HP Launches its Android-Powered SlateBook x2 Early

News
By Kevin Parrish
published

HP has launched its 10 inch hybrid Android PC in the States.

After launching its SlateBook in Japan on Monday, Hewlett-Packard made its SlateBook x2 available to U.S.-based customers on its website several weeks earlier than the projected August ship date. The hybrid Android PC can be purchased here with a starting price of $479 USD.

According to the specs (pdf), the tablet/notebook hybrid sports a 10.1 inch LED-lit screen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. It's powered by Android 4.2 "Jelly Bean," Nvidia's Tegra 4 quad-core chip clocked at 1.8 GHz, 2 GB of DDR3-1600 memory, and 16 GB of internal storage. There's also a multi-format SD card reader for additional file storage.

As for other specs, the SlateBook x2 has single-band Wireless N connectivity, Bluetooth, a front-facing HP Truevision HD webcam with an integrated digital microphone, and a Full HD camera mounted on the back. The chassis features HP's Imprint finish in smoke silver, and the tablet on its own weighs a mere 1.32 pounds.

As for the magnetic dock, it provides a full island-style keyboard, one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, a microphone/headphone combo jack, and HP's Imagepad supporting multi-touch gestures. It also contains a 2-cell 21WHr 2.55Ah lithium-ion polymer battery, whereas the tablet has its own 2-cell 25WHr 2.55Ah lithium-ion polymer battery. With the dock attached to the tablet, the overall device weighs a heftier 2.77 pounds.

The $479 "starting price" is actually the SlateBook x2's price tag. There are no options to upgrade the internal storage, so the only additional items consumers can add to that base price include an extended warranty, external storage solutions, and accidental damage protection.

To purchase the HP SlateBook x2 (h010nr) Android hybrid PC, head here.

Kevin Parrish
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • BringMeAnother
    I'm curious, what use is high resolution screen on an Android device? I mean I'm a programmer and web developer and I can't use any screen less than 1080p on my Windows machine when I work, but that's for doing real work. While you could do some real work on an Android device, it is mostly for content consumption. I doesn't seem like a higher resolution would make content consumption that much better. Also, you can't multi task on Android, so why the higher resolution beside looking nicer? Anyone welcome to answer.
    Reply
  • schultzter
    This looks pretty cool. I've always wondered why Asus' Transformer was the only hybrid Android tablet. But one thing I can't get over HP's cursor keys - they're tiny, un-usable!!!
    Reply
  • notsleep
    is it me or non-nexus devices just look not so good next to nexus devices? :P
    Reply
  • ipwn3r456
    11271141 said:
    I'm curious, what use is high resolution screen on an Android device? I mean I'm a programmer and web developer and I can't use any screen less than 1080p on my Windows machine when I work, but that's for doing real work. While you could do some real work on an Android device, it is mostly for content consumption. I doesn't seem like a higher resolution would make content consumption that much better. Also, you can't multi task on Android, so why the higher resolution beside looking nicer? Anyone welcome to answer.

    Some of the things I can think of the use of 1080p screen would be watching HD movies, lesser pixelation due to it's higher DPI display. It can be useful for older people who can't see very well, so when then zoom in the text, they can see it better. But I kind of agree of what you said, 1080p screens is mostly useful for media and entertainment. You as a programmer, 720p screens for an Android device would be enough for you. Of course you don't want a too low resolution Android device.
    Reply
  • halcyon
    This actually looks kinda nice. I'd like to see them in retail.
    Reply
  • w8gaming
    If a Android device is 1280x800, Teamviewer on Android displaying a 1024x768 Windows desktop unable to show the desktop completely, and you need scrolling up and down to view the missing content. Let's hope with 1920x1200 resolution, it can finally display a full desktop. Maybe such high resolution will help there.

    Also, some people feel that high resolution makes reading a e-Book easier on the eye, so that could be another advantage for such high res display.
    Reply
  • lance SUNDRICH
    One other hybrid tablet - the Hummingbird PX103 by Aocos Electronics, also launched last week and while a lesser known brand, it offers an impressive, ultra compact
    "Transformer-style" 10-inch device that features a durable, snap-on cover that reconfigures to work as a mini-laptop with built-in keyboard -- one of the first U.S.
    sites it's available through is T ablet Sprint and is priced at $259.

    It's Aocos Electronics’ third edition in the Hummingbird series and offers a sleek design and features solid performance for a mid-range device... featuring a Quad
    Core processor (Rockchip RK3188 1.6 GHz / Mali-400MP4 GPU/2GB DDR3), and 16GB Memory. Along with a 10 inch HD 1280x800 IPS screen, Bluetooth 4.0 (works with built-in keyboard), a front Webcam and 5 MegaPixel rear camera, and HDMI 1080p output. It also has a 7000 mAh battery, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean; and is compatible with Chromecast; and comes with Google Play store.

    The Hummingbird PX103 is compact and ultra-thin, with a 9.6mm profile and weight-wise comes in at 1.4 pounds… not far off from Sony's Xperia world’s thinnest and
    lightest tablet device. A 3G edition of the PX103 is also expected in late August.
    Reply
  • guvnaguy
    I checked HP's website...they claim 10 hours of battery without the keyboard/dock, yet only 8 with it attached?! Wouldn't having it attached increase the battery life?

    Otherwise, seems like it has nice specs for a tablet: Tegra 4 + Intel HD 4000 = powerhouse for tablet-gaming
    Reply
  • damianrobertjones
    "LED-lit screen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution"

    Yet HP decided to release an ENTIRE Probook and Elitebook range with 1366x768 screens (Albeit with a 1600x900 option) and even their tablets are set at a low resolution. I, personally, don't mind 1366x768 but come on HP... show some Windows 8 love please
    Reply
  • halcyon
    I like high-resolution screens because I love the razor-sharp images and text. I'm always glad to see another entry with a high-Res screen and other upper specs. Now, if Samsung could just bestow such a blessing on its tablet line-up, I for one, would be an even happier android.
    Reply