With the recent launch of the Apple iPad (not the coolest name, I agree!) the wave of ‘Slate PC’s’ has started. All the top companies will be coming out with their own versions in the next few months. HP have a device, a clear challenge to the iPad, that will be running the Windows 7 OS and is controlled via a touchscreen interface. It has features that will make it popular for entertainment and business but pricing and availability will be crucial.

Archos and Asus have similar devices that are being prototyped at the moment, including Dell. The Dell device will run the open-source Android operating system but that’s about as much as we know at present.

Watching the Gadget Show the other night they said that the iPad will follow in the iPhone’s footsteps as ‘the gadget to own in 2010′ and I’ll second that. Call me a sucker for the cool design (British designer of course!) and functionality, but you know the’re right! The other companies will all be playing catch up just like they’ve been with the iPhone. Don’t buy an e-Reader from Sony or the Amazon Kindle, save a bit more and get an iPad, it’s the next big thing!