HP announces the business-friendly ElitePad 900, arrives in January

[Jos]

HP is jumping back in the tablet game after a short-lived run with the webOS-based Touchpad as well as the Windows-based Slate. The HP ElitePad 900 is the company’s first Windows 8 tablet aimed at business users, offering the serviceability, security, and manageability that HP’s desktop “Elite” desktop PCs have, along a military-grade aluminum shell that protects it from drops, dust, temperature extremes and high altitude.

The tablet has a 10.1-inch, 1280 by 800 resolution display covered in Gorilla Glass, is 9.2 mm thick, and weighs 1.5 pounds. Inside is Intel's Atom Z2760 dual-core processor (Clover Trail) clocked at 1.8GHz, a solid 2GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of flash storage. Connectivity features include 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC with a Secure Element, and an optional HP hs2350 HSPA+ mobile broadband chip.

HP has also thrown in the usual front (1080p) and rear (8MP) facing cameras as well as a battery that should last around ten hours on a single charge. Perhaps the biggest differentiator against the current crop of tablets, HP claims the ElitePad 900 can be easily disassembled to replace components like batteries, screens or motherboards, making it easy to service rather than having to replace the entire unit if something fails.

The device also supports a slew of optional accessories that will turn it into a “total enterprise solution.“ Among them is a Rugged Case for extra protection, a pen digitizer, a docking station with four USB, wired ethernet, VGA, HDMI, power, audio-out, and a Kensington lock hole, and lastly several Smart Jackets that fit nicely around the ElitePad 900 to protect it and add extra functionality, such as built in keyboards.

HP is promising general availability sometime in January of next year, but didn’t give any pricing details for the new tablet or its accessories. Atom-based tablets are expected to cost somewhere around $600 or more.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/50356-hp-announces-the-business-friendly-elitepad-900-arrives-in-january.html

 

[VitalyT]

To offer 1080P front camera and yet a measly 720P screen on a 10" pad isn't that good a business, not by today's expectations.

Today that resolution is good for a phone.

In fact, by end of year we expect couple new phones to appear, featuring 1080P resolution. A 10" pad with 720P resolution will look in January next year as timely as a last-year turkey. Good luck biting on that one!

 

[mattfrompa]

To offer 1080P front camera and yet a measly 720P screen on a 10" pad isn't that good a business, not by today's expectations.

Today that resolution is good for a phone.

In fact, by end of year we expect couple new phones to appear, featuring 1080P resolution. A 10" pad with 720P resolution will look in January next year as timely as a last-year turkey. Good luck biting on that one!

Personally I think WXGA is more than suitable for a 10" business tablet, which is above 720p by the way. Especially when it has an Intel Atom processor. Obviously higher resolution is better, but it's clearly not the focus of this device and there is plenty to make up for it in my opinion. It will really be a standout if it's as serviceable as described.

 

[gamoniac]

To offer 1080P front camera and yet a measly 720P screen on a 10" pad isn't that good a business, not by today's expectations.

Today that resolution is good for a phone.

In fact, by end of year we expect couple new phones to appear, featuring 1080P resolution. A 10" pad with 720P resolution will look in January next year as timely as a last-year turkey. Good luck biting on that one!

Personally I think WXGA is more than suitable for a 10" business tablet, which is above 720p by the way. Especially when it has an Intel Atom processor. Obviously higher resolution is better, but it's clearly not the focus of this device and there is plenty to make up for it in my opinion. It will really be a standout if it's as serviceable as described.

Up till yesterday, I would have agreed with you, but not after I stopped by a local store to compare the Asus TF300 (720P) vs their TF700T (1080P with IPS+ screen). It is day and night, especially in the text rendered. There is such a huge difference that I don't mind paying an additional $100 for. I wish Windows 8 tablets supports 1080P but I don't think any manufacturer has annouce full HD W8 tablet yet, which is so disappointing after seeing TF700T in action. Don't believe me, go check it out...

 

[mattfrompa]

Up till yesterday, I would have agreed with you, but not after I stopped by a local store to compare the Asus TF300 (720P) vs their TF700T (1080P with IPS+ screen). It is day and night, especially in the text rendered. There is such a huge difference that I don't mind paying an additional $100 for. I wish Windows 8 tablets supports 1080P but I don't think any manufacturer has annouce full HD W8 tablet yet, which is so disappointing after seeing TF700T in action. Don't believe me, go check it out...

Interesting, I could certainly see that being the case. I didn't want to invest any more into android (TF-201+dock) but I do read a lot on it so I think I'll have to go check out the TF700T at least. Thanks for the insight.