Microsoft Courier Tablet Coming Late 2010? [More Rumors Revealed About Courier's Release Date, OS]

More rumors about Microsoft’s official entry into the tablet market have arrived, beginning to add flesh to the initial details that hit the web last year.  The rumors suggest that the Microsoft Courier Digital Journal Tablet may arrive in late 2010, with hardware details beginning to materialize.

Details about the Microsoft Courier “Digital Journal” Tablet were shared by a trusted source to Engadget, who published a piece speculating on what (and when) the Courier tablet will be.  These details first suggest that Microsoft will call its product not a “tablet”, but a “digital journal”– which also suggests that the device’s input will be stylus-based and focus on hand writing.

The Courier digital journal is said to measure less than an inch thick, and when its dual screens are shuttered it should span little more than 5×7-inches.  It should operate on the Tegra 2 platform, with an OS based on a system similar to the Zune / Microsoft Pink systems, which could mean the Courier tablet will run on its own version of Windows CE.

The Microsoft Courier Digital Journal tablet was also mentioned to begin shipping in Q3/Q4 this year, a pretty large window for a device that has yet to receive an official release.  The rumors published by Engadget do seem logical, and could present an honest, significant competitor to the Apple iPad.  Of course, we’ll update you the moment official news hits, but these rumors will have to satisfy us for now.