Slate computers take the stand at CES

It looks like 2010 is going to be the year of the tablet, at least if products on show at CES are anything to go by.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer set the ball rolling by unveiling a prototype HP ‘slate PC’ at his keynote address. The device has what looks like a 7” screen (Ballmer was frustratingly non-specific about specifications) and is intended as an ebook reader, web browser and entertainment device, but since it runs Windows 7, it presumably works as a standard PC.

Few in the audience for Ballmer’s address seemed too impressed and the general opinion is that Microsoft revealed its tablet plans early as a spoiler what whatever Apple has up its sleeve (in fact Apple registered the ‘iSlate’ trademark in 2006). The standard Windows 7 UI also seems ill-suited to a small touch-screen, but Microsoft may well have addressed this by the time the HP Slate goes on sale later this year.

You can watch a video of Steve Ballmer's address here.

More impressive is the ICT Tegra — a 15” tablet that runs Google Android and capable of 1080p video playback. Better still, T-Mobile plans to offer the device in the UK as the ‘Vega’ and anticipates it being used as a household communication hub.

Richard Warmsley, Head of New Proposition Development, T-Mobile, said: "We spoke to over 1,000 families who told us they often found it a hassle to organise a busy family life without nagging or forgotten appointments. They said that something simple and affordable to help with this would be invaluable. We took this as a challenge to do something new with technology that would be relevant to the average person, not just gadget lovers. We're developing a fantastic package to meet exactly these needs -- by creating a family communication network -- using ICD's exciting new Internet and entertainment tablet, with T-Mobile's award-winning network connections at its heart.”

T-Mobile plans a launch later this year, but there’s no news on when — or for how much.

Finally, Dell gave a tantalising glimpse of its 5” slate prototype that could well be called the ‘Streak’ (no one knows for sure) is called the Mini 5. Not much else is known about the device and no one was allowed to touch it, but it does run Google Android and appears to have a SIM card slot and a 5-megapixel camera. As for pricing and availability — that’s anyone’s guess at the moment.