Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 tablet computer uses Windows 7

Fujitsu has announced that its first iPad-style tablet computer will go on sale in Europe today (1 March).

The Stylistic Q550 is described by Fujitsu as a 'business-class slate' and it combines Intel's Oak Trail chipset, which uses the Intel Atom processors found inside many netbook computers, with 2GB of memory, a 10in IPS screen and a solid-state disk (SSD) for storage, with either 32GB or 64GB capacity.

Although Fujitsu has previously produced tablet computers that combined a touch-sensitive screen with a standard laptop keyboard (click here to see our review of the Lifebook T4410), this is the first such model to operate solely with a touchscreen and no keyboard.

Costing €699 (£594) the tablet computer uses the Windows 7 operating system more commonly found on laptop and desktops. It will have an optional 3G modem that will allow it to connect to mobile phone networks for internet access.

It's designed with security in mind, with an option to add the Trusted Platform Module that enables security features found in Windows 7 and other recent operating systems.

Making the announcement at Cebit in Hannover, Rolf Schwirz, Fujitsu's chief executive said that the company was a leader in the Japanese mobile phone market, adding: "this should underline that we are competent when it comes to mobility".

He would not be drawn on a possible date for Fujitsu's mobile phone models to make an appearance in the UK or the rest of Europe, however.

Click here to see more from the Cebit show.