What’s with the “Slate” name, folks?

I just can’t stop wondering what’s so special about the “Slate” name that so many producers are naming their products this way. I mean OK, touch tablet’s actually look like a slate (more about it on Wikipedia), but come’on, show some creativity people.

Apple’s new touch device will supposedly be called iSlate. I’ve heard that a couple of weeks ago, and although a rumor now, it might be true, as Apple already owns iSlate.com.

Then, yesterday Steve Balmer from Microsoft presented a new tablet they’ve been working together with HP to produce, called the HP Slate . More about this one here.

Then it was the time for Dell to showcase a 5 inch multimedia device that kind of looks like a bigger iPod Touch, named of course Dell Slate. See pictures and videos on Gizmodo.

Alt text for the image, e.g. “The Mona Lisa”

So what’s next? I’m pretty sure we’ll see quite some new Slate gadgets the following day but i really am curios if nobody cared to register the name as trademark (i believe that’s possible, although “slate” is a common noun also). What do you guys think, who’s next to present a “Slate” at CES this year?

Tags: Apple, Dell, HP, touch tablet