Don’t buy that iPad just yet.

Apple’s iPad is pretty cool. I had a chance to play with one the other day, but I’m holding off buying one for a bit because lots of other tablets are set to soon hit the market. These may be cheaper and more powerful than the iPad.Engadget announced that HP will be coming out with the HP Slate; a tablet that has more memory than the iPad and will be cheaper. It has many of the things that the iPad is missing, including a USB port, ability to run software (using Windows 7), ability to run Flash and the thing I like best… two (count em’; two) cameras. No word on if it can do multi-tasking or not; but that would be a big advantage over the iPad.

The choices for tablets might become kind of like the smart phone landscape. Apple’s iPhone is a beautiful device, but its closed architecture and Apple’s monolithic control over it are causing many people to look at Google’s Android phones. Google might introduce a tablet at around $300. At that price, it could kill off the Kindle and would be a great solution as the most economical electronic textbook device.

Web links:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/05/hp-slate-to-cost-549-have-1-6ghz-atom-z530-5-hour-battery/

You can listen to a podcast about this at Buzz Out Loud. http://podcast-files.cnet.com/podcast/cnet_buzzoutloud_040610.mp3

Watch HP's video at their blog: http://h20435.www2.hp.com/t5/Voodoo-Blog/HP-s-Slate-Device-Delivers-a-Holistic-Mobile-Experience/ba-p/54735

Check out Corel VideoStudio X3

I've been working with the new version of Corel Video Studio X3. It has some really great features for building digital stories. I think kids as young as fourth or fifth grade can use it in Storyboard view and older kids and adults will use the power of Timeline view. 

You can output your files in lots of different ways. You can make a DVD with it's built in authoring program and can send it to YouTube with just a couple of clicks.

You can download a trail version of it at Corel's web site.