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Hewlett-Packard, for an industry that’s shown it’s not very interested in traditional PCs, has introduced six new devices in various shapes and sizes.
There’s an EliteBook Folio notebook that’s the thinnest Ultrabook in HP’s Elite lineup and takes cues from smartphone and tablet designs. A convertible notebook called the Revolve continues on a form factor that HP says is still a favorite in verticals such as sales and health care. Two energy-efficient, one-liter mini desktops can stand beside a monitor or be hidden behind one, if not under a desk. And an EliteDisplay multitouch display, despite its considerable size, can tip back as far as a user would like or be mounted to a wall.
There’s also a new Slate Extreme 7-inch tablet, as well as a Classmate 10 notebook for elementary-age users.
We’ve broken down the details below.
HP EliteBook Folio 1040
The EliteBook Folio 1040 is a 14-inch, touch-enabled notebook that, like the Apple MacBook Air, forms a wedge as it thins from its hinge to its handrest. At 3.3 pounds and 13.31 by 9.19 by 0.63 inches, it’s 16 percent thinner and 7.3 percent lighter than its predecessor.
It’s also the first Elite device with an HP ForcePad—a touchpad that doesn’t click down but, like the on-screen buttons on tablets and smartphones, senses force and responds.
The surprisingly rugged 1040 passes a military-spec drop test (“A lot of companies say their devices are mil-spec tested, but they don’t say whether they passed,” said an HP spokesperson), and its aluminum keyboard deck offers spill protection.
Users can choose an HD or Full HD 1080p display and up to a fourth-generation Intel Core i7 processor with Intel HD Graphics 4400. The battery offers “all-day life,” per HP, the operating system is Windows Pro 8.1 and included is the BIOSphere with Sure Start protection that HP introduced in October.
A fingerprint reader comes standard, and a smartcard slot for extra authentication can be added.
HP left out the optical drive, but offers a dongle that makes it easy to attach one when needed.
The EliteBook Folio 1040 G1 is now available for a starting price of $1,299.
HP EliteBook Revolve G2
Apple’s iPad and other modern-day tablets sprang from the convertible notebook concept. And while the design has evolved to include hybrid convertibles, where the display fully detaches from the keyboard and behaves like an independent tablet (HP makes these as well), there are still those who prefer the convertible form factor. For those people—doctors and pharmaceutical reps come to mind—HP has introduced the EliteBook Revolve G2.
The Revolve has a starting weight of 3.08 pounds and an 11.6-inch rotating HD capacitive multitouch display that’s covered with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It has an all-magnesium chassis and a spill-resistant, backlit keyboard, and also passes military spec 810G tests.
HP’s New Elite Lineup Includes Thinnest Elite Ultrabook to Date
The Revolve runs Windows 8.1 and fourth-generation Intel Core processors up to an i7. It has a solid-state drive (SSD) with Intel Rapid Start technology, so it boots in 5 milliseconds. HP Sure Start self-healing BIOS technology is again included, along with other enterprise-geared security and manageability tools.
Like the EliteBook Folio, the Revolve has a USB 3.0 charging port, but also a DisplayPort 1.2. Optional 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) connectivity can also be added, as can HP ePrint technology and an enterprise-grade docking station.
The HP EliteBook Revolve 810 G2 is expected to be available in the United States by Dec. 20, starting at $1,364.
HP EliteDisplay S230tm
While the EliteDisplay S230, a 23-inch multitouch IPS (in-plane switching) display, can be wall-mounted with a VESA mount, its biggest party trick is its ability to, when used on a desk, lean back, limbo-style, to a deep 70 degrees.
It’s the kind of display you want to touch when you see it, and multiple people can, since it supports up to five simultaneous touch points.
The S230 has a Windows 8-certified multitouch monitor that’s plug-and-play ready to support touch-enabled, business-class applications. While it has a native resolution of 1,920 by 1,080, it can support eight other resolution combinations, including 640 by 480.
It has anti-glare protective glass, a 178-degree viewing angle, DVI and DisplayPort inputs, a communications hub with integrated speakers, dual microphones and a 720p Webcam, and is also Energy Star-qualified.
The EliteDisplay will be available in the United States Jan. 6, starting at $359.
HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Desktop Mini, ProDesk 600 G1 Business Desktop Mini
The EliteDesk 800 and ProDesk 600 are HP’s smallest desktop form factors, offering full PC performance for tiny workspaces, from cubicles to mobile health care carts. (Their power efficiency makes them also a very good fit for deployments on carts, when they may be idle but in use for long stretches.)
The EliteDesk 800 features six USB ports, including a fast-charging port for tablets and smartphones (the charge is three times as fast as with a standard USB), and a VGA port and two display ports, for the ability to connect up to three displays.
It runs fourth-generation Intel Core processors, comes with the option of VPro support and includes HP BIOSphere with BIOS-level security protection and HP Trust Circles among its security features.
The ProDesk 600 comes with HP’s Client Security portfolio, integrated wireless and M.2 solid-state storage (but not the fast-charging port or VPro).
Both systems will arrive in April 2014, the EliteDesk starting at $699 and the ProDesk at $489.
HP Classmate Notebook PC
For education clients serving young learners (say about kindergarten through sixth grade), HP will offer the Classmate Notebook, its most-advanced Classmate to date.
The new Classmate runs Windows 8.1 and has Intel Celeron N2000 Series processors, a rugged construction and integrated HD Webcam tools—less for taking meetings than hosting guest speakers or taking virtual field trips, HP suggests.
The notebook also comes with HP’s Education Software Suite. In addition, HP has just launched HP Education Services, which combine “vision consulting, leadership development and teacher training to help teachers leverage technology instruction and empower excellence in the classroom,” HP said in a Dec. 10 statement.
Pricing and availability details for the Classmate Notebook have yet to be released.
HP Slate Extreme
Last but not least is the most commercial effort of the lot, the Slate Extreme.
This WiFi-enabled 7-inch tablet has an HD 10-point capacitive-touch display (1,280 by 800) and runs Android 2.2 (Jelly Bean) plus an Nvidia Tegra 4 A15 quad-core processor.
It measures 7.87 by 4.72 by 0.37 inches, weighs 11.3 ounces and can be used with an integrated Nvidia stylus. On board is 16GB of memory and a microSD slot for adding 32GB more. For still additional storage, HP is throwing in 25GB of free cloud storage on Box.
There’s a 5-megapixel camera on the back, a 0.3-megapixel VGA camera up front and a Connected Photo app for sharing all your snaps.
Suggesting work is a priority here after all, Stylus Labs Write and DirectStylus launcher apps come preloaded, and an “exclusive micro-HDMI,” says HP, supports 4K television input, so it’s “never been easier to collaborate from the office or around the world.”
The Slate Extreme is available now, starting at $199.99.