UK hardware maker pokes fun at iPad name, launches the 'iTablet'

The iTablet comes in two forms, with a 10.2-inch or 12.1-inch screen. A multi-touch display is said to be "optional." The system has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, an undisclosed amount of memory, a 250GB hard drive, and 3G and GSM wireless chips, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The plus side of the iTablet is that users have a choice of Windows 7, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, or Linux. However, the iTablet is thicker than the iPad, 35mm (1.38 inches) versus 13.4 mm (0.53 inches), and that's because it has more inside -- including a 1.3 megapixel webcam and USB 2.0 and HDMI ports, none of which are in the iPad.

"iTablet will empower users with unlimited technology and advanced multimedia access across multiple platforms without being restricted to exclusive content providers," said Jonathan Wharrad, R&D director of X2 Computing in a statement. "This new breed of Windows-based computer takes design, functionality, and solution fit to new and higher levels."

Apple may not take the whole product name similarity with a mere pinch of salt and as the Psystar case had demonstrated, no company is too small to escape Apple's notice.  

"I've known companies who did Web sites like 'My iPhone' and got hit with a cease-and-desist letter because it was terminology being used externally by Apple," Ben Bajarin, analyst with Creative Strategies said.

Even if X2 can escape Apple's grasp, it just looks lame to steal Apple's naming convention, Bajarin says. "I just don't think that's a good way from a product-naming standpoint [to be] characterized as a me-too or trying to capitalize on someone's mistake of a naming scheme," he said.