If the ‘iPad’ is launched tomorrow there’s one thing that’s certain to happen. As senior editors prepare their copy and aim to boost SEO value by focusing on the current keyword trends, the many tablets that already exist in the market will be completely overlooked. Some tech journalists will remember that something tablet-like existed back in 2006 and mark it as a failed category but of course, we know different.

The number of tablet devices in the market has grown considerably in the last 12 months and we’re now at the point where we have 46 of them fully-specified in the database with screen sizes of 4.8 to 10 inches.

Prices range from $200 to over $1000 with processors based on RISC and X86, operating systems based on Windows and Linux and battery life ranging from 2-10 hours. Our favorite so far The Viliv X70. What’s yours?

Click for a full interactive list (updated daily) and please, don’t forget the tablets!

All behind glass indicating that they are not yet ready for human consumption (read, months to go before they are ready for market) but looking good and showing that ODMs and OEMs are putting efforts into designing devices around ARM platforms. In the video you’ll get a brief view of tablets from Wistron, ASUS, Compal, Mitak, Notion Ink, Viewsonic and  Foxconn.

Obviously it’s interesting to see the EeePC brand in there and it indicates that an Eee PC tablet (apparently to be called the EPad or EeePad)  is on its way. Android is likely and pricing will be competitive. Netbooknews was reporting in Dec that it’s planned for March but in our recent podcast, Sascha (netbooknews) was talking about June / July. A few months to wait yet! More images of the Eee Pad below the video.

Click to enlarge images.

EviGroup CEO Nicolas Ruiz just emailed us to let us know that the official website of the EviGroup Pad [info] is now live. Unfortunately it’s in French at the moment but Google does a reasonable job of translating it to English although I’m not so sure about the ‘toes’ bit!

There are four versions of the device based around the same core hardware.

• Processor: 1.6Ghz Atom
• RAM: 1GB SO-DIMM 667Mhz. Slot. Ram interchangeable.
• Storage Capacity: 2’5 160GB HDD S-ATA.
• Display: 10.6-inch touchscreen, resistive.  Resolution 1024 * 600.
• Pointing Device: Stylus deployable, thumbs and fingers (toes as possible)
• Wireless connectivity: 3G / WiFi a / b / g
• Networking: Ethernet
• Lithium-Ion Removable: 3 hours of time average.
• Devices internal microphone, webcam Front 1300000 pixels.
• Ports SD / MMC / MS (SDHC Compatible)
• Connectivity: 1 x VGA, 3 x USB2 ports, jack, microphone jack.
• Weight: 990g (battery included)
• Dimensions: 260x160x22mm

The best way to describe it would be as a T101H without the keyboard. At 900gm its a very interesting productivity option, I recon the prices aren’t too bad either. 620 for the 3G version seems quite interesting as part of a mobile productivity kit. Note that the RAM is upgradeable too.

• Tablet Pad Standard without Windows 7 without Seline10: 489 € + 30 € charges.
• Tablet Pad Standard with Windows 7 Home Premium and Seline10: 549 € + 30 € charges.

The Elite version includes 3G:

• Tablet Pad Elite 7 with Windows Home Premium and Seline10: 599 € + 30 € charges.
• Tablet Pad Elite without Windows 7 without Seline10: 539 € + 30 € charges.

My main questions are:

• What does ‘Seline’ give me?
• Does the tablet enable touch features in Windows 7?
• What’s the real battery life?

We’re trying to get hold of a review unit.

Evigroup Pad Web site

Many thanks to Thoughtfix who, on my behalf, recorded an interview with Len Kawell, CEO of Pepper Computer while he was at CES 2007. Pepper Computer are responsible for the software architecture and user interface on the PepperPad 3 and a number of other optimised Web devices.

In the audio interview, Len explains why the Pepper Pad exists, the differences between a Pepper Pad and a ultra mobile PC and how the first Pepper Pad was initially developed for kids. Parallels with the OLPC project there and one of the reasons they also demonstrated the Pepper experience on the OLPC. Thoughtfix asks a great question – What features do you want that didn’t make it to the current version of the Pepper software? I know what I would like on my PP3. BT DUN so that I can break it free of its WiFi hotspot shackles.

Finally, Len talks a little about the Nokia Internet tablet which, in software architecture terms, is very similar – Linux Kernel, tailored distro and optimised GUI.

I couldn’t agree more with Lens line ‘Some of the most interesting application development is on the web.’ Thin-client web computing is important for mobility right now. There are still physical heat and size issues associated with creating a ultra mobile PC device with enough processing power to run a full desktop operating system. Like we saw yesterday with the Google Switch rumor, thin client computing is one answer and it gets easier every day with Web2.0 applications.

Pepper at CES 2007 Gallery.

Interview. Mp3 download.

Thanks again to Thoughtfix who runs the UltraMobileGeek and ThoughtFix on Nokia Internet Tablets blogs.

Steve.