Take this post with a grain of salt, what with the anonymous and undefined “source” (it’s not even a “source with inside knowledge” or a “Google source” … just “our source”). But if this is legit, the Google/Verizon tablet is going open a very interesting chapter.

Let’s say this thing sells for $199, which seems reasonable since that’s the most common smartphone price point (with an associated contract, of course). That’s a compelling price for a snazzy tablet, particularly when it’s matched up with the $499 iPad or the $629 iPad 3G. And if this story is correct — if HTC is the manufacturer — I expect good things on the design front. The Nexus One, which was also made by HTC, didn’t disrupted the carrier blockade. But there’s no denying it’s a beautiful device.