Is this the first Apple tablet clone?

Here’s the latest new device to appear in China’s fast-moving clone market, the P88 from Shenzhen Great Long Brother Industrial Co. Any similarity to any notion of the future Apple tablet is purely coincidental – after all, that product hasn’t even been announced, though it remains widely speculated upon.

Sure, we’re seeing this gadget’s running the latest and greatest version of Windows, XP, and we’re also aware that this device seems pretty thick for a future rumoured Apple product. (How thick is speculation, after all).

However, looking at the specs is kind of interesting, if only because if a small Chinese company can knock a gadget like this together, then just how much more sophisticated can a more innovative player (like Apple) get with its devices?

The P88 hosts a 10.2-inch 1,024-x-600 touch screen; uses an Intel Atom chip running at 1.6GHz; hosts 1GB memory and provides three USB ports, VGA, RJ-45, a card reader, headphone port and a microphone.

This is a connected device, too, with WiFi and spaces for 3G and GPS chips. Dimensions are 280-x-180-x-22mm.

What’s ugly? Well, it is HEAVY – it weighs a pocket-tearing 1.03Kg, and battery life is appalling – 1.5-hours. All this for around $440.

We reckon weight, battery life, price and, erm, Windows XP means this is a no win, at least in Western consumer markets, but we figured you’d like to see a picture of the kind of thing that’s possible using current standard components.

There’s a few more images over at Shanzai.com.