The HP Compaq Airlife 100 certainly looks pretty. But the more we find out about the specs, the more I’m doubting this first-wave smartbook.

The 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB RAM and 512MB flash storage (along with a 16GB SSD) are all well and good. But then you hit the resistive touchscreen, the 16-bit TFT display and an unproven “Compaq touch experience” skin over the Android OS. What’s it all add up to? Hard to say without a test drive, but it’s not a great first volley across the iPad’s bow if smartbooks want to be a major tablet or netbook alternative: