HP has launched a new family of All-in-One (AIO) PCs that actually recline for a more comfortable, interactive touch-based experience. This new HP ENVY Recline series includes the Recline23 TouchSmart and Recline27 TouchSmart with 23 inch and 27 inch screens respectively. The company also introduced a stand-alone HP Pavillion 23tm Touch Monitor with an adjustable stand providing up to a 70 degree "deep" recline position.
HP said on Thursday that both reclining AIO PCs will sport Intel Core "Haswell" processors, discrete Nvidia GPUs and premium sound. But because these two AIO's will have multiple configurations, there's no one set list of hardware to provide here. Instead the company serves up a data sheet for one specific model to give customers an idea of what's packed behind the screen: the 27-k050.
According to the list, this specific model will have the Intel Core i5-4570T "Haswell" processor, 12 GB of DDR3-1600 SDRAM (8GB and 4 GB ,expandable to 16 GB), a 1 TB 5400 RPM HDD, a 16 GB SSD, and a Nvidia GeForce GT 730A GPU (with 1 GB DDR3). Other features will include dual-band Wireless AC, Bluetooth 4.0 and WiDi connectivity, integrated NFC, and a 27-inch screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Beats Audio, a TrueVision HD webcam and Windows 8 will also be thrown into the AIO mix.
HP's big push with these new AIO's is with the actual IPS screens and tilting stand. "HP ENVY Recline series meets the needs of touch users with a full high-definition IPS touch screen that responds to all 10 fingers at once, and a unique hinge that allows the screen to be repositioned with ease," the company said. "The hinge enables the screen to seamlessly move below the table and closer to the lap for a natural touch navigation position, or it can be adjusted upright for traditional use and to watch movies."
The company takes a more hands-on promotional approach on its blog here, showcasing a "maxed out prototype" of the ENVY23 Recline packed with an Intel Core i7 CPU, 16 GB of RAM, Nvidia's Geforce GT 730M GPU and a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Beats Audio speakers quickly fills up the room, the blog states, and the prototype even has several USB 3.0 ports at the base, two more along the right side, an SD card slot, HDMI input, Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity.
HP said on Thursday that a version of the ENVY23 Recline with an Intel Core i7 processor and 8 GB of RAM will have a starting price of $1,349 in late September. Other configurations will be available in select retail stores in late September starting at $999. The company also plans to release a Beats Edition of this 23 inch AIO that will feature black and red accents with Beats Audio driven dual speakers. This model will have base specs consisting of an Intel Core i5 processor and 8 GB of RAM starting at $1,249 this November. Additional configurations will be sold this fall starting at $1,099.
As for the 27 inch ENVY27 Recline, HP will start offering this model on September 6 with a starting price of $1,399.
In addition to the AIO PCs, the company's new HP Pavilion 23tm Touch Monitor will feature a 23 inch vivid full-HD touch screen with five-point touch technology. HP said it will be ideal with the upcoming HP ENVY Phoenix 810 Desktop PC that will include an Intel Core i7 Extreme CPU, Nvidia or AMD GPUs, and Beats Audio. The touch-based monitor will go on sale on October 6 for a starting price of $349 whereas the desktop won't go on sale until October 16 (Windows 8.1?) for a starting price of $1,299.
Don't need a touch-based screen? HP also announced the HP ENVY 23 IPS Monitor that doesn't support touch-based input. Instead, it will sport two HDMI ports and an integrated Beats Audio headphone jack. This monitor will go on sale in November with a starting price of $249.
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