Hewlett-Packard's $1.2 billion Palm acquisition could change the landscape of the tablet PC market, especially if HP decides to incorporate the Palm WebOS into future devices. Analysts suggest that the Palm acquisition supports the rumors that HP's so-called Slate tablet PC, reportedly running Windows 7, has been shelved. In theory, Palm's mobile operating system would allow HP to build a tablet that minimizes the load on processor and battery. Meanwhile, Microsoft's decision to end its Courier project suggests the company's retreat from the tablet PC market, which has been heating up thanks to massive sales of the Apple iPad.
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