HP Slate 500 Sold Out Already, All Three Units of It

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I had great expectations from the first Windows 7 tablet and, even if Microsoft canceled /postponed the Courier, the HP Slate seemed to be a hot prospect. After some ups and downs the tablet was released although, considering how HP shifted the product’s purpose from day-to-day use to “business” use, it’s rather clear the company doesn’t expect the device to become the next iPad-killer and is focusing on the upcoming webOS 2.0 tablet instead.

And I still expect a great Windows 7 tablet to be ready to fight the iPad in the future, but the Slate 500 is not going to be such a device. The Slate, although meant to be a business tool, and I took this stance before too, is nowhere near as cool as the initial HP ads deemed it to be and, hence, not comparable to the iPad when it comes to user-friendliness.

But despite its quiet launch, the HP didn’t go unnoticed as some customers have flocked to HP’s online store to order the quirky tablet. We have no idea whether we’re talking about business customers here and something tells me we won’t see clear details from HP anytime soon, but it looks like the current HP Slate 500 stock has been sold out already.

We won’t get too excited as the word on the street is that HP sold just 3 9,000 units so far, despite having just 5,000 units at hand. That’s right, that means some of you folks will not receive the device anytime next week, but rather in 6 weeks, or more, from now. That’s because HP had to rehire production workers to make more tablets, but that doesn’t mean the new Slates will be built overnight.

It’s not all bad news as HP decided to offer you $100 off the price to compensate you for your patience, so you’ll pay just $699 for the device. Consider it your own Black Friday deal!

It will be interesting to see whether HP will make more Slates after this initial batch. Or was this whole Slate 500 launch just a PR stunt meant to show consumers and business partners that HP delivers on its promises (making a Windows 7 tablet)?

Tell us more about your Slate experience once you get yours next week or in 6 weeks from now!