came out this week after CEO Eric Schmidt reportedly revealed some details during a party with friends. The New York Times reported Schmidt's slip that Google is experimenting with an Android-based device.

Meanwhile, HP last week http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9174886/HP_takes_on_Apple_s_iPad_with_Slate_tablet started leaking information about its own Slate tablet computer in blog posts and in teaser videos posted on YouTube. Slate is expected to ship by mid-year.

Other companies are also entering the fray. developing the Streak, while and Lenovo Group are also working on tablets.

Right out of the box, each of these computers will have to face Apple's highly touted iPad, which was released amid a flurry of hype and excitement early this month.

Rob Enderle, an analyst with the Enderle Group, said that any company that wants to battle the iPad will have to focus on putting out some phenomenal marketing -- the iPad is already the cool device to carry into the local cafe, to use at work or pull out on the morning commuter train.