HP launches tablet to rival iPad

Hewlett-Packard has become the latest company to launch a business tablet set to rival Apple's iPad.

HP's Slate 500 is the first tablet to run Windows 7 operating system, and will initially be targeted at US business users.

Along with the iPad, in the business market it will compete with Cisco's forthcoming Android-based Cius, and Research in Motion's PlayBook.

"Businesses really wanted to have something in common with the rest of their environment so they could have one [Windows] image to work with," said Carol Hess-Nickels, HP's director of business notebook marketing in The Financial Times.

The Slate 500 is priced at $800 (£510), has an 8.9-inch, 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD a front-facing camera and runs an Intel Atom processor.

Analysts have predicted that Apple will sell 45m iPads next year, positioning it far ahead of other tablet retailers.