 500 has an Atom.  The HP dock is really useful though.
    Interesting.

  • Magic Mofo

    I wish there was a way to install Win 8 on an ipad when it comes out. Would be an awesome option. Since there were talks about Win8 being able to run on ARM cpu’s, would it seem possible to port it to the iPad? It would be a HUGE slap in the face to Apple. Also creating the possibility for some of the 25 million(as of June 2011) iPads to switch to Win 8……… Also, please forgive me if any of this sounds lame, first time commenting here.

  • http://profiles.google.com/elmsoftware John Lueders

    0.86kg = ?lb
    Let me bing that for you…
    http://tinyurl.com/3krzwgv

  • http://profiles.google.com/elmsoftware John Lueders

    0.86kg = ?lb
    Let me bing that for you…
    http://tinyurl.com/3krzwgv

  • http://profiles.google.com/elmsoftware John Lueders

    0.86kg = ?lb
    Let me bing that for you…
    http://tinyurl.com/3krzwgv

  • http://twitter.com/jimmyfal Jimmy Fallon

    Let me see a video, does it do pen input, does it pinch to zoom SMOOTHLY, and I don’t believe the battery life claim. If its good on all those points, and the price isn’t stupid, it looks good. Very anxious to see Samsung take a lead with hardware, someone needs to start delivering better hardware at HIGHER resolutions.

  • http://twitter.com/jimmyfal Jimmy Fallon

    Let me see a video, does it do pen input, does it pinch to zoom SMOOTHLY, and I don’t believe the battery life claim. If its good on all those points, and the price isn’t stupid, it looks good. Very anxious to see Samsung take a lead with hardware, someone needs to start delivering better hardware at HIGHER resolutions.

  • http://twitter.com/jimmyfal Jimmy Fallon

    Let me see a video, does it do pen input, does it pinch to zoom SMOOTHLY, and I don’t believe the battery life claim. If its good on all those points, and the price isn’t stupid, it looks good. Very anxious to see Samsung take a lead with hardware, someone needs to start delivering better hardware at HIGHER resolutions.

  • Jacob Dunton

    windows 8 schmindows 8.  windows 7 runs just fine on tablets, especially ones with those specs. they just need to work on that price point!