Microsoft loses its touch: Courier, HP Slate may be cancelled

While the iPad gains ground and talks of a 'Google Pad' start circulation, Microsoft got a double-whammy in their plans to gain a credible footing in the world of tablet PCs. In one day, the company announced the end of its rumoured Courier tablet-notebook device, while TechCrunch has reported that the HP Slate tablet PC may be doing away with the Windows 7 operating system.

Gizmodo has always been at the forefront of all things related to the Courier, the dual-screen tablet that Microsoft was rumoured to be working on. Initial designs and concept animations had sent techies drooling over the possibilities of this new gadget. Now, the same blog has got confirmation that the Courier will not go into production. Microsoft Corporate VP of Communications Frank Shaw told the gadget blog, "It will be evaluated for use in future offerings, but we have no plans to build such a device at this time."

Meanwhile, TechCrunch is reporting that Hewlett-Packard has killed off the highly-anticipated HP Slate tablet, which was first unveiled by Steve Ballmer at CES 2010 in January. "Our source tells us that HP is not satisfied with Windows 7 as a tablet operating system and has terminated the project," editor Michael Arrington wrote.

Since HP has just bought Palm and has announced its intentions to do more with the WebOS, the proposition of a WebOS-based tablet is very much on the anvil now. Still, it's a gloomy day in Redmond today.