While slate tablets seem to be all the rage these days, let's not forget that there exists a majority who feel lost without a physical keyboard. The HP Compaq AirLife 100 is rumored to be a Qualcomm Snapdragon-equipped, Android-powered "smartbook" with the battery life of a PDA-phone. However, it lacks compatibility with Windows operating systems.
Besides battery life, the advantages of using a smartphone platform can override the fact that most users are still more comfortable with the Windows environment. For one, the AirLife will probably have access to the Android app store with applications optimized for a small screen. Another is the instant startup time and comprehensive connectivity suite (from Wi-Fi to HSDPA and even WiMAX) which keeps this device always online.
The HP Compaq AirLife 100 just hit the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for approval, so we'll probably see a real model pop up soon.
(Source: Crave Asia via Engadget)