Hewlett-Packard has released its DreamScreen five months before Apple’s tablet is supposed to. The interwebs is going crazy about this DreamScreen. But should Apple be worried? Let’s compare the two.

• Display:
  • Apple tablet: 9.6″ widescreen multi-touch display (by WinTek)
  • HP Dreamscreen: 13.3″ widecsreen non-touch display
  • Apple tablet: 1440-by-1050-pixel resolution at 489 pp
  • HP Dreamscreen: 800-by-480 pixel resolution at 270 pp
  • Apple tablet: Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
  • HP Dreamscreen: Gloss coating, attracts fingerprints
• Processor:
  • Apple tablet: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.13GHz
  • HP Dreamscreen: ARM-based processor
• Memory:
  • Apple tablet: DDR2 2 GB @ 667 MHz
  • HP Dreamscreen: see storage
• Video:
  • Apple tablet: nVidia GeForce 9400M
• Storage:
  • Apple tablet: 64 GB flash drive
  • HP Dreamscreen: 2 GB (1.5 GB usable) flash drive
• Optical drive:
  • Apple tablet: Apple SuperDrive with DVD±RW and CD-RW
  • HP Dreamscreen: None
• Wireless:
  • Apple tablet: Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • HP Dreamscreen: Intergrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • Apple tablet: 3G: HSDPA (through AT&T)
  • HP Dreamscreen: No 3G
  • Apple tablet: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • HP Dreamscreen: No Bluetooth
• Location tools:
  • Apple tablet: Assisted GPS (aGPS)
  • HP Dreamscreen: No GPS
  • Apple tablet: Digital compass
  • HP Dreamscreen: No compass
• Battery:
  • Apple tablet: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery (by DynaPak)
  • HP Dreamscreen: No battery, powered only by cable
• Usage time:
  • Apple tablet: Internet: up to 6 hours on 3G
  • HP Dreamscreen: Infinite
  • Apple tablet: Internet: up to 12 hours on Wi-Fi
  • HP Dreamscreen: Infinite
  • Apple tablet: Video playback: up to 12 hours
  • HP Dreamscreen: Infinite
• Sensors:
  • Apple tablet: Accelerometer
  • HP Dreamscreen: None
  • Apple tablet: Proximity sensor
  • HP Dreamscreen: None
  • Apple tablet: Ambient light sensor
  • HP Dreamscreen: None
• Colors:
  • Apple tablet: black with silver or white with silver
  • HP Dreamscreen: Black
• Software:
  • Apple tablet: Mac OS X 10.6 with touch-enabled interface
• Price level:
  • Apple tablet: $899 USD, 799 EUR

Do they compare? Not at all. It’s an internet hype! The DreamScreen is nto a contender for the Apple tablet, nor will it ever be. It’s not even a tablet!

The rumored Apple tablet is due for a February 2010 release date. Previous accounts also reported a release date in 2010. This time the information comes from a newspaper in Taiwan According to Tawian’s Economic News, Apple will be receiving parts from suppliers in December and it will then start assembling the first batch of devices for shipment in February. Mentioned is a long-lasting battery from DynaPack, it expects to make around 300,000 batteries a month for Apple. This number translates into the expected number of tablets on the market in the first months.

The newspaper also mentions some new specifications:

• ARM-processor from Apple-acquired PA Semi
• A 3G HSDPA connection through AT&T’s network
• Long-lasting battery (up to 10 hours) from DynaPack
• Price between $799 and $999

The touchscreens for the iPhone and iPod are produced by WinTek. This supplier is said to be supplying Apple with the tablet screens.

See the full updated Apple tablet specifications for more information:

• Display:
  • 9.6″ widescreen multi-touch display (by WinTek)
  • 1440-by-1050-pixel resolution at 489 ppi
  • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.13GHz
• Memory: DDR2 2 GB @ 667 MHz
• Video: nVidia GeForce 9400M
• Storage: 64 GB flash drive
• Optical drive: Apple SuperDrive with DVD±RW and CD-RW
• Wireless:
  • Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • 3G: HSDPA (through AT&T)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Location tools:
  • Assisted GPS (aGPS)
  • Digital compass
• Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery (by DynaPak)
• Usage time:
  • Internet: up to 6 hours on 3G
  • Internet: up to 12 hours on Wi-Fi
  • Video playback: up to 12 hours
• Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Proximity sensor
  • Ambient light sensor
• Colors:
  • black with silver or
  • white with silver
• Software:
  • Mac OS X 10.6 with touch-enabled interface
• Price level:
  • $899 USD, 799 EUR