For the last two months or so, eyes and ears alike have been ambushed with talk of CES 2010. CES 2010! CES 2010! And despite our somewhat bitter (okay…very bitter) disappointment that we were unable to attend CES 2010!, we never stopped staying directly on top of reports and blogs from the (sniff) more fortunate folks who made it out. And 2010? Is looking supah-fine for the world of consumer electronics.

Excitingly, an increase in slate and tablet PCs debuted this year at the Las Vegas conference. If you’ve never had the pleasure of using a tablet PC, just imagine if your Etch-A-Sketch got a serious makeover: tablet and slate PCs provide a mobile, electronic notebook platform operated by a stylus and/or touch screen. Using handwriting recognition, these e-notebooks combine the convenience of a paper notebook with the functionality, safety and storage capacity of a laptop. Usually, a tablet PC flips its screen over to cover the keyboard, leaving you alone with the screen but still burdening you with the weight of the full laptop. And while slate PCs are “No Keyboards Allowed,” they provide little opportunity for versatility. And laptop ladies require adaptability and mobility.

Most notable this year? The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid. Taking the tablet PC/ laptop mashup to the next level, this Best of CES Nominee will offer a tablet that completely detaches from its keyboard and is powered by its own separate operating system, while maintaining an eight-hour battery life and much of its “laptop form” functionality. At only 1.7 lbs in tablet form, this is a must-have for businesswomen, writers, medical professionals– basically anyone who takes notes frequently but needs the safety of electronic storage. Release dates are soon to come, along with more details on the up-and-coming but already infamous Apple Tablet, which is rumored to work much like a beefier iTouch with full computer capabilities.

If you’re intrigued by the technology but don’t want to wait, we recommend the ASUS Tablet Notebook. At just over three pounds and under $600, it’s the smallest and slimmest of tablet PCs on the market today, offering Windows 7 Home Premium, five hours of battery life, and a super chic aesthetic. For on-the-go women everywhere, the Year of the Tablet is promising big, sexy evolution in the way we work and communicate. Stay tuned.