If the lack of a proper active stylus was what kept you from picking up an Android Honeycomb tablet, the end of your quest is in sight -- Lenovo just revealed the ThinkPad Tablet release date on its consumer website. The 10.1-inch Tegra 2 slate with an IPS screen and enterprise-friendly features will launch August 23rd starting at $479.99, which is actually $20 cheaper than Lenovo told us the last time. Still, if you actually want to add that N-Trig active digitizer and stylus for handwriting support, you're probably still looking at a surcharge. We're reaching out to the company right now, and we'll let you know what we hear.

Update: Yes, it looks like we're looking at a lower price across the board. Lenovo had this to say:

"The 16GB ThinkPad Tablet is priced at $479 without the digitizer pen, and at $509 including the digitizer pen, for Wi-Fi models. The 32GB ThinkPad Tablet (Wi-Fi model) with digitizer pen is $589. There is also an optional keyboard portfolio carrying case available for $99. At a later date, shortly after launch, ThinkPad Tablets with 3G will become available. The product will be generally available in the U.S. in August 2011 and generally available worldwide during the third quarter 2011."

Source: Lenovo, via Engadget