$399 buys you 1.7KG of 14-inch Android smartbook. Maybe this isn’t something for ultra-mobile computing fans but it will be worth tracking the HP Slatebook 14 to see how it’s received in the market. The unique specifications and a ton of local apps (and a ton of great games) will differentiate it from Chromebooks and cheap Windows laptops.
Video and gallery below.
64GB of storage is good (16 and 32GB also listed in the specifications) and when you pair that with 9 hours battery life, the dynamic OS that many many people know and love from their smartphones, a fullHD touchscreen, three USB ports, a MicroSD slot and HDMI you have indeed got something unique. We assume the Nvidia Tegra 4 processor is fanless too. Try getting FullHD on 14-inches with an SSD in the Windows PC world for $400!
The HP Split X2 is one of a confusing range of 13-inch 2-in-1’s from HP that includes the Spectre X2, Split X2 Ultrabook and Pavilion X2 13. Each offers a slightly different specification and design. HP have just made it a little more confusing by re-launching the Split X2 as a new fanless 2-in-1 with Baytrail and Core CPU options.
It’s possible that this new HP Split X2 simplifies the range of HP 2-in-1s by offering all the options under one banner but as we don’t see an SSD listed, we hope not. Yes, the SSD has been replaced with a hybrid hard drive (which also removes the hard drive option in the keyboard.) There’s a new hinge design which allows the ports to be re-positioned on the rear of the unit. You’ll find an HDMI port, two USB ports, headset port and a power port there which is more in style with a true docking station and looks like it will provide more stability for wider screen angles and laptop usage.
HP haven’t listed full specifications but for $599 (starting June 29th in the USA) you get a 13.3-inch tablet that weighs 2.45 pounds (1.11KG) and is 0.53 inches thick (13.5mm.) Battery life is quoted at a rather poor 5.25 hours although there’s a keyboard dock with battery available.
Again, it’s fanless so that’s a step in the right direction [I’m testing a fanless 11-inch HP Pro 2-in-1 right now.] and there’s up to 8GB RAM available. A full range of Baytrail and Haswell options are rumored. At this stage we can’t confirm the screen resolution but the previous HP Split X2 had a full HD screen option so we expect that to be carried forward.
We’ve pinged our sources out in Taipei and hope to have more details, pics and videos soon.
I’m reviewing an 830 gram / 1.83 pound 11.6-inch Core i5 Windows tablet for Notebookcheck.net this week and after 24 hours I’ve got a good feeling for where this HP Pro X2 410 G1 is going. There are some really impressive specs and performance figures here but they’re sitting alongside some fundamental issues. One of those issues always will be an issue and it’s something that also affects the Surface Pro 3 that was launched this week.
Weight. The Pro X2 proves to me once again that large format tablets need to be exceptionally light to be truly useful. Yes, there are some of you out there that have a need for a powerful tablet and I accept that you’re happy with a trade-off, but there’s not many of you – especially when this has a 1366×768 screen, doesn’t lean back far enough in the dock to allow ‘lapping’ (because the tablet weighs too much and it would tip over) has no tablet stand and doesn’t have a digitizer layer. Total weight: 1.6KG.
The really sad thing about this design is that internally it’s looking very good indeed. I’ve just tested the SSD and seen some amazingly good speeds. The speakers are great, the backlight is strong, build quality is good, keyboard is great, there’s a total of 50Wh of battery and that Core i5 (4202Y) is running fanless. This is great electronic engineering. I’ve never had so much fanless PC power in my hand.
HP are pitching this into the business market but I’m struggling to see any major demand for it at the price they’re asking. Over $900 / 900 Euro for a Core i5 with 4GB and 128GB SSD. You can get more power, in less weight, with a recent Ultrabook. Go for a 256GB SSD option on the HP Pro X2 and the Surface Pro 3 looks like a much better option, especially as you get the digitizer and 8GB RAM.
I believe in 2-in-1s. I believe that one day the technology will allow us to build some amazingly light large format mobile screens that have the power of todays mainstream PCs. It might take a next-generation wireless display technology (WiGig is one to watch) or it might take a ‘screen as SoC’ technology to get things slimmed down but the modular approach seems like the sensible option. Right now the 11.6-inch screens are too big for workable 2-in-1s which means that 10-inches is the way to go right now. Truly table-top productive 2-in-1’s may take a few more years.
I’ll be continuing my HP Pro X2 410 G1 testing over the next week and you’ll probably see an overview on the YouTube channel in a day or two. Maybe the performance will win me over. Maybe I’ll find a hot-desk scenario that wins me over. Maybe that battery life (I’m expecting 8hrs of productivity) is the key. Maybe there’s enough in the laptop part (the keyboard sure feels good!) that the tablet part is just a bonus. Maybe the fanless aspect is good enough to make it unique for schools or some vertical that I can’t think of now! We’ll see over the next week but if you have any scenarios you think might work for this, let us know in the comments.
Thx Notebookcheck for allowing me some personal time with the HP Pro X2 410 G1. You can check out their reviews here.
Envy, Split, Pavilion. Unlike my fairly clear understanding of the Dell and Lenovo consumer/business product ranges my understanding of HP’s is spotty. Is it just me? When our reader Brad Heath sent me a link to his Pavilion 11 X2 video I was surprised to see a Core i5 version on display and a quick search reveals that it’s new on the market and being offered for just $599 in the USA. Like the Dell Venue 11 Pro series it could offer a perfect balance between laptop and tablet if your primary focus is on productivity. There’s a true SATA SSD, Core i5-4202Y (1.6Ghz + Turbo) and the total weight is under 1.5KG 3/5 pounds. Price: $599 at Microsoft.com which makes it extremely interesting. [Full specs here.]
I’ve got a number of device videos to talk about from MWC 2014 in Barcelone but before I hit the airport for the return home I wanted to take a closer look at the rugged keyboard case. Personally I love it and want it. The elitepad makes a great 10-inch tablet but if you add this keyboard case, you’re really set for a lot of on-the-road work. Video below.
Clearly the casing has more than just a keyboard inside. That full-size SD card slot is perfect for media creators.
Remember, the HP Elitepad has 64-bit Windows 8.1 (or Pro) and up to 128GB of storage and…tada!…4GB of RAM.
I also took a peek into the battery statistics. You’ve got a 30WH battery here and the device that has been in use on the HP booth for three days is showing some good figures. I’d say this is an 8-hour working device that would last for the rest of a day in connected standby.
A 3G version will be available.
I also took a look at a lightweight BT keyboard that had great keyboard feedback and a consumer-style case and cover.
At a pre-MWC event yesterday evening I got a look at the updated HP Elitepad 1000 G2. It’s now running Baytrail-T (Z3795), comes with a 64-Bit version of Windows and has 4GB of RAM. There’s also, as before, a great selection of sleeves and a dock that now includes USB3.0
HP’s 2-in-1 range is expanding with the HP Pro x2 410 which appears to be a variant of the HP Pavilion X2.
Official details aren’t yet available but HP does have a teaser page up which calls it a notebook. Reports from other tech news sites say it’s fanless, has an additional battery in the keyboard and weighs 3.43 pounds in total.
Two laptops running Celeron-branded Baytrail-M processors have been spotted for sale in Germany. The Toshiba Satellite NB10t runs the 2.0Ghz dual-core N2810 (7.7W TDP) while the Packard Bell Easy Note ME69 runs with a cheaper 1.4Ghz dual-core N2805 (4.5W TDP.) Prices are interesting, especially considering they have touchscreens.
For the 10-inch Packard Bell you’ll pay just 299 Euro. it weighs 1.08KG and comes with 2BG RAM, 1366×768 touch, 28Wh battery, Windows 8.1 and Office Home and Student. That’s really not a bad price.
The Toshiba is likely to be the more productive though as it takes the screen size to 11.6-inches and includes 4GB RAM. It also includes the 2.0Ghz dual-core CPU. Weight is 1.3KG and it costs a little more: 369 Euro-400 Euro. There’s no Office software included.
Remember you’re getting USB3.0 and SATA-interfaces for the drives on Baytrail-M. The CPU has 64-bit support but you’re getting 32-bit Windows. It’s technically possible that these devices could support Connected Standby / InstantGo but with a spinning hard drive inside both, it’s not within the required specs. SSD upgrade and BIOS hack anyone?
Intel are expecting low-cost 2-in-1’s to appear with Baytrail-M. When we see performance and efficiency figures for these two laptops we’ll get an idea of how those 2-in-1’s will perform. That should come when these devices become available in November. The HP Pavilion X2 2-in-1 is one of the first expected with Baytrail-M. We’re not expecting that before Christmas though.
