But the product that stole the limelight was the TouchPad. It uses a speedy 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, has a high-resolution, 1024x768 display and is 1.3 centimeters thick at its widest part. It has a 1.3-megapixel webcam and supports video calls in much the same way as Apple's FaceTime feature.

It will come with 16GB or 32GB of storage. HP will also offer a compact wireless keyboard -- likely an optional extra -- for people who don't want to do a lot of typing on the touchscreen.

But what HP hopes will set the tablet apart is the webOS. Along with the usual calendar, photo and address book apps, it ships with TouchPad at Work, which includes QuickOffice, Google Docs and VPN (virtual private network) support. Flash is also supported, unlike on the Apple iPad.

The TouchPad interface groups applications logically as "card stacks" in order to manage multiple tasks; when a user is finished using an app she can flick it off the screen rather than shutting it down.

HP emphasized the tight integration it will offer between the products. For instance, tapping one of the new webOS phones on the tablet can automatically fire up a browser on the phone and display the same Web page that's displayed on the tablet. If a user finds directions to a restaurant on their tablet at home, for example, and wants to take them out in the car, she can tap the devices together and the page of directions appears on the phone.